SportsCar calendar

Although I hope the new 2012 calendar will be different from the last few years, I'm betting it will not be. I had a couple of minutes while my computer rebooted:

Stats from the 2011 calendar:
65 total pictures including about 150 cars
20 club racing pictures including about 82 cars
20 pro racing pictures including about 47 cars
15 solo pictures including about 15 cars

Not a single IT car, heck our CATEGORY is not even mentioned
Not a single regional race car (no IT, no regional formula cars)
Every single picture is from a national or pro event, even the rallycross and solo pictures.

Would it really be so hard to include 1 single IT car in the calendar? Would it really be so hard to include one regional car in the calendar. Would it really be so hard to include one regional event of any kind in the calendar?

I realize that pro racing is considered high profile. (Athough I disagree that the club as a whole and regional programs in particular get any value from pro racing.) Same with national racing, national solo, national rally, it's the "big time" and regional programs are just that, regional and of little "value" to the image of the club.

But year after year this calendar is a reminder to me of how SCCA priorities are wrong and skewed toward programs that don't benefit the majority of members. Sure sure, no one wants to see a beat up 86 civic on the calendar, any more than anyone wants to see it in SportsCar. But this continous focus on pro racing, on national racing, on national solo at the expense of the regional programs that really impact the majority of members is very discouraging.

Every time I read SportsCar and every time I look at this calendar I am reminded that new members are bombarded with these same images. National Racing. Pro Racing. Pointy end of the field ARRC. And new members can go years without realizing that the majority of active members are not involved in huge dollar national or pro programs. We're not flying into tracks to participate in Red Bull driver searches. We're out running regional autocross, regional racing, regional rallycross. We're out working regional races. We're doing things THEY can be doing.

The focus on the tip of the iceberg in publications, in rules making and in classing is one thing that hamper's SCCA's ability to compete in the marketplace. This calendar is a daily reminder.

Jim
Sadly you are correct. Years ago when the Power That Be (at the time) decided that the club magazine and publication will focus only on our elite events many said this was a bad idea. It still is. If you read Racer magazine and Sportscar magazine each month (I do) they are nearly the same read. They are published by the same people with the same articles. Pretty pathetic. If you want to get your name in our National magazine you must either be running a National level program in some discipline (Solo, Club Racing, Road Rally, or RallyCross) or die.
Pretty crappy way to promote a member driven and member supported club.

The ship of fools has no rudder, and no one seems to know what to do about that. Every couple of years the faces of the National Board of Directors changes, and the new folks try to undue the "mistakes" of the past and nothing changes.
Everyone is so worried about "saving their class" and nothing gets saved.
I fear that we are doomed to fade away.

cheers
dave parker

Agreed. I read some of the columns, always including Randy's - I figure they asked him on board because he's younger than 60, and they wanted a page where "the kids could have their say". The technical articles get attention, and occasionally I skim the letters and worker/new driver of the month pages. Then I look at pictures of racecars and browse a bit in the ads.

The endless pages of national/pro reporting is IMO boring and barely relevant. By the time SCar mag is published, everyone knows who won the class they care about and what happened on the track and in the tech shed. It really reads like a small eclectic circle patting themselves on their shoulders in a desperate attempt to force the only audience they can bother to pay some attention. I'd care a lot more about articles on history, class philosophy, material tests, and technical / practical / strategy advice.

SportsCar is what recycle bins are for. I don't even read it on the groaner anymore.

K

WDCR have their own calendar that's a lot more genuine.

Since SCCA Pro Racing is a separate corporation, why don't they have their own mag, Racer sounds like a good place. Then there might be more room for the CLUB events!!!!

And about August there was a picture in the schedule section of SC with the caption "OVR holds their final regional race of the year at MO..."

And the picture was national cars. Even for a regional race we still get excluded.

<-- just added a few numbers - 4 weekends double dipped, and 2 events single-class; makes 10 regional entry fees, plus annual fee, plus national license fee, plus misc merchandise, and I always contribute to the worker fund because workers rock.

Makes an estimated $3500 paid to SCCA this season.

