Miata feature race at 20th ARRC by GRM

[nickatgt]

We are in the midst of planning for the 20th running of the American Road Race of Champions presented by Grassroots Motorsports and need your help.

This year we are planning for a feature race for Miatas prior to the Trans Am race on Sunday afternoon. The idea is to give the spectators and competitors a chance to see the Miatas one more time in the weekend and to give back a little, thanking you for your support this year. While the name is still up in the air, here is what we are thinking.

The "Luck of the Draw" Outlaw Miata
Feature Race

• “Fun” race…a little different. No points just money. One race on Sunday as a feature race before the Trans-Am race.
• $ 200 - 250 entry fee with $100-$150 going to payout.
• Give each car one raffle ticket for turning a lap. Give top ten finishers extra tickets based on finishing position. Dead last place also gets extra ticket(s).
• Drawing for prizes and cash. Cash split into three pots, 50%, 30% and 20%. Can only win one cash prize.
• No qualifying warm-up only...will draw for grid position.
• Must have raced in one other race or registered for one other race (ECR: must turn a wheel in ECR to collect prize) as a class compliant car.

Here is where I am asking for feedback. Again we want to make it fun and a little different. We want to fill the field and want some interesting racing.

• Allow mods (weight, restrictor plates)?
• All or 1.6 only?
• Any mod has to be done between the Saturday race and the Sunday Outlaw race or put back before the ECR?
• Anything else?
• Allow any DOT tire, no Race tires?
• Only requirement is that it must be safety compliant and have raced as a legally compliant car.
• Half way through the race bring all cars in, encourage driver change (new driver gets additional ticket) and re-grid by drawing for position.

Anything else?

Other ideas?

Interesting?

Again I'd appreciate your thoughts, I will be putting together supps in the next week. If you have any thoughts of feedback post it here or drop me an email. I look forward to seeing you at the ARRC.

[Tom Donnelly]

My first thought was, why not just call it the Miata ARRC at Road Atlanta and just not invite all those pesky IT, GT, and others for the whole weekend?

And why not halfway through the race, the drivers can switch cars too? Or switch direction!

[Greg Amy]

I've always said that every event needs more Miata races...or more cowbell, I get those two confused.

- GA

[Tom Donnelly]

[240zdave]

My first thought was, why not just call it the Miata ARRC at Road Atlanta and just not invite all those pesky IT, GT, and others for the whole weekend?

And why not halfway through the race, the drivers can switch cars too? Or switch direction!

I guess this is because they don't have enough classes to race in already?

[Wreckerboy]

There are roughly 985,721 first gen Miatas. There is a class for each one.

[Tom Donnelly]

All kidding aside, is this the replacement for the Pro-It? If it is, then I am beginning to see what others are saying about the Atlanta region. If you don't have a Miata, you won't get decent track time at Road Atlanta.


Your comments about spectators getting another chance to see the Miatas was pretty much a cold slap in the face to all the other classes. Do you really think a one car class race is what people really want to see? You wanted feedback, well here it is. You posted on an IT based forum how there will be a "wonderful" new race for which we will not be included.

Don't piss down my back and tell me its raining.

[seckerich]

Just a couple thoughts from the cheap seats.

I remember Butch giving us all our own races for years even after numbers dropped to the point the region was losing money on us. We were told if we brought the cars we would still get our own group. We did not and the region has to make changes to remain profitable.

If you want your region to lose money, you have to be ready for the consequences. Bring the entries and you will get all the racing you can stand. Otherwise it is your BOD's job to cater to those that write a check. Like it or not this was always an IT centered race and way too many Atlanta IT drivers went to SM and the prep shops as well.

Talks among region leaders about a single 45 minute series for 2014 are well under way. Hang in there.

[Greg Amy]

I'm quite interested to see how this year's ARRC works out. Given that next year's Runoffs are at Laguna Seca, it's unlikely that I can tow the car across the country (though I may rent like a Miata or something to run the STL race). So maybe we need to talk about a "gathering" of the old crowd back at the ARRC for 2014...

I miss that track, time to "go home".

Food for thought.

- GA

[Knestis]

Sorry - minor thread highjack. Is there a place to run our STU car at the ARRC...?

K

[nickatgt]

Absolutely! STU will be in run group 1. 2 qualifying sessions on Friday (20 minutes and 15 minutes) with a 20 lap or 40 minute race on Saturday.

Road Atlanta will also have a test day on Thursday October 31st

[awegrzyn]

Nick, do you happen to have a schedule for the event? I'm thinking of towing from New Jersey.

[nickatgt]

I will start a thread on the ARRC in a week or so however here is the rough schedule:

Thursday October 31
Road Atlanta Test Day

Friday November 1
AM - 20 Minute qualifying sessions
PM - 15 Minute qualifying sessions
- Pro-IT/CCPS Race

Saturday November 2
AM - 20 lap/40 minute Races groups 1-4
PM - 45 minute Trans Am Qualifying
- 20 lap/40 minute Races groups 5-7

Sunday November 3
AM - Warm-up for ECR & Feature Race
- Trans Am qualifying
- Quiet Time & PDX
PM - 15 lap Feature Race (SM) "Luck of the Draw"
- 100 mile Trans AM Race
- 2.5 hour ECR

[itracer]

So maybe we need to talk about a "gathering" of the old crowd back at the ARRC for 2014...

Now that I have a car worthy of going down there, I want to go drive there. As long as the schedule is set early enough in advance, I would be interested.

I miss the runoffs style tech at the end of the event that made it a true championship. Impounding the top 6 and tearing down the top three on Saturday night let you know that you had what it took to win AND a legal car.

[Simon T.]

2.5 hour or 3 hour just leave it on Sunday, I have a wedding to attend Saturday.