No Ecr at Daytona in May

[JeffYoung]

I'm in the NC region. I've been following this stuff over the last year or so.

I am not in NC region leadership. I have a couple of racer friends who are, but I don't pretend to know anything about how our region works.

I will say that I have NEVER heard anyone in teh NC Region propose that any other region in the SEDiv be limited in the number of races they can/can't run.

I have heard of the proposal the CFR folks wrote about in their newsletter. I have also seen a lengthy explanation from Butch about it some months ago essentially saying that it was simply that, a proposal that was discussed and not adopted. Butch is that still the case?

While I don't like the way Matt presents his message, if it is true that some regions are trying to limit racing in the CFR, well then, I have to say that is wrong and Matt has a point. However, if (as I believe) taht is not the case, then I hope good sense will prevail, we'll all settle down and continue on as we have for the last 4 years (the amount of time I've been racing).

I went to Daytona last year and found nothing but hospitable folks. I really enjoy it when guys from Florida make it to Roebling, CMP or VIR. I really hope that continues.

[Mattberg]

Fine then. Maybe you (the unnamed Curmudgeon) or Butch could answer the questions posed by its66. I think they're pretty reasonable.

Regardless of the level of "cocamamie conspiracy" involved, it's pretty clear that the division is actively attempting to alter what are very successful racing programs in favor of the what they consider to be the "greater good" (where have we all heard that before?).
[/b]

You see folks, Chris has hit the nail on the head. Why change a successful program? Because Barry, Martin and the other RE's wanted a bigger peice of the pie. It was PURELY greed. The plan I presented to you over a year ago was exactly what they implemented, right down to the letter. They looked us all in the face at Jeckyll and said it wasn't happening then went and got the votes of every little podunk non-racing region and forced it through just like I said they would. The thought was they could redistribute the wealth and fund their solo programs and other non-racing activities.

You guys lost your ECR and soon, lots of other races because Martin and Barry wanted more money to pay for solo and social events. Road racing... It's the only money maker in the club. But, as I said it would, it backfired. No workers and no racers means no money. They forced Florida's hand and tried to socialize it thinking they could force Florida racers north to their events. Read the plan... "No racing during the holidays..." Why not? What does the division care? It's a strain on the workers? We've never had worker problems at the Turkey Trot. This is such absolute nonsense. It was all about keeping racing out of Florida and making Florida racers hungry for THEIR events.

As I said... Atlanta and NC will be the big losers as a result. Look for more cancellations and cutbacks.

[Butch Kummer]

OK, one more time. And this time, Matt, I'll speak s-l-o-w-l-y.

The proposal/concept/idea put forth by Fred Clark of Buccanneer Region did in fact offer a suggestion to cut back the racing season for ALL regions and create a method that regions wanting to implement a racing program could find weekends on which to race. It was a SUGGESTION, a stepping-off point for discussion, a way to get things moving - and yes, it worked better than Fred ever thought it might. At the first "secret meeting" at Jekyll back in January 2006 (which I attended as Competition Director for Atlanta Region), Fred apologized to all concerned about the furor his SUGGESTION created and we all had a good laugh about it. No changes to the schedule or guidelines resulted from that meeting, no votes of any kind were taken and there was no clandestine lobbying going on that I was aware of - it was simply an opportunity for the RE's and Competition Directors from the SEDIV regions to meet in a relaxed atmosphere, get to know each other, and discuss issues that each of us face.

I have no idea why Rick Balderson brings this up in a recent issue of The Checker. It was a dead issue then, it's a dead issue now. In my discussions with Rick and Robin (at Jekyll in 2007) they both confirmed my suggestion that the moved their SARRC sanctions to "off" weekends because the August Daytona weekend and the Turkey Trot were already oversubscribed and they chose not to "waste" their SARRC sanctions on events that already were approaching 400 entries (which they feel is the maximum number they can handle logistically). As an aside, they (CFR) also do not allow the 2-3 Craftsman Trucks that run SPO in other regions to run their events because they don't need the extra entries. Is this also a conspiracy among the northern regions?

