Toni, I have a couple of points regarding the spec tire for IT-7. Regardless of a given IT-7 driver's like, or dislike, of the current IT-7 spec tire, he or she has to acknowledge the clear fact that the actual IT-7 driving community elected to go with the spec tire. I absolutely respect, and appreciate, your support of the notion that the drivers should have a voice in the rules that affect their regional class. I don't know what you meant by "a formal vote" so I don't know how the phrase applies to the previous spec tire vote. But I do know that that vote was a real vote by the, then active, IT-7 drivers and passed by a 5 to 1 margin. The framers of the IT-7 spec tire rule were given specific instructions to set up a vote by the drivers. They did so and received ballots by a vast majority of the active drivers. Those ballots showed an overwhelming desire to have a spec tire. I can't imagine of a more clear and succinct example of racers having a voice in the rules.
Just like the previous poster, I have yet to talk to another IT-7 driver that was aware of your request for opinions (although I didn't contact Ricky because I'd seen his post). So there will be a very large question as to who had access to giving an opinion. While I agree that the question is open for all to respond, I have a problem with the very minimal exposure (on the part of the complete community) the question will receive. Simply put I don't see how a simple posting on a public forum, not officially associated with the SCCA or SEDIV, can even remotely be considered to revoke, revise, or reaffirm an actual written vote performed by all of the IT-7 drivers. While I find the Improved Touring website to be an invaluable tool, I have to point out that it serves in no official capacity nor are we in a position to gauge its coverage. I've been trying to get the word out to as many of the affected drivers that I can but that fails miserably in comparison to a direct mailing (as was done before).
I did talk to my fellow Board of Directors members, to my RE, and to my region's Chief of Tech. Now my RE is armed with one person's opinion. While informative, one person's opinion simply can't be compared to the force of a conclusion reached by over 3/4ths of the affected drivers.
As for me, do I support a spec tire for IT-7? Yes. Why? Because the drivers were asked to vote and they voted to have one.
The CRB required a complete vote by the drivers in order to add a spec tire rule to the class rules and, baring a safety issue, they should require the same complete vote to change that rule.
Scott Gallimore
worker, nat comp license, IT-7 driver,
North Carolina Region Board of Directors, Member at Large
Scott Gallimore
worker, nat comp license, IT-7 driver,
North Carolina Region Board of Directors, Member at Large
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