Sean I think you and Dave Phaneuf (Jim's Lawn Shop, 7/20/2006) have brought up two really valid points about (1) who we are and (2) how we get into this class.
Like you Sean, our initial approch to SCCA was to research the different classes before committing. I would also bet that someone looking at the class, for the first time, probably has prior racing knowledge. Maybe not actual racing experience but he's not walking bug eyed through the pits for the first time. A week doesn't go by that the F500 site doesn't reflect how "economical, fast, the best, etc etc" the class is but how many interested people take the time to do the kind of research to find this out? Usually first impressons trigger a response. We see F500 as operating somewhere too far below the radar level. Obviously our class does not have a significant class presence at the track or in Sports Car adverts to conjure many first impressions. This isn't to say that these are the only media needed for success. It never hurts to, "tute your own horn". Bringing in new blood is name of the game if we are to survive through the always present participation cycles. Our class - participants and manufacturers - have got to come up with some unique and effective ways to get our message heard. Put another way, how do we become more popular? Let's add these reponses to the "Improvement List". Louie Schultz Philly Region ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean McDonald" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 8:28 AM Subject: RE: [F500] racing car counts > Okay, so I am a rookie this year and generally just observe the list to > learn about our class the people making it happen. > > This thread on car counts however is just too disturbing not to chime in. I > did a lot of research about which class I wanted to get into before buying a > car and for all of the obvious reasons (speed for money, etc.) I chose f500. > I absolutely love it, have met really great people and get this - my wife is > actually having a great time too! > > My concern now is that it almost sounds like by the time I can actually earn > my national license there may not be a reason to have it. Now, I'll > continue to race my f500 no matter what but I was/am looking forward > competing at the national level perhaps even traveling to some great tracks > which would hopefully include the runoffs someday. > > Just my .02 > > Sean > > Sean G. McDonald > Advertising Director > Peninsula Daily News > 360-417-3540 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jay Novak [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 7:19 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [F500] racing car counts > > F500 car counts are down 50% this year. See this link. > > http://p081.ezboard.com/fdsrforumfrm28.showMessage?topicID=115.topic > > > > Thanks ... Jay Novak > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 8:27 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [F500] racing car counts > > In a message dated 7/19/2006 8:51:01 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > <<<I think with the introduction of f1000, the SCCA got their entry level > step for the karters to go to and we will forever be forgetting the 600cc > bike > motor debate.>>> > > Don't bet on it. F1000 is the heir apparent to FC and the Pinto 2L engine; > > there is as of yet no heir apparent for FF and the 1.6L Kent. FF is > experiencing a far more significant decline than we are, and it has been > declining > for several years. You can bet that there WILL be a non-winged class that > is > far faster than FV, but not up to FC/F1000 levels; unless F500 gets on the > growth curve FAST, F600 will likely occur. Frankly, it wouldn't surprise > me to > see a move towards an open-wheel class structure of FA/FB/FC/FD/FE, with > FF/F500/F600 being lumped together into FD. > > > <<<The large problem, I see, is budgets and the move of the Runoffs. I, > for > one, will not be going to the Runoffs this year due to time and work > commitments. >>> > > I'd suggest something else as part of the problem - reliability and > maintenance requirements. F500 absolutely goes the fastest for the money > of any > class in SCCA, but it also is one of the least reliable, and these cars > take a > relatively high level of attention to stay running. When a newbie compares > > this with, for example, Spec Miata, they see a slow "gas'n'go" car vs. a > very > quick "time sponge." F500 may be 10 seconds/lap faster for only a few > dollars > more, but for someone with limited time available to work on their car, it > may be a tough sell. > > ...just my $0.02...... > > Marshall Mauney > 2002 Red Devil > > _______________________________________________ > F500 mailing list - [email protected] > To unsubscribe or change options please visit: > http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 > *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! *** > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > F500 mailing list - [email protected] > To unsubscribe or change options please visit: > http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 > *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! *** _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! ***