I agree that "burden" is probably too harsh a word. I have run CFR events in the past and have always been made to feel welcome even though I live north of Gainesville, FL. And I don't mean to imply that CFR doesn't want us at their events, all I was saying is that CFR doesn't NEED the rest of the division to show up in order to have well-subscribed events. There are enough racers in Florida to have a healthy race program. Indeed many racers in Florida rarely venture outside the state because they have ample opportunity for competition within the Sunshine State.

That said, there IS an underlying friction between CFR and the rest of the division (and National) that has been there for years. One such case is the long-standing SARRC rule that the SARRC points race must be the longest race of the weekend and must be the first race in a day if multiple races are being held. Those who run CFR events know that CFR likes to schedule multiple races in a weekend, so this requirement is seen by some within CFR as "telling us how to run our events". Another rule (new this year from National) is that copies of event results MUST be made available to all participants before the weekend is complete, otherwise the host region must send hardcopies of the results to all drivers and entrants. This is a direct result of regions not providing copies of the grid sheets and results at the track. Those who run CFR events will remember having to crowd around the single copy of the grid sheet posted inside the glass of T&S and having to copy down the grid spots while every other racing region in SEDIV makes copies available. Again, some with CFR see this as others telling them how to run their events.

Back about three pages Robin Langlotz posted that he was dissatisfied with the ECR Series and chose not to participate any longer. I'm not on the ECR Committtee and I don't know the issues, but it is completely Robin's choice to participate in ECR or not. I do know there has been grumbling among the National drivers about the ECR taking track time away from them at the May Daytona event (we get the same grumbling in Atlanta about our Pro-IT series). As race organizers, we (and Robin and his staff) make decisions that may ruffle some feathers but we need to look at the bottom line for the entire race program, not just a select group of racers. We make our choice to keep Pro-IT, CFR chooses to drop out of ECR - it's the decision of the host region and is NOT directed by anyone outside that region.

Finally, when determining who is telling the truth and who is lying I ask you to look at the track records (literally and figuratively) of those speaking. I do not hide behind psuedonyms (sp?) and I actually show up at the track on occasion. I'm undecided about attending the Jim Stark weekend at Roebling the end of this month, but I plan on being at VIR May 11-13, Nashville May 19-20 (at a Track Trials), Road Atlanta June 1-3, Little Talladega June 9-10, the Double National at Roebling June 29-July 1, Barber July 7-8, Road Atlanta July 20-22, the Mid-Year Meeting July 28, VIR Aug 10-12, Nashville Sep 1-2, the SIC, the Runoffs, and the ARRC. Some of those events I will be driving, some crewing, some officiating and some all three. Come introduce yourself and I'll make time to talk.

Butch Kummer

[Butch Kummer]

Damn, Matt, I'm disappointed. In the time it took me to write my response you (or someone else) went in and deleted the portion of your post where you called me a patent liar. I REALLY want you to introduce yourself at one the events I plan to attend later this year.

[JeffYoung]

Butch, again, thank you.

[its66]

Butch,
Thanks for the reply. I hope that you are right, and that this issue/suggestion of limiting race dates, and having a lotto of sorts for remaining dates is truly a dead issue. Even if this wasn't brought up in an official capacity at an official meeting, it was brought up by officials. Unfortunately, even unofficial actions of officials become part of public scrutiny. That being said, I hope you can understand that some might get their feathers ruffled by an unofficial proposal such as this.

With regards to the Daytona ECR(the real purpose of this thread), I am torn. I can see both sides.

[Krysd]

Butch,
Thanks for your very well written explanation. I agree that this old saw of Freds has been kicked around the SEDIV for much to long and you are quite correct in saying it is a DEAD issue, will changes be proposed in the future? I certainly hope so, that is what keeps our Division healthy, will they all be adopted? I hope not, but they should be aired out.

I don't subscribe to everything that Curmudgeon says, but the one thing I do agree with is that the idea that ANY region, large or small, could force CFR to do something they didn't want to do is ludicrous. CFR is a huge region with may resources and they are used to calling their own shots, being TOLD what to do almost certainly ruffles their feathers and the reaction should have been forseeable. Is dropping the ECR a good thing? I don't think so, but when you are the 800 pound gorilla you call the shots, at least in your own part of the jungle, and we can complain and gripe all we want, it won't change a thing. If you want to make a statement, stay away, don't attend the non ECR events or the non SARRC events, it is your right to NOT participate.

