Atlanta Region Pro-IT Problems

[Ron Earp]

Steve, I think you're basically right. For all intents and purposes the rules are the same. These non-SARRCs are essentially longer races.

The problem is going to be territory. Tom's thinking "yeah, Pro-IT at VIR, CMP, and RRR, that's cool". While Bob is considering the merits of CCPs races at Road Atlanta and Fred is thinking it'd be great to run the THC down at CMP. Each is thinking of their own racing region and how everything is just fine. Most are not considering the big picture or overall club health.

This fiefdom stuff has to go.

The RE's (or whoever decides this stuff) need to sit down and consider what racers want. And racers, well, they need to tell the RE's what they want but from experience we know it isn't easy. In a club like the SCCA the squeaky wheels get the grease and if the squeakers are the ones affiliated with a given region's pet series, well, then there won't be any compromises.

I'd like to see a 1.5 or 2 hour race format, a series that runs all over the SE, with purse and payouts and the allowed classes included ITE (a catch all class for cars that met IT SAFETY rules) and provisions for LeChump cars. I think that would be successful and could replace the ECR, ProIT, CCPs, and the THC. It'd draw a good pool of cars, that is for sure, and for that reason it wouldn't have to cost any more than one of the aforementioned races.

We've got five great tracks in the SE - CMS, RA, CMP (shut up, it is fun), RRR (that's a stretch), and VIR, maybe even Rockingham if we removed the "great" adjective. It'd be wonderful to run SARRC and an XYZ series at all of these tracks. The fact that both series would be at all the tracks the average SE racer could get to would be a boon to entries.

[SPiFF]

We are telling the REs, with our lack of attendance. I live 45m from RA and 7h from VIR. I am planning 3 trips to VIR and 1 (maybe 2) to RA.

[Simon T.]

I'd like to see a 1.5 or 2 hour race format, a series that runs all over the SE, with purse and payouts and the allowed classes included ITE (a catch all class for cars that met IT SAFETY rules) and provisions for LeChump cars. I think that would be successful and could replace the ECR, ProIT, CCPs, and the THC. It'd draw a good pool of cars, that is for sure, and for that reason it wouldn't have to cost any more than one of the aforementioned races.

That would be awesome.

[chuck baader]

Running a series like that requires a great deal of traveling. For instance, RA is 3.5 for me (depending on traffic...could/has been 6), RR is 5.5, CMP 6.5, VIR 10.5, Barber 20min. This is the main reason I ran the ProIT the last two years...I did not have to travel great distances, which made it easier on me, my equipment, and my pocket book. I think a lot of people look at it that way.

If we did establish a common series, I can see me running a sprint version (30-45 minutes) but not anything longer. In addition, I really dislike CMP and have no intention of pulling all the way to VIR unless it becomes extremely inviting. One participant's opinion.

[Ron Earp]

Sure, this series isn't your preference but what I'm asking is for people to think of the larger picture and health of club racing.


*I believe most racers would like a series that exists at all the tracks they visit. In general I see the same people at the tracks I run and I bet an informal paddock poll would reveal they don't care to have five stickers all over their cars for five different series, particularly when one that is contiguous across the region would do.

*A series that would replace ECR/ProIT/CCPs/THC would bring the regions together, one would hope. Right now I don't see a lot of cohesiveness between the NCR, SCR, CCR, BCR, and Road Africa regions. Each does their own thing. Hell, I frankly don't know why we need five regions (there are actually more) in an area 300 miles wide, but what do I know.

*I believe that the club could benefit from embracing a larger pool of racers with the NCR SCCA's ITE rule set and a specific allowance for safe LeChump cars. There are many benefits to this approach but an obvious one is that it might get some new blood into the SCCA. I don't know what our average age is but I ain't young and you're racing on social security.

*And it'd be cool.

Heck, maybe in some way tie it to the ARRC, or called it the ARRC series, and bring back meaning to the ARRC.

[JeffYoung]

Sure, this series isn't your preference but what I'm asking is for people to think of the larger picture and health of club racing.


*I believe most racers would like a series that exists at all the tracks they visit. In general I see the same people at the tracks I run and I bet an informal paddock poll would reveal they don't care to have five stickers all over their cars for five different series, particularly when one that is contiguous across the region would do.

*A series that would replace ECR/ProIT/CCPs/THC would bring the regions together, one would hope. Right now I don't see a lot of cohesiveness between the NCR, SCR, CCR, BCR, and Road Africa regions. Each does their own thing. Hell, I frankly don't know why we need five regions (there are actually more) in an area 300 miles wide, but what do I know.

*I believe that the club could benefit from embracing a larger pool of racers with the NCR SCCA's ITE rule set and a specific allowance for safe LeChump cars. There are many benefits to this approach but an obvious one is that it might get some new blood into the SCCA. I don't know what our average age is but I ain't young and you're racing on social security.

*And it'd be cool.

Heck, maybe in some way tie it to the ARRC, or called it the ARRC series, and bring back meaning to the ARRC.

Make it so. Write up a proposal for a 1 hour race series to replace the ECR and other non-SARRC races and let's see if we can get any interest in the northern half ot the SEDiv.

1 hour races
Sedans/productin based cars only (including as you note ITE and safe Chumpemons cars, no SRFs)
One 3 min pit stop
VIR, CMP, Charlotte, Road Atlanta, Roebling

Sell it to the PRO IT, THC and CCPS admins first.

[SPiFF]

SPiFF Racing would run that series.

[seckerich]

You lose a good portion of entries if you exclude SRF. 45 minutes was set as a distance all cars could make without refueling. Have to think it through a little more Jeff. You never run any of the mentioned series so you need to get some more information before you design the perfect series. 45 minutes is also the sweet spot for fitting it in a tight race schedule.

[seckerich]

Running a series like that requires a great deal of traveling. For instance, RA is 3.5 for me (depending on traffic...could/has been 6), RR is 5.5, CMP 6.5, VIR 10.5, Barber 20min. This is the main reason I ran the ProIT the last two years...I did not have to travel great distances, which made it easier on me, my equipment, and my pocket book. I think a lot of people look at it that way.

If we did establish a common series, I can see me running a sprint version (30-45 minutes) but not anything longer. In addition, I really dislike CMP and have no intention of pulling all the way to VIR unless it becomes extremely inviting. One participant's opinion.

Would not be much different Chuck. Many in the other series just run the ones at their local track and get the per race payout. Some choose to run the series and get the added bonus of year end money. Everybody wins because the extra entries picked up from out of town drivers fill the field and make it viable for the region to host. Not happening now for Atlanta and we are all just tossing out ideas to help.