I was the person that originally suggested the Weight Rewards.
Pro-IT is supposed to be the "showcase race" of Atlanta Region race weekends. For the past few years I've found myself watching the start or each race to make sure everyone got through Turn 1 okay, then I'd return to working on my car while Chet Wittel decimated the field yet again. If I'm doing that as a race fan, what's the average spectator doing? When I thought about what would make me watch the entire race, not knowing the outcome after the first turn was high on the list. I'm also thinking Weight Rewards might encourage more third thru fifth place drivers to run more often, thus increasing car counts at the pointy end of the field.
Many (if not most) of the front-runners in Pro-IT do not run our SARRC races, so there's no need to worry about adding and removing the weight over the course of the weekend. I'd also guess that the average increase over the course of a season would be around 100#, which could be added using fuel and relatively small amounts of ballast. And if someone DID carry the max of 225# and STILL managed to win, I'd definitely be watching because the next Ayrton Senna would be on the track that day!
Butch Kummer
Former SCCA Director of Club Racing (July 2012 - Sept 2014)
2006, 2007, 2010 SARRC GTA Champion
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