Krys Dean

[Mattberg]

Butch,
Thanks for your very well written explanation. I agree that this old saw of Freds has been kicked around the SEDIV for much to long and you are quite correct in saying it is a DEAD issue, will changes be proposed in the future? I certainly hope so, that is what keeps our Division healthy, will they all be adopted? I hope not, but they should be aired out.

I don't subscribe to everything that Curmudgeon says, but the one thing I do agree with is that the idea that ANY region, large or small, could force CFR to do something they didn't want to do is ludicrous. CFR is a huge region with may resources and they are used to calling their own shots, being TOLD what to do almost certainly ruffles their feathers and the reaction should have been forseeable. Is dropping the ECR a good thing? I don't think so, but when you are the 800 pound gorilla you call the shots, at least in your own part of the jungle, and we can complain and gripe all we want, it won't change a thing. If you want to make a statement, stay away, don't attend the non ECR events or the non SARRC events, it is your right to NOT participate.

Krys Dean
[/b]

Wow. For a "DEAD issue" it seems to have an awful lot of current impact and traction...

And the issue is not dead, just one that many would like to ignore and pretend is dead. It goes way beyond CFR merely being upset or getting their titty in a ringer over the actions of a few rogue REs and regions. It's about non-racing regions, autocrossers, workers, officials and non-racers controlling road racing in the SEDIV. It's not about CFR getting pushed around by some little region, it's about those little regions banding together and exercising greater influence than they should have. The structure of divisional management and voting is ALL wrong. There are TOO many regions, some of which couldn't put on a tea party let alone a racing event. Yet, they have an equal say in how road racing and policy are carried out. Making matters far worse is that as a group, they constitute a majority that not only has equal say regardless of numbers, but potentially, FINAL say in issues while representing little or none of the road racer/road race worker base.

No it is not a dead issue. What exactly Barry and Martin said and did in their meeting at Jeckyll or have been doing since, I don't know for sure, but the tune has obvioiusly not changed despite what we were told at the time. The comments in this month's CFR's Checker clearly confirm that the Clark proposal is far from a dead issue. And I quote:

"The race realignment proposal was suggested in the 3rd quarter 2006, and the copy I have came to me from a member in the Buccaneer Region... Each of the 8 racing regions in SEDiv would get 4 events.

1 National
1 SARRC
1 Drivers School
1 Regional weekend

The remaining race dates would be decided by a lottery drawing with overworked workers and families in mind and attention should be given to NO racing around the year end holidays.

No National or SARRC events for the following year after each groups "runoff" until Jan. 1 of the following year."

End of quote.

First off, the memo was originally floated in writing by Clark in 2005. We were told it didn't exist. It had supposedly only been an informal discussion. When I got a copy of the original proving such did exist, we were told it was a dead issue. Leading up to the Jeckyll meeting in December 2005, I caught wind of Barry Hair trying to push for this plan and arranging a separate meeting outside the confines of the Divisional conference. Again, we were told it was not happening. When proof of that meeting was confirmed it was back to calling the proposal a dead issue, yet I received not one but two calls the week of that meeting notifying me that Barry was indeed contacting the smaller non-racing regions for support of the proposal... but of course the issue was still dead. Coming out of that meeting in January 2006 we were again told it was a dead issue. So here we go into 2007 and the issue seems to be very much alive. This damn turd just won't flush!

Second, you must remember the true intentions of this proposal. Ah yes, there was the window dressing version and then there was the real deal that was ultimately fessed up to by Barry himself. It was not to get non-racing regions more involved or give them a chance at being a race region as claimed but an attempt to redistribute the racing to make struggling regions and events more lucrative by screwing with the existing supply and demand model in which Florida enjoyed an enviable position. Sure they were offering a few crumbs to a few dumpy regions for their support but in the end it was about forcing racers to events by containing competition and shrinking market. I see nothing in the Q3 proposal that would suggest anything other than those original intentions are still in place.