I don't need pics of my class in a mag or calendar, but if the deal is that Topeka sees its responsibility solely in the promotion of the national & pro classes, and leaves anything regional to the regions, I want the option to not get SCar mag anymore since it's not relevant for me, and get $20 off my membership fee that I'd rather spend on another worker fund.

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Makes an estimated $3500 paid to SCCA this season.

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Make that $3,300 paid to tracks this season. ;)

I think online will be the next best way for SCCA to move forward. LOTS of ideas which would be fun to become involved in. SCCA / Haymarket contract runs out in 2013. Hmmmm. Wouldn't it be great if instead of being a large cost center, it potentially became a profit center? Or at least significantly reduced the cost along with becoming a much better marketing tool?

This is the first year that you officially would have to purchase a hard copy of the GCR. I know my membership dues did not go down... doing a digital sports car will not reduce our dues either.

Stephen.

Don't you nooobs know anything? IT cars are jalopies.

[QUOTE=Kai Noeske;331116
Makes an estimated $3500 paid to SCCA this season.

.[/QUOTE]


Considering the entry fee for one pro weekend is $3,500, you're waaaaay behind!! :p

Money talks..............


.

FYI, If you email Eric Pril he can change your SportsCar subscription to digital only.

Stephen.

have any of you submitted pictures for the calendar?

have any have you spoken to the people that make the calendar?

A post here takes the same amount of time as an email to them.

Stephen

PS : I like the calendar, and I like sports car. I have never emailed that editor or anyone else so I guess I can't expect anything more then what is in it already.

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doing a digital sports car will not reduce our dues either.

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Why do you say that? Have you looked at how much SCCA pays to have Sports Car produced and mailed out? It represents a significant cost to the Club. (Think it's in the $650,000 range.)

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Originally Posted by StephenB

This is the first year that you officially would have to purchase a hard copy of the GCR.

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Incorrect. You used to have to buy them "in the old days" (pre-early 90s?) and the GCR and each category was a separate book/purchase. THE one to have (one that simple plebeians couldn't get) was a single publication with GCR and all categories in one master book.

"No one" uses the hardcopy any more especially since it's constantly changing. If you see someone quoting rules to you from the hardcopy, you can pretty much dismiss that info.

GA

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Originally Posted by Andy Bettencourt

Don't you nooobs know anything? IT cars are jalopies.

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You mean improved vintage?

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Originally Posted by Greg Amy

Incorrect. You used to have to buy them "in the old days" (pre-early 90s?) and the GCR and each category was a separate book/purchase. THE one to have (one that simple plebeians couldn't get) was a single publication with GCR and all categories in one master book.

"No one" uses the hardcopy any more especially since it's constantly changing. If you see someone quoting rules to you from the hardcopy, you can pretty much dismiss that info.

GA

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Sorry Greg, my dad was racing then :) since I got my license 12 years ago I have been getting a copy free. And I totally agree with you about using the electronic version so your up to date!

Dave, its already an option for us and we do not get reduced dues. IF it becomes digital only, they will just make a profit on the reduced costs.

Stephen

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Originally Posted by Knestis

SportsCar is what recycle bins are for. I don't even read it on the groaner anymore.

K

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Groaner. :happy204: Never heard that one before.

Not true Greg,The hard copy is a valuable tool when you need to write the paper on "that Guy". And the first sentence from the driver advocate is,"Do you have a copy of the GCR,cant help you if you don't" Oh yeah the laptop is at the house. The hard copy rides in the gear bag.

The second statement from the DA we wont talk about. Thats when the half hour time limit runs up cause they spent so much time trying to talk you out of protesting. Cause its sunday and we all want to go home.

My next sentence was "sorry about the delay at the next race,I didnt mean to put him in the wall,I just wanted to rattle his cage"

Dan
77 IT7 now EP,cause ST dosent want Rotarys

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Originally Posted by Dano77

"Do you have a copy of the GCR,cant help you if you don't" Oh yeah the laptop is at the house. The hard copy rides in the gear bag.

