Racers, Just rec'd the following response from one of the DCR's former RE's Jack Burrows !
Jack was always out in front on all and any issues and seems to still be so ! Also, he's up to speed on the regs ! Gil Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 6:41 PM Subject: Re: Pit Stop... BREAKING NEWS! I'm still digesting this one and the various responses that have already been posted. But, as one who wrestled with this issue and was responsible for resovling it over a period of years, my first impression goes something like this: First, lemme see here... We created a new closed-wheel class based on ... something, and - at the same time - we flushed five open-wheel classes (four existing classes and one new class) down the toilet because of their low car count. I believe I understand the issues and problems of track capacity and race groupings as well as anyone, and I'm still trying to figure out if I'm mad, sad, or both. I think it's an unconscionable decision on the Region's not - not to mention the fact that it's a decision beyond the Comp committee's purview since only the BoD can approve new classes and - more importantly - approved the restriction of our regional races to preclude participation by SCCA-approved classes. SCCA's long-standing policy - and, by extension, our policy as an SCCA region - is that we will provide a place for SCCA-approved classes to participate in our SCCA-sanctioned events. One of the only regions with a racing program larger than our own, the San Francisco Region, dealt 20 years ago with the problem of high car counts and rising numbers of race groups with some under-subscribed classes. (Back then the problem was dwindling Production car counts.) Their solution was to take a different bite out of the bullet. Rather than turn their back on existing classes, they rotated them through the season; over a 10-race season eight of their 10 race groups participated in each race weekend, giving each group a nine-race season. Although there were complaints at first, racers quickly realized it reduced the costs of their season and gave them an opportunity to do much-needed work on cars during their group's "mid-season break." While it wasn't a perfect solution, it was a better solution than simply slamming the door on racers in approved classes and telling them to go play elsewhere. THE COMP COMMITTEE'S DECISION MUST BE REVISITED. It saddens and disgusts me that we in the DC Region, who pride ourselves on the club racing program we provide our membership, are unable or unwilling to continue to provide members of our racing community with the service which is, in effect, our "core business." And, lest we forget, our "core business" is to be a CLUB to serve our membership rather than a corporation which simply "downsizes" its unprofitable elements and cuts them adrift. This is just wrong, wrong, WRONG. I've been faithful to the DC Region and proud of my participation with them for nearly 40 years, but this makes me think perhaps its' time for me to go elsewhere - like the Glen or North Carolina Region - and participate with outfits like EMRA or NASA which haven't forgotten why they exist. Of course, this also raises the question of which class or classes will be next on the Region's chopping block. ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ 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! ***
