Originally Posted by
jumbojimbo
The $500 chump car limit is a successful (so far) method of maintaining the perception of low cost. This is something that Lemons and CC have done successfully that SCCA fails at.
I know, I know, you don't HAVE to spend $10k on your chumpcar. But you don't have to spend big money to race an SCCA car either. As has been pointed out, IT and CC cars are not that different. All that crap about being able to cut the roof off and remover washer bottles and bolt on bigger brakes, etc is window dressing.
The big differences between SCCA IT and CC are the team-based enduro vs single driver sprint races and the perception of lower cost. Emphesis on perception. Actaully cost per mile between IT and CC is not that different. And I'm pretty sure "well funded" drivers who fly in to drive a race shop prepped CC are paying a whole lot more per hour of track time than I am to race my ITC Civic.
The one area that SCCA has the advantage is in actual wheel to wheel, hammer and tong, mano a mano, close quarters, competitive racing. And we do a poor job of promoting that part of our product.