SCCAForums.com

http://scca.com/documents/2008%20Runoffs/2008%20National%20Participation%20MASTER.pdf

VERY ugly, folks.

Please go out and get some starts if you are in T1, T2, or T3.

Use old tires.

Use old brakes.

Please cross the start finish line, and take the green flag, than pull-in if you must.

T1 and T2 are tied for 22/23 on the list, and we BARELY have the minimum average of 2.4 cars per national event.

T3 is 25th.

Get out there and race em' if you got em'!

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Jason Berkeley
#57 T1 Corvette
BMG Management / Central Auto Body / Pabst

Ahh yes, here we go again :(

You can add this for the double in Savannah (total below is for both races):

T-1 +8

T-2 +4

T-3 +9

SSB +2

SSC +10

and those "low on totem pole" following your link:

AS +6

GT-2 +2

GT-3 +5

S-2 +6

F-500 +8

 

If you look at it as entries/race, unfortunately your numbers don't help much.  They swap SSB and F5 (positions 15 and 16, F5 up, SSB down), but otherwise, nothing moves.

It's still the case that only two classes (both spec classes) have average turnouts over 10 (and way over, at 17 and 19), and only 5 classes have average turnouts over 5.  11 classes have averages LESS THAN 3, including 4 of the 5 "new car" classes.  Pathetic.  I really do think there are way too many classes given the number of interested racers.

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Josh Sirota
Go, Dog. Go! Racing

Josh is right on message...SCCA needs to reevaluate all but the top 10 classes and start reconfiguring and merging if they want a strong race base in the future...wait too long and more racers will race less, change clubs, find other hobbies, etc.  The NASA Camaro Mustang Challenge group which is composed of two classes, CMC and CMC2 is merging into one class, CMC in 2010.  Notice has been given.  Forward thinking in my opinion and they're going about it in a timely fashion for the 2010 season.  Input now and rules firm one year in advance.  And this in a class that is strong right now with double digit entries.  I'm an old fart and I remember a dozen or so national classes.  Might be a good goal?  RP

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Racing in 5 different decades!

you want to talk about ugly>>>>look at BP and ST.

In the SE we have lots of BP cars, but we have the chicken and the egg syndrome.  nobody wants to race BP because they can't race at the Runoffs.  I try to explain if they race, our numbers will build and we might just get a chance to race at the runoffs.  We're getting 5+ cars...but its not enough.   The SCCA needs to rethink these classes (maybe combine some) so that they don't kill them all off.  With the economy in the toilet; it only  makes sense to run SRF or SM because they offer lots of racing for CHEAP!!!  So................the classes that don't need the help will only grow and grow!!!!   You watch.............the T1, BP , ST  guys are all gonna move to NASA and run ST1, and ST2 where the fields are growing.  The NASA nationals (held in September at MO) already have about 11 ST1 cars and 15 ST2 cars signed up.  I bet another 15-20 cars sign up by september.

What a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Bob Mayer#38
2008 SE DIV. BP National Champion

4reRacer:

you want to talk about ugly>>>>look at BP and ST.

In the SE we have lots of BP cars, but we have the chicken and the egg syndrome.  nobody wants to race BP because they can't race at the Runoffs.  I try to explain if they race, our numbers will build and we might just get a chance to race at the runoffs.  We're getting 5+ cars...but its not enough.   The SCCA needs to rethink these classes (maybe combine some) so that they don't kill them all off.  With the economy in the toilet; it only  makes sense to run SRF or SM because they offer lots of racing for CHEAP!!!  So................the classes that don't need the help will only grow and grow!!!!   You watch.............the T1, BP , ST  guys are all gonna move to NASA and run ST1, and ST2 where the fields are growing.  The NASA nationals (held in September at MO) already have about 11 ST1 cars and 15 ST2 cars signed up.  I bet another 15-20 cars sign up by september.

What a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bobby,

SCCA suggested combining B/P with GT2. with the "grand consolidation" plan. That merger makes sense. Why not move forward with it? GT2 has Porsche Cup cars, don't they race in World Challenge? WC has C5 and C6 Vettes, plus Vipers. Hmmmm.

So, if they let your car into GT2 you get to race someone AND go to the Run Offs. Good deal there. Then you can run your car in ST1, another good deal.

SCCA absolutely must start consolidating classes, and fast. I don't see any sense in spending the money I do each race weekend to be in a class of three cars.

 Jason,

Your wish is my command, I will race some more this year!

