There was a bit of discussion about how to handle the different pit stop rules between ECR and CCPS at the Jekyll meeting. There are several options. Grafton's option (a 5 minute, no fueling pit stop) wouldn't need a rule change, but penalizes your CCPS finish and wouldn't work for someone who couldn't make 1.5 hours without fuel.
A minor rule change in ECR and/or CCPS rules could eliminate nearly all the problems. Possible tweaks are: 1) Change CCPS rules to also require a five minute stop and allow fueling. Then everyone would have the same pit time, with the only (very minor) disparity being that a double-dipper would have to make his pit stop in the first half of the race, while the ECR-only person could do it anytime. 2) Change ECR rules to a 2-minute stop. With fueling and driver changes, this would probably be a bad idea. 3) Require both an ECR and CCPS stop (i.e., a 2-minute, no fuel stop in the first half and a 5 minute stop any time - in the second half, obviously). Any of these changes would only need to apply in combined ECR/CCPS races, so each series would retain their regular rules for stand alone events.
I think the first option makes the most sense. As for option 2, I don't think that trying to rush a driver change and refuel into two minutes is something we ought to do. The leisurely ECR pit stops have worked well for years - why change? I think the third option is overkill. There is no earthly reason to have two stops in a 90 minute race, except as a way to eliminate any disparities. And it still doesn't eliminate the first option's slight disparity of the double-dippers having to take their five-minute stop in the first half of the race, while ECR-onlies can do it any time.
Tom Lyttle
Decatur, GA
IT7 Mazda - 2006, 2008 SARRC Champion
ITS Nissan 200SX - finally running correctly
FP Ford Capri - waiting for a comp adjustment
GT3 Dodge Daytona - what was I thinking?
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