Runoffs on or near the Best Coast....

[lateapex911]

Like if new England had the most entries, they'd hold it at Lime Rock?!

If a weekend is $58K, can you imagine how much the rental for the entire event would be!? But that's irrelevant, the track just isn't appropriate. Too small, too short, no paddock space. That's the issue, not all regions have an appropriate track.

Further, some regions run more races, so they will naturally have more entries. Season is longer in Florida, so maybe THEY'LL have the most entries.

Bottom line is that there are only a few tracks in America that can handle an event of the size of the runoffs. Road America, Mid Ohio, Road Atlanta, Miller (yech) mayyyybe the Glen, and Daytona. I don't think that Sears (Infineon) is big enough, and Laguna is possibly big enough but there are so many restrictions there, I'm not sure it's feasible to deal with those. I've never been to Willow...the west coast guys can correct me on all this of course.
I think you could throw out Daytona, the California tracks and Watkins Glen as being "too far" for most ...unless the BoD has decided the Runoffs will move around every year visiting east then west then middle, and they will live with the attendance varying .

[Z3_GoCar]

we could get into so many arguments why the west coast is not the best coast but I will not get into that.... lol

I don't generally go either way (I have gone to crew) but how many people are lost when it moves from place to place? I think that the reagion whom has the most entries throughout the season gets to host the event the following year.

Raymond

Hey Ray,

I'm just quoting Jim Morrison.

By your plan we'd just go back to holding the run-offs at Road-Antlanta, that plan lead to stagnation and NASA. If the event moves both East and West, then why would someone leave? If the events too far, then wait a couple years and it'll move back to a location that's closer. Tom Misseradino's already talking about it being in either Antlanta or Daytona, talk about loosing more of the West coast participants, but if it'll swing back West again then it won't be too bad.

Jake,

I don't get what's wrong with Miller, while I've not raced there, it's a great facillity.

[racer_tim]

The track @ Miller isn't very challenging. Not much elevation change, and dusty as all hell.

Sears Point = NO. Relationship with SCCA SUCKS

Laguna Seca = NO. Sound limitations would kill anybody from out of Region.

ThunderHill = NO. Wouldn't be able to handle that many people: ie. hotels, restaurants

[wlfpkrcn]

Tim,

I have not driven Miller, but there are a lot of tracks with limited elevation that are considered challenging. I hear Miller is quite fast and fun to drive. If you have driven Miller what are your thoughts?

Sebring
Daytona
Silverstone
Monza
Portland
All have limited elevation change. I think Miller is 33' top to bottom. Thunderhill can't be much more(not listed on website) I wouldn't guess over 70' on the 2 hills

[seckerich]

VIR !!!!!!! Miller is one of the best tracks you will ever visit for a team, and the worst for drivers and good racing. Most passes include a nudge and because it has no real passing zones except the front straight. Waste of good pavement and another Alan Wilson style FU.

[benspeed]

Watkins Glen - rated as one of the most historic, challenging and entertaining places to race. Plenty of room to host the Runoffs and lots of cool stuff to do off the track.

My suggestion is that it rotates across a few courses in this list - VIR, WG, Mid-Ohio, Road Atlanta, Road America and pick one of the west coast tracks and a soutwest track. Don't know which is the best. Being a Yankee I still have to acknowledge that the west coast gets a unfair deal on the track location for the Runoffs.

[seckerich]

Pure economics Ben, look at a map of licensed drivers and you see where the center is. Very East coast dominated. They can not loose them and make it pay regardless of the politics.