I looked at a number of ways to make a Double SARRC schedule work plus include a practice session to start everything off and it simply won't fit into a 16-18 hour weekend. Yes I'm aware that folks in the Carolinas are reluctant to travel eight hours one way for a single SARRC, but you DO have Monday off to travel home. We kept Monday open out of concern for being able to get home early and avoid the Labor Day rush for both racers and workers alike. This event is a calculated gamble on our part, but it's the only option we have right now.
The first year at Barber was a Regional/SARRC with only one session on track before the Regional. They also didn't finish until 7:30 that evening even after shortening the races. That experience at Barber factored into the Stewards' decision to not approve our original request for a Double SARRC.
The track is 1.41 miles, but it has a faster top end than CMP. I ran the same gear we run at CMP during last year's Track Trials event and was on the rev limiter at the Start/Finish line (which is WELL before the braking zone for Turn 1). The track is 40 feet wide at a minimum, so there's plenty of room to go two wide even if you don't like each other and passing slower cars will not be a problem. It'll be tough to pass an equal car in the twisty bits, but that's true anywhere (how many of you have passed a competitor in the Esses at Road Atlanta without having a major adrenaline rush?). The main reason I ran the Track Trials last year was to get an idea of how the track races, and I'm (obviously) convinced it races well enough to be fun. One neat thing is that you can see the whole track from just about anywhere in the infield, plus the track will open sections of the grandstands for those that want to watch from there (it's a spectator event just like all Atlanta Region events).
I understand those that will choose to stay home. General rule of thumb is that folks run single SARRCs in their back yard and travel for Doubles. Unless we take a total bath this year I expect we'll be able to run it as a Double in 2007 (assuming no major issues are encountered). There's been a fair amount of interest from the MWDIV and CENDIV guys as well (it's actually closer to them), so there's also the draw of racing against fresh meat.
Again, it's the best option we have available to us...
Butch Kummer
Atlanta Region Competition Director