2010 NEDiv Roundtable

[Jeremy Billiel]

I can't tell you how many times I have tried to explain that racing is a commodity. It is NOT a club atmosphere. Racers simply do not care about the regions, who is hosting events and if they make money or not. They look at the family schedule and then say what weekends can I slot into my free time. Just that simple...

Over time as we have already began to see that the northeast is unraveling and quite frankly we have too many regions and too much politics. The regions with the best events, most value and ease of running will ultimately win.

Just my .02. Call me a cynic, call me what you want, but this is how its SUPPOSE TO WORK.

Rant off.

[Marcus Miller]

I can't tell you how many times I have tried to explain that racing is a commodity. It is NOT a club atmosphere. Racers simply do not care about the regions, who is hosting events and if they make money or not. They look at the family schedule and then say what weekends can I slot into my free time. Just that simple...

Over time as we have already began to see that the northeast is unraveling and quite frankly we have too many regions and too much politics. The regions with the best events, most value and ease of running will ultimately win.

Just my .02. Call me a cynic, call me what you want, but this is how its SUPPOSE TO WORK.

Rant off.

+1
What are you guys running at the natl weekend? Teg? or Miata?

[mossaidis]

If I may... I *think* the PTB decided that NARRC would the premier regional circuit in the NE, hence the limited schedule and no more "soft" point exceptions and rules. Is NARRC at odds with Pro-IT? perhaps... but probably not. If I remember correctly, there was a post here about what NARRC "should be". So... if you are serious about regional championship racing in the NE, you will make the time and effort for NARRC - I am. Don't care about a championship? there they are tons of regional, restricted and Pro-IT races to choose from at every track.

And if you're like tGA and tJB itching for National races w/o having to wait for the damn IT-to-go-National debate to be settled, then there's STU. Don't get me wrong, I would love to put in a K20, cams and a big-a$$ wing on my EG, but based on principal and $$$ I will make the most of it in NARRC.

[Jeremy Billiel]

If I may... I *think* the PTB decided that NARRC would the premier regional circuit in the NE, hence the limited schedule and no more "soft" point exceptions and rules. Is NARRC at odds with Pro-IT? perhaps... but probably not. If I remember correctly, there was a post here about what NARRC "should be". So... if you are serious about regional championship racing in the NE, you will make the time and effort for NARRC - I am. Don't care about a championship? there they are tons of regional, restricted and Pro-IT races to choose from at every track.

And if you're like tGA and tJB itching for National races w/o having to wait for the damn IT-to-go-National debate to be settled, then there's STU. Don't get me wrong, I would love to put in a K20, cams and a big-a$$ wing on my EG, but based on principal and $$$ I will make the most of it in NARRC.

Please don't confuse my comments as national vs regional banter. It's 100% about the regions at play and the NARRC series that started this latest version of the thread.

[Robert Zecca]

Dear Drivers,
It is a shame to hear so many people are unhappy with the NARRC, etc......I was at the Roundtable and it was excellent. TOO BAD the drivers did not show up to voice their opinions because we if we really need to fix something we need to voice our opinions. Too late now but I personally feel we need to build back up NARRC to make it mean something like years ago. I am happy that about 50-60% of the drivers did show up to pick up their awards and they were given out by Jeff Dahnert our President.

I have my hands full with ProIT and trying to close this NY Life deal but it would be nice to incorporate a deal for NARRC as well. Maybe we can sit down at an upcoming regional and get this thing figured out. Jerry Rigoli works very hard and Dick Patullo is incredible as well and if we work together we can get thing solved for a sold platform to work for going into the future.

Sincerely,
Bob Zecca

[Andy Bettencourt]

Dear Drivers,
It is a shame to hear so many people are unhappy with the NARRC, etc......I was at the Roundtable and it was excellent. TOO BAD the drivers did not show up to voice their opinions because we if we really need to fix something we need to voice our opinions. Too late now but I personally feel we need to build back up NARRC to make it mean something like years ago. I am happy that about 50-60% of the drivers did show up to pick up their awards and they were given out by Jeff Dahnert our President.

I have my hands full with ProIT and trying to close this NY Life deal but it would be nice to incorporate a deal for NARRC as well. Maybe we can sit down at an upcoming regional and get this thing figured out. Jerry Rigoli works very hard and Dick Patullo is incredible as well and if we work together we can get thing solved for a sold platform to work for going into the future.

Sincerely,
Bob Zecca

Bob,

The feedback was given to the voting members of the NARRC prior to this last roundtable. That feedback was the driver for the two additional tentative weekends we saw on the NARRC website all winter that are now gone. We voiced it, they didn't listen. I have the emails and the dates if you would like copies. Summary sent 11-17-09 after large file didn't go through. Followed up same day with condensed file.

The NARRC is/was the premier series in the Northeast. You HAVE TO ALLOW FOR LIFE to get in the way. Right now it's an attendance award. If you want to have just 8 races, make it the best 6. We are simply not Pro racers, we have to be allowed to have a race or two that we can't make.