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Wait a sec; don't they have them new-fangled "smartyphones" and "tablet compUTErs" up there in New Hampshuh? Or are you guys still waiting for e-lec-TRICITY to arrive...? ;)

GA, who finds Dan's sig interesting, given exact engine prep on the rotaries between EP and STU...

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Originally Posted by Rabbit07

You mean improved vintage?

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See? YOU get it! Our cars are JUNK!!!

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Originally Posted by Greg Amy

GA, who finds Dan's sig interesting, given exact engine prep on the rotaries between EP and STU...

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Except in STL weights aren't realistic and they can't make competitive power in STU...

Its much more realistic that "I" dont have a smarty phone. The book is easy for my 5th grade mentality to use.:rolleyes: It means more to throw the book at him then a phone,phones cost more.

The ST conversation was way too heated over there,figured you could take a lite jab Greg:023: Besides,you and I have gone over this already,dont need too again.


Dan,who hnags with IT guys cause Prod guys are way too uptight.

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Originally Posted by Greg Amy

Wait a sec; don't they have them new-fangled "smartyphones" and "tablet compUTErs" up there in New Hampshuh? Or are you guys still waiting for e-lec-TRICITY to arrive...? ;)

GA, who finds Dan's sig interesting, given exact engine prep on the rotaries between EP and STU...

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I keep a jump drive in a padded non-magnectic container attached to the roll cage isolated from vibration. On it are pdf's of all my car manuals, technical papers, GCR, supps, tech memo's etc.

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Originally Posted by JS154

I keep a jump drive in a padded non-magnectic container attached to the roll cage isolated from vibration.

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Ok, Eric wins; I just keep 'em on my iPhone*.... ;)

GA

* Dan, that's one of them newfangled "smartyphones"...though I "get" the potential satisfaction with book-hurling in someone's general direction...

Well Played my friend. golfclap

Dan

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Originally Posted by Greg Amy

Ok, Eric wins; I just keep 'em on my iPhone*.... ;)

GA

* Dan, that's one of them newfangled "smartyphones"...though I "get" the potential satisfaction with book-hurling in someone's general direction...

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like when Jeff slammed his stack(yes, a stack) of Saturn Factory Service Manuals down and gave the what now look! LOL

Several years ago I put in a request to replace my Sportscar subscription with Fastrack. Granted it's a pretty dumb request since Fastrack by snail mail is old news, but the point was it is something from the club that I'll actually read. Seems that's not an easy request... I can't count the number of past due invoices for $0.00 I've received on this issue. Maybe I should mail a check for that amount and see what happens when they try to cash it.

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Originally Posted by Kai Noeske

I'd care a lot more about articles on history, class philosophy, material tests, and technical / practical / strategy advice.

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Hey Kai. That's what Grassroots Motorsports is for! :023:

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Originally Posted by Dano77

Not true Greg,The hard copy is a valuable tool when you need to write the paper on "that Guy". And the first sentence from the driver advocate is,"Do you have a copy of the GCR,cant help you if you don't" Oh yeah the laptop is at the house. The hard copy rides in the gear bag......

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BTW, according to 1.2.2, the electronic version is the only official version. The printed one is now paper for the bird cage....

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Originally Posted by Greg Amy

Ok, Eric wins; I just keep 'em on my iPhone*...or my iPad....both were given to me by my boss......... ;)

GA

* Dan, that's one of them newfangled "smartyphones"...though I "get" the potential satisfaction with book-hurling in someone's general direction...

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See Dan? get yourself a better BOSS!

;)

I'll agree with the OP. I really never read the Sportscar mag any more. I got annoyed at the 'lite' treatment they gave to subjects. Always taking the corporate line. The Head and Neck restraint article sealed it for me.
And the calenders. It's cool because they always have pictures of far away and distant lands, and of things I can not be a part of. Although I'm pretty typical of our thousands of members. :shrug:

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Originally Posted by ajmr2

Hey Kai. That's what Grassroots Motorsports is for! :023:

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Oh Hi Art!!! :006: Yes, I just renewed my prescrip... subscription!!! :114:

Join NASA, easy way to get a GRM subscription!

haha