Third, as the proposal floated Q3 2006 looks identical to the one from 2005, combined with the reaction and comments coming out of CFR over the past six months, there is little doubt that the attempts to implement such a plan are back on the table. Everything being said here and at Jeckyll about it being dead are hard to accept as true. You can keep saying it and maybe you can start believing it but it ain't going away for some reason and no one seems to have any answers. So instead of scratching one's head wondering what's going on, groaning over cancelled events and accepting the messing up good racing, perhaps we can find out who is on this continued campaign of redistribution and get them to knock it off. I have a good idea who it is but more importantly, we need to understand the bigger picture and situation here, fix it, and stop it from continuing or happening again.

Lastly, and only as a sidenote; to even suggest no racing through the holidays or post Runoffs is a blatant slap in the face to the Florida folks. The irresponsibility of any RE in the Division endorsing such let alone circulating such a plan leaves me incredulized. The fact that it comes AFTER they had supposedly already said it was not being pursued at the 2006 Jeckyll meeting combined with the sponsors of said plan seeking support from the podunk non-racing regions in the interim is an even greater slap in the face. I give CFR a lot of credit for not taking more extreme action or simply leaving the division.

[Butch Kummer]

I should probably leave this alone, but I guess it's like watching a car wreck...

There are a number of differences between you & I, Matt, but one of the biggest (even though I'm a "blatant liar") is that I'm willing to admit I might be mistaken. I completely missed the "third quarter of 2006" reference in Rick's RE Report, so I checked with Atlanta Region's RE at our Race Board meeting tonight to see if she had heard anything about the resurrection of the Buccaneer Plan. She had not, but then if we subscribe to your conspiracy theory then we would not have. Barry and his minions are deliberately keeping their plan secret from us (Atlanta Region) to further solidify their power structure before springing it upon the unsuspecting public. If so, I will be the first to admit that I was wrong and you were right.

The only fallacy I can see in Barry's thinking is that he's publicly admitted that they cannot put on an event at Barber without Atlanta Region's assistance. He's got to know that we would oppose such a plan and that we'd certainly cease to support their efforts, but perhaps he hasn't thought that far ahead. But then he's also a power-hungry bureaucrat that is a blatant liar as well. Ah if only we were as enlightened as you, Matt.

What I CAN tell you, however, is that if such a plan is presented to the RE's and comes up for a vote the Atlanta Region will vote against it. If it passes anyway, I can also guarantee that I will encourage Atlanta Region to join CFR in splitting from what remains of SEDIV even though we're in the heart of the division.

But then I suppose it's possible that Rick has gotten ahold of an old version of Bud's original (discarded) proposal and somehow thinks it's current. Another possibility is he simply mis-typed "2006" when he meant "2005" when explaining the reasoning behind the investigation into splitting off from SEDIV. What I do know is that when I asked him about the split at Jekyll (which was just before he wrote his March newsletter article), his dismissed concerns and said it was much ado about nothing. But then perhaps HE is a blatant liar as well. You can't trust anyone, can you?

You'll also remember that when the talk of CFR and Florida regions splitting off from SEDIV first came up I was non-comittal on whether that was a good thing or bad. There are benefits both ways (mostly for the National racers) and the SARRC series could easily be adjusted to accomodate two divisions. There really are pretty much two separate series with little cross-over now - the Florida racers seldom leave Florida and the northern racers seldom venture south - so it wouldn't take much to have North and South Champions with a true Runoffs-style event at the end of the season.

I'll also reiterate that the shuffling of the SARRC sanctions and the elimination of the ECR at Daytona were CFR decisions, not SEDIV decisions. Robin and Rick both told me that in person, but then we know they're both blatant liars anyway, right?

[For those that missed it, in his 12:59 AM post on April 9 Matt called me, among other things, a blatant liar. I'm sorry I didn't record that for posterity because by 9:00 AM he (or someone that knows his password) had editted his post and removed that reference. I don't know if he was worried about slander (or is it libel?), but anyone that knows me understands I don't deal with lawyers when I've been offended. Sure wish you'd show up at one of the events I'm going to, Matt - I'm the 6'7", 265 pound guy with the trick knee.]