And aside from Jerry R, not one member of teh NARRC committee has answered my direct question via e-mail why they voted this way. It's a far cry from a year or two ago when D. Anthony was busting his hump to make it a drivers series.

If the committee isn;t going to listen to the racers...then disband the NARRC and run your local series. NERRC and NYSRRC will survive, but there will be no inter-Regional Championship. Pfft.

And yes, I have volunteered to take over the NARRC and run it differently.

[Jeremy Billiel]

Dear Drivers,
It is a shame to hear so many people are unhappy with the NARRC, etc......I was at the Roundtable and it was excellent. TOO BAD the drivers did not show up to voice their opinions because we if we really need to fix something we need to voice our opinions. Too late now but I personally feel we need to build back up NARRC to make it mean something like years ago. I am happy that about 50-60% of the drivers did show up to pick up their awards and they were given out by Jeff Dahnert our President.

I have my hands full with ProIT and trying to close this NY Life deal but it would be nice to incorporate a deal for NARRC as well. Maybe we can sit down at an upcoming regional and get this thing figured out. Jerry Rigoli works very hard and Dick Patullo is incredible as well and if we work together we can get thing solved for a sold platform to work for going into the future.

Sincerely,
Bob Zecca

BOB - You are making my point. The reason that drivers don't show up is because wait for it.... They don't care about the politics! They look at the final schedule and choose which weekend to attend based on various factors.

You have done a good job with the Pro IT. You never intended for it to replace regionals, but guess what? Pro IT is what people wanted... Again for various reasons. Drivers voted with their wallet. No matter how much you pleaded regional attendance did not go up. Staying for the regional did not make sense for a majority of the racers as they could come and go in one day with the Pro IT.

Again I am a volunteer with NER as many others are in various regions. Until people take a step back and LISTEN to the customers one day a region is going to be in for a rude awakening I fear.

[ner88]

I attended 15 events in the NE last season, I spent time talking to many of the drivers.
Either at a drivers meeting, wandering the pits or small groups in the timing tower/garage at NJMP and I LISTENED.
The current NARRC schedule, for the most part, was my proposal. I recommended drops but I'm only one vote and the discussion was always against them, as it was again this past weekend.
If everyone feels their should be dropped events contact one of the members of the board in your region.
Now, for something I have more control over, NERRC, take a look at our schedule, nicely spread out over the season, 13 races with 3 drops and prices that can't be beat! We are hosting 3 triple race events (what the drivers wanted) and special discounts to double dippers (what the drivers wanted).
NHMS has opened the Coach area, sites with electric & water hook ups, a new play area for the kids and a 30 table picnic area. New restroom with 20+ showers and more coming soon!
Do I care about what you have to say? We have scheduled 4 Club racing board meetings at upcoming race events as well.

Jerry Rigoli NER Club Racing Chairman

[StephenB]

Dear Drivers, TOO BAD the drivers did not show up to voice their opinions because we if we really need to fix something we need to voice our opinions.

Maybe we can sit down at an upcoming regional and get this thing figured out. Jerry Rigoli works very hard and Dick Patullo is incredible as well and if we work together we can get thing solved for a sold platform to work for going into the future.

Sincerely,
Bob Zecca

With all the modern forms of comunication i would think we could solicite feedback in a more efficient manor. And to be honest I thought Andy did this! I did not go to the round-table but I did submit my thoughts on improving the NARRC series the exact way the NARRC committee requested.

It is TOO BAD those at the round-table didn't follow the communication process that was requested on the NARRC website.

Stephen

[Andy Bettencourt]

With all the modern forms of comunication i would think we could solicite feedback in a more efficient manor. And to be honest I thought Andy did this! I did not go to the round-table but I did submit my thoughts on improving the NARRC series the exact way the NARRC committee requested.

It is TOO BAD those at the round-table didn't follow the communication process that was requested on the NARRC website.

Stephen

Stephen,

The NARRC Committee had the feedback collected. They just chose to not support it. I believe there is time to voice opinions again. Review the series rules at www.narrc.com and send feedback to .....committee AT narrc.com....

I will again as an individual. I will be suggestion that we need to change to a best 6 of 8.

[mossaidis]

Please don't confuse my comments as national vs regional banter. It's 100% about the regions at play and the NARRC series that started this latest version of the thread.

I was placing my own shameless plug on the regional vs national banter. STU kills me.

[Andy Bettencourt]

So lets try and swing this to a constructive note. The amount of races has been reduced. Check. About once a month is a great target that has almost been achieved. Check. A variety of tracks. Check.

If we amended the rules to 'best 6 of 8' with the same 3 weekend minimum, you could accomplish what the drivers have been asking for - for a few years now...but we are still hung up on one of teh two biggest issues we have had. There is still time to amend the rules.

[Greg Amy]

What are you guys running at the natl weekend? Teg? or Miata?

ITS Integra. It's still in pieces at Kessler's shop and we haven't even started on the Mee-Otter yet!!!