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2008 NASA ST2 National Champion

#40 T1 Dodge SRT-10 Viper Kryderacing/Phoenix Performance/Hoosier Tires/WRP Investments

Hard work & good times go together; but hard work comes first.

David......

I would definitely move to GT2, but We have lots of BP cars showing up in the Southeast...both regionally and Nationally.  GT2 sometimes has only 1 or 2 cars.  So moving doesn't make sense.  I wish the SCCA would consolidate some of the classes that don't have the numbers to go to the runoffs.  Its time to do something!!!

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Bob Mayer#38
2008 SE DIV. BP National Champion

Nice lookin T3 Mustang for rent or for sale

 03 GT

1-866-6NAYKID

s

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NayKid Racing & Lux Performance Builders of the HEAVIEST & FASTEST T1 cars EVER period.
KUMHO Tire/SRT/Corsa/BELL/Forgeline/Mintex/Redline/Nike

There are indeed too many classes, which is why it is so dissapointing that the BoD reversed direction, and canceled the class consolidation changes it had approved.  You are GOING to piss some people off in a class consolidation situation.  That is inevitable.  However, the BoD is there to make the tough decisions that need to be made.  Doing nothing because you are afraid of pissing somebody off, is going to have the end result of pissing EVERYBODY off.

The BoD MUST make the class consolidation changes that will reduce class count significantly, and it must do it soon!

The results are going to be a slow and steady continuation of the participation decline that we are seeing.

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Jason Berkeley
#57 T1 Corvette
BMG Management / Central Auto Body / Pabst

blah blah blah......

Run for the BOD and replace the good ol boy mafia, sports car racing is why this club was created... Quit whining and fix it jb!

s

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NayKid Racing & Lux Performance Builders of the HEAVIEST & FASTEST T1 cars EVER period.
KUMHO Tire/SRT/Corsa/BELL/Forgeline/Mintex/Redline/Nike

Isn't combining classes a bad idea? The collateral GM damage to the SCCA will be more if everyone is consolidated in fewer classes. Way it is GM just pushed fewer racers out of the SCCA in T2, T3, SS etc.

Maybe the only merger that should happen is SCCA to dissolve and let NASA take over?

The issue of lower entries in classes is complex.  Higher costs to race, low entry numbers with little competition at times, confusion about how competitive a car will be each season, conflicting ideas about how to, and whether to equalize classes, among others, all work together to suppress entries in several classes.  The economy isn't helping either--discretionary income is dropping for many would-be racers.

The  Touring and Showroom classes have been especially hurt by the perception that some cars were being favored over others, but it does seem that some good progress is being made, now, in some of those classes.  One can only hope that folks will see that some progress is now, seemingly, being made and that the numbers will climb back up in Showroom and Touring.

If the CRB can be consistent about efforts to keep the classes from being torn up by one marque or another, I don't see why there should not be a return of some decent numbers in the Touring and Showroom classes other than outrageous increases in overall costs or a return to inexplicable decisions by the CRB and Advisory Committees.

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Jack SSB Z4 #09

Scotty B:

blah blah blah......

Run for the BOD and replace the good ol boy mafia, sports car racing is why this club was created... Quit whining and fix it jb!

s

I tried my hand at volunteerism and trying to do something.  We all know where that got me...and you! 

I also know some past  BoD members who were left alone in the cold trying to change things from within... The only way to enact a fundamental change would be to run an "activist" slate of BoD candidates in a unified effort from all geographical areas of the club. 

Truth be told, I think that the BoD has made alot of very good decisions recently- the two glaring exceptions being reversing the class-count reduction, and the BS participation reward program con/scam to get people to go to the Runoffs this year.

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Jason Berkeley
#57 T1 Corvette
BMG Management / Central Auto Body / Pabst

It is a tough problem to solve.  I believe some class consolidation must come. 

We are definitely in a tough spot since many of our members are having to curtail racing costs to make other ends meet.  I would say Regional race entry levels seem to be higher than Nationals.  We prolly have a glut of National races in the SEDiv.

But the key is the BoD will have to work with the CRB in a visionary way.  I don't claim to have the magic bullet - and as a member driven Club, we will always have a vocal group who are disadvantaged by consolidation.  That is prolly what caused the reversal.

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PaulG
56 T3

PG said:

<snip>    But the key is the BoD will have to work with the CRB in a visionary way  <snip>

Paul, I think there is one word there that really doesn't belong..... 

LD71  

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LD71