I guess it will all come out in the end. I predict the "Fred Clark Resolution" is old news and will be never brought up at any meeting where it can be voted upon. I truly believe that proposal is dead and Rick really meant 2005 instead of 2006. There will (and should) be other discussions about how to allow new regions to build their racing programs, but it will be along the lines of the bigger regions assisting them (as we do with Alabama at Barber and Chattanooga/TVR at Nashville) rather than the smaller regions dictating the terms of surrender to the larger regions. If I'm wrong I'll be glad to admit it here, but I'm confident I won't have to.

Will you ever admit that YOU could be wrong, Matt?

No, I didn't think so.

[JeffYoung]

And that is the rub. While some of the things Matt "predicted" have come to be, the cause is not (it seems to me) as Matt indicated. CFR appears to be doing this stuff on its own, and not because of anyreal proposal by other regions to limit racing in Florida.

[Curmudgeon]

Lets see, a division made up of Atlanta, Bucaneer, Central Florida and Florida Regions???? Talk about an 800 pound gorilla!!!!!!

[Mattberg]

Lets see, a division made up of Atlanta, Bucaneer, Central Florida and Florida Regions???? Talk about an 800 pound gorilla!!!!!!
[/b]

Yousa! Now that's a good idea. See ya' Barry! NC is on their own and Alabama... well, who cares? He caused the whole problem in the first place.

Butch, personal note. Why the heck would Rick Balderson bring up this plan for member input in April 2007 if he was mistakenly referring to the May 2005 memo? Do you read what you write? Think about that a little while and get back to me.

Racers.... question all from here on in because the whitewashing is in full gear. After a couple more cancellations and screwed up situations you'll come around. Hope it's not too late by then.

[Chris Wire]

I could do without the condescension from either side as it gets a bit tiresome, and actually detracts from what should be a very pertinent topic to many on this board.

I can't believe that Rick Balderson would mistakenly bring up a topic for input in 07 that has been "dead" for a year now. There is likely something, or at the very least the appearance of something afoot. And while I haven't spoken to Rick lately on the subject, I have come to trust his judgement over the years.

No amount of name-calling or finger-pointing is really going to solve anything. What is necessary to move forward is to get as many facts on the table as possible. If there are those that have covert motives to change the structure of racing in SEDiv, I would hope that they would realize that no one will be served by subversion, and the end result will be a backlash against the perpetrators. Better to air it out now, and maybe involve more of the membership in search of a solution.

Yes, CFR is a big boy and can make big boy decisions. I just hope that they are not being made in response to outside attempts to drastically alter the makeup of racing in SEDiv. Regardless of who the players are.

Butch, I thank you for your willingness to continue to address this topic. And believe it or not, I thank Mattberg for being the splinter in the lion's paw! I hope to see more substance and honesty in the matter, and maybe a little less gradeschool sandbox name-calling.

Light always triumphs over darkness. Here's hoping for a little more light on the subject.

[JeffYoung]

Guys, other than this statement in the CFR newsletter, can anyone provide any substantiation that anyone in any other region in the SEDiv wants to take races away from CFR?

[Butch Kummer]

"Butch, personal note. Why the heck would Rick Balderson bring up this plan for member input in April 2007 if he was mistakenly referring to the May 2005 memo? Do you read what you write? Think about that a little while and get back to me."

Answer (and no, I haven't talked to Rick - have you?): I think Rick was trying to explain to new people on the block as to why there was a motion for CFR and Florida Regions to split from SEDIV. The 2005 Buccaneer Plan and the Spec Miate tire rule override were just some of the more visible issues in the recent past.

I'm a lot closer to the inner workings of SEDIV politics than most and I see no cause for alarm at this point. CFR has chosen to no longer run ECR because they do not feel ECR meets their needs (our ARRC Enduro is not an ECR event either, although we will continue to hold ECR events during the season). CFR has shuffled their SARRC sanctions to do what they feel is best for their overall race program. Perhaps these changes are a reaction to SEDIV rules, but no one within SEDIV has required that CFR make these changes. As far as anyone in Atlanta Region knows, there is no proposal in the wings to further limit the number of races a region may hold.

