Atlanta Region Pro-IT Problems

[CRallo]

In my eyes, ProIT works if paired with a bigger event not "just" a SCCA National. Or if paired with a regional...

[chuck baader]

I think a lot of the problem this year, and the reason I'm not running, is that the SARRC schedule is so screwed up this year. I have no desire to run with the nationals crowd as most of the people I know and hang with are SARRC runners. The Majors definitely f'ed that up this year, for me anyway.

[JeffYoung]

I think we are all saying effectively teh same thing. Pro IT needs a strong regional weekend to "attach to" to be successful. Due to scheduling issues, Road Atlanta can't do that right now.

That to me is the crux of the matter.

[dickita15]

None of my business but I will say that with the rollout of the Majors 2013 everthing is a bit messed up and much will change as the new normal is designed for 2014 as the divisions design divisional championships and all. I am not sure I would do anything rash now with the landscape changing over the next couple of years.

[SPiFF]

IMHO, the advent of The Majors is a good thing and a positive change. It will also drive a change in the regional schedules and types of races, which I think is desperately needed (at least in the SEDIV). IT racing at RA has been hurting long before the Majors was announced.

[Tom Donnelly]

My big questions are:

Where is ITS, ITA etc going to run at Road Atlanta?
There was really no other group available for my 240z this past weekend besides the ProIT.
I guess I could run EP or buy a Miata but I'd like to keep pushing forward in the 240Z.

When is there a SARRC at RA?

And..

Nobody else is going to miss the chance to actually win more than a trophy?

[seckerich]

You are correct Tom, many people do want to win more than a trophy. Atlanta's Pro IT, The Carolina Cup Pro Series (CCPS), and now the THC at VIR are examples. These races give a lot of drivers the paid race they need to have certain tax deductions for their racing effort. The Pro IT survived because of a very strong IT base in the Atlanta area through the years that has now dropped off. Most of your IT crowd are drinking the SM coolaid as are most of your past big prep shops. Many went to Grand Am and left SCCA.

What we need is one Pro series that covers NC, SC, VA, and Georgia to cover our IT core group. I leave Florida out because they have their own series that do very well and they rarely travel for SARRC, or any other series.

Set a standard payout for all the races that the host region administers for the weekend. Then have a set contribution to year end payout for champions that is paid by the regions holding races based on the number of entries they received for the year. Regions holding the races contol the funds until they are distributed to the drivers so no 3rd party is involved. We keep the travel area smaller with VIR, RA, CMP, CMS, and possibly Barber. The support comes from a bigger pot for year end payout and the draw of the other races held the same weekend. Very few drivers will travel for a single race at a not SARRC weekend.

Just tossing this out for discussion.