Remember their are several of us that don't run a whole lot of SCCA events that still road race other places. The closest place that is SCCA is 7hours away. But I run many no sanctioned events 6 last year and 3 so far this year I am sure i am not the only one Rory -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:17 AM Subject: RE: [F500] Why are F500 Entrys Down
Ok, at the risk of attracting more of the ire of some of those in the community I would venture the following. Your analysis of the lower entry numbers is spot on. I agree 100%. Which is why I think a long term solution of the m/c engine may be appropriate. I would like to target recent college grads as the feeders into F5 over the next few years. There's a lot of kids coming out of FSAE who have some disposable income, no kids, not a real clue about racing and a lot of enthusiasm and spare time. They've seen the m/c powerplant option and have some idea on how to make it work and its potential. They have no idea on how to tune a CVT and probably don't think much of a race car that doesn't shift (or at least that's what we've all heard a million times. I know I have). Your take on things basically means the class survival hinges on the economy rebounding, good luck. I'm hoping we can move the demographic a bit and possibly market the class (which is also a good builder's class given the relative complexity of the cars) to accomplish a healthier sustainable source of participants. I'm not sure it will work. I am sure you won't market it to karters or anyone serious about making a career out of racing. And I agree that you probably won't market it to people with real money since they can afford FCs and other more attractive cars. BTW, to others, I somehow don't think a PE or even BSME is required to build a successful F500. I doubt anyone out there is using a 7 poster or scaling up wind tunnel results. As a matter of fact would some of the more knowledgeable people out there please list some of these development costs? That way we could actually talk about issues and resolutions instead of scary indeterminate numbers. The dry sump is one, what else? Steve > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:f500- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Schmidt > Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 12:27 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [F500] Why are F500 Entrys Down > > 2 cents > > I don't think that the lack of new F500 race entries has anything to do > with > 13" wheels, springs, shocks or the lack of anything to keep your right > hand > busy. > > I think the number 1 reason is the economy. Many people in this group have > said it before, "F500 is an low cost open wheel entry level race class" I > also have seen many in the group saying that they can not road race > because > of cost, and I believe them. > > Now lets suppose that you are an average Joe with a life companion and > little ones running around. Lets also suppose that they have the average > income of the middle class, lets say 70 to 80 grand a year, (if both work > - > less if only dad works). Lets also suppose that they are in debt up to > their neck paying for the house, new car(s) and what ever. Please inform > me > where Joe is going to get $20,000.00 to buy that new F500 and extras he > knows he will need. But lets say that Joe cuts corners and buys a "not > top > runner" used car for $10,000.00. But we have seen that most national > level > racers spend $8 to 10 grand a year on expenses. Average Joe just hit > another road block, (pun intended) > > I know what your are thinking, "ahah what about the other more expensive > classes that are having increasing numbers". It is simple math, I have > already shown that Average Joe can't get into F500 (or any other class) on > his budget. But not everyone is in Joe's shoes. There are a lot of > people > who have inherited money or made it big in the stock market who do have > money. Now place yourself in Not so Average Joe's position. You have > money > to spend, you are not budget limited. You could buy a small fleet of > F500's > or spend your money on something more expense and much faster. What would > you do ? > > Also to the guy who was talking up the numbers in SRF. Every race I have > raced in, there have been at least one SRF rental group there and > sometimes, > more than one. Each one of these rental groups bring 6 to 10 cars to the > track. The numbers for SRF do not represent owner/drivers, a majority of > them are rentals, and if you ever had to race with them, you know they are > rentals buy the way they drive. (to much watching NASCAR) > > Richard > > P.S. I am posting here because I have looked at the forms and the Formula > Car site and it really needs an updating. Also I use dial-up and the > graphics at the Formula Car site just load up my machine and every thing > takes forever to load. ________________________________________________________________________ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. ________________________________ 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! ***