Perhaps I'm being decieved, so I agree that we need to be aware of what's going on. However calling people liars and accusing them of clandestine actions does nothing but incite anger and resentment. I will continue to be heavily involved in the politics and administration of the various SEDIV racing programs, and I'll let you know if something changes.

You don't have to trust me, but don't call me a liar either...

[Chris Wire]

Update:

There is no mention of this topic in the Checker newsletter this month.

[Mattberg]

Butch,

As I have said to you personally. I don't believe you have lied to anyone. And, I sincerely apologize publicly for any such comments.

I do believe you have on occasion regurgitated information from sources that may have used your close ties to the racers and presence here to accomplish their goals without interference and under the guise of legitamacy. You yourself denied the existence of any proposal some time ago before finally admitting that when I posted it, it was the first time you had heard or seen of it. That is a far more dangerous situation. We need YOU to start questioning what officials are doing instead of rationalizing their actions and pacifying the racers here.

Races are being lost, shifted and cancelled. It was my fear over a year ago and it's quite real right now. I doubt it has to do with a typo or petty feud as you suggest. There were no severe problems when it started but it has developed quickly since. Where there's smoke, there's fire. How many more races should we expect to lose?

[Butch Kummer]

Matt,

Apology accepted. And I DO look forward to meeting you sometime.

While I promise to be more diligent in searching for what is going on, I'd ask you to not immediately suspect Barry's black helicopters any time something happens that you may not agree with.

1. We lost the February SARRC/ECR/Pro-IT event at Road Atlanta because the track was not ready after being repaved over the winter. Nothing sinister there and I fully expect we'll get our traditional date in 2008 and beyond (assuming Road Atlanta does not become a golf course in the interim - something over which we have no control).

2. The March NCR event was moved from VIR to Rockingham because the track went for the green and accepted a PCA event that would utilize more of the facility at a higher rental rate. You can rail about loyalty, but each track is first and foremost a business. We lost our traditional Labor Day weekend at Road Atlanta because the AMA wanted the date and could put 75,000 people in the place. You adjust the plan and move on.

3. Rick Balderson and Robin Langlotz both told me they moved the CFR sanctions from Daytona and the Turkey Trot because they felt they didn't need the draw of SARRC to fill those events beyond capacity. They then lost Daytona this August due to track maintenance (see item #1) so it will be at least 2008 before we know for sure whether not shifting that Double SARRC sanction will adversely affect attendance. Robin did say (at Jekyll in an open meeting) that attendance at the 2006 Turkey Trot was down about 20-30 cars from previous years, but he/they felt such a drop was acceptable. Whether or not they make it up through the "new" SARRC races remains to be seen, but it is purely a CFR decision.

4. Florida Region moves it's SARRC dates around because of track availability plus the desire to take advantage of South Florida's warm winters and avoid the heat of summer. Again a local decision that was not dictated by anyone in SEDIV or the SARRC Committee.

5. CFR decides to withdraw from the ECR series. Robin posts on here it's because he/they feel the ECR juice ain't worth the squeeze (my words, not his). What will be the impact of that change? I guess we'll find out in a month or so. Can CFR re-join ECR if they decide it's the right thing to do? Damn straight they can.

6. CCR is talking about dropping their June 16-17 SARRC/ECR at Lowe's. Yes the (one-time) reschedule of our Feb SARRC event to June 1 (combined with a National) will have some impact on their attendance, but the Lowe's event has been "iffy" for years. The track rules at Lowe's are some of the toughest to deal with in SEDIV (I was told to put my 4-wheeler back in the trailer last year, but I could rent a golf cart from them and that was okay?), the rental rates are among the highest in SEDIV and we can't run race engines before noon on Sunday due to local ordinance. I'm sorry if they blame the event's demise on Atlanta Region, but last year's event (and the reason I attended it) was already being billed as the "Last Ever". I'll take some of the blame, but not all of it.

7. CCR's RE resigns. I'm not a member of CCR and I don't know the inside scoop, but I have worked with CCR personnel extensively on their past and current Hill Climb programs. Mr. Bartlett means well, but he's also pissed off just about everyone in SEDIV (and many of his own members) at one time or another over the years. Apparently they (either mutually or not) decided it was time to go a different direction.

In none of these occurences do I see fingerprints of any conspiracy led by Barry or anyone else. Others may disagree and I may indeed be blind, but I can only go with what I see. What I can promise, however, is that if ANY proposal is ever floated to further limit the number of races any region can host I will lobby against it. If it comes to a vote, I will encourage my RE to vote against it. If she goes against my wishes on said issue, I will resign my position in the Atlanta Region (my car doesn't care what stickers I run on it).

Things WILL change - that is inevitable:

Against the objections of a vocal few we implemented a "no at track entry" policy at our March National/Pro-IT. The racers appear to have accepted it because it meant there were NO lines more than five minutes long at Registration. Had it not worked, we could always have returned to the old way, but look for that policy at more and more events across SEDIV because it doesn't kill the Registrars.

There is discussion in the SARRC community to lessen the importance of the SIC by removing finishing position there as the first tie-breaker in the championship. What I believe will be proposed is to make total wins, then seconds, then thirds in SARRC races be used to break ties, then if things are STILL even use the finishing position at the SIC as the final decider. I support that change because it encourages people to run more than the minimum number of SARRC races in a season but doesn't prohibitively penalize those than can't. There's also discussion about counting one's best eight finishes rather than six, but I'm not yet ready to support that. I'm also looking at expanding the GTA concept (a topic near and dear to me) to include more cars, I LIKE having a choice of only two tires in GTA, I support the idea of a comprehensive survey of competitors when proposing changes (like the SM & IT-7 spec tire rules) and I even see signs (at least locally) of a softening of the negative attitudes many old-time SCCA folks have for NASA. Perhaps the world really IS coming to an end tomorrow!

And again I offer what I wrote before. I will be at the track throughout the year and hopefully for seasons to come. If you have questions about where things are going (and why!), ask me. I WILL make time to talk to you because more people racing is a good thing.

To paraphrase Forrest Gump: "I'm tired now. I think I'll go home..."

[Krysd]

Butch,

Robin Langlotz told me the same thing about moving the SARRC dates, both Daytona and the Turkey Trot were at the very limit with regard to car count and he felt that moving the SARRC dates would spread the car count around a little and ease the impact on the facilities, it simply makes sense for CFR to do this from a Regional perspective. I hate to see those great events go away, but sometimes you just have to accept reality and move on.

You are absolutely correct about Florida Region mixing and matching dates to avoid the hot summer months, our track officials are working their tails off with the schedule we have, and driving or working at Homestead or Moroso in July and August is a truely an act of masochism.

I believe Florida Region, Atlanta Region and CFR will all both support the smaller regions who want to develop a racing program, but not at the expense of our own regions. Frankly they need Florida, CFR, and Atlanta to make those programs work.

And lastly (is that really a word?), I want to congratulate you on the excellent job you have done with GT-A. GT-A has become one of the fastest growing, most exciting and least expensive of all the "Big Bore" classes, that is not an accident, you have served the class well and have done a great service to SEDIV as well.

Thanks

Krys Dean

[seckerich]

Very good post Butch. The decision to possibly cancel the Lowes event is due to all the factors you previously stated. The cost and restrictions involved in this race are hard to overcome for a club race. Our BOD fully understands Atlanta regions need to move their date this one time and support you 100%. We are currently looking into possible options to keep this event on the schedule. We will evaluate the cost and rate needed to make it fly and see if the market will accept the fee. If not we will move on and make changes necessary to have the event in 08. No blame to share Butch.

We are also making changes to out Memorial Monster event at CMP to make it more attractive for the ECR and Carolina Cup drivers. We are planning the CCPS 45 min race for last thing Saturday when it is cooler. We are seeking input on the addition of a 3 hour ECR Monday morning to give drivers the longer races you have asked for and still get the long haul drivers out the door by Noon so you can easily make work on Tuesday. We are looking at a 30 min session for the ECR drivers on Sunday last session to let you check out the track and have cars ready for the race. I need to get my Supps. done by Friday so speak up now if you love or hate it. We are working hard to have happy customers.