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Post by Bruce on Oct 30, 2004 11:05:29 GMT -8
The schedule for 2005 tentatively has been drawn up. You can access by going to www.sfrscca.org and click on 2005 schedule. |
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Post by Bruce on Nov 18, 2004 18:14:12 GMT -8
It seems that the schedule really is tentative as they have already made a couple changes. The Regional/National at Laguna is now a Double Regional and the Sears (Infineon) event is now a Regional/ National.
I'm sure there will be more.
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Post by DerElf on Nov 18, 2004 18:36:54 GMT -8
Well as much as I would rather have a double regional at Sears Point I can understand why a regional/national makes more sense in the long run. I am guessing a lot of the guys who run Nationals have missed the mid summer national at Sears.
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Post by myslowRCA on Nov 19, 2004 5:39:35 GMT -8
At the Laguna Seca Vintage race there was a rumor that if the track can not sign Champ car to a contract perhaps the SFR might put on a Mid Ohio size/type of national. ?
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Post by hardingfv32 on Nov 19, 2004 7:10:24 GMT -8
Are you talking of the Sept date at Sears? That would be very late for a Nat.
Brian
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Post by Bruce on Nov 19, 2004 16:24:08 GMT -8
It's the only time we have the track available to us this year. We are being slowly pushed by those in charge at the track. I guess we messed up somewhere or maybe we aren't too highly regarded anymore.
Sounds like maybe they are going to start something like the June Sprints at Road America here at Laguna, not a bad idea. I'm sure there are alot of racer's that would love to race on a track with the history of Laguna Seca.
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Post by DerElf on Nov 19, 2004 19:41:57 GMT -8
It's not anything personal on the part of Sears Point. It's simple arithmatic, they are attracking more pro events that pay a lot more $$$ so we miss out. Add to that the "Dark days" that NASCAR and NHRA require before events (NHRA has two events there after all) and we run out of dates.
Maybe the region should consider having events there on Father's day or Easter?
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Post by tvracer on Nov 20, 2004 8:24:48 GMT -8
It's not anything personal on the part of Sears Point. It's simple arithmatic, they are attracking more pro events that pay a lot more $$$ so we miss out. Marty, I hear what you are saying, but I don't see the arithmetic. How much DOES it cost to rent the track? I know in Jan 2003, it cost $15,000/day to rent the California Speedway as that's when I raced there. The Southern California Karters who rented the track had to pay for it. At about 375 karters paying an average of $100, that covered the 2 day fee of $30,000. The fee was the same whether for cars or karts. So I am curious what the fee is for Sears? Doesn't SFR get 300+ drivers to each event? If the cost is $235 (in 2004), that would be $70,500. Of course for a 2 day event, that would allot $35,250/day. Then there is the $ SFR takes. OK, so this may not be too accurate. But I would like to know what the arithmetic is before coming down on Sears and assuming they are pushing SFR out the door. Just wanting to have a discussion  Tom |
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Post by DerElf on Nov 20, 2004 13:52:03 GMT -8
Tom;
It is not just a simple matter of how much it costs, it is a question of dates that are actually OPEN for the region to rent the track. Put bluntly Sears Is rapidly becoming THE PRESTIGE ROAD RACE TRACK in the country, which means that there is another whole level of negotiations and "pay offs" that are coming into play.
This is eacerbated by "dark days" required by NHRA, NASCAR and ALMS. The Two weekends before NASCAR are BLACK (Nobody allowed in). NHRA runs two weekends, with a black weekend before each and the weekend before ALMS is DARK as well. Add to that ESPN Jim Russell school which, as a tenant, has priority over SCCA. Add to that the Bike races there (AFM and AMA) and NASA. We are in front of NASA in queue but behind the bikes as they are spectator events. So that cuts down the weekends available even further, with the only opening in the schedule being things like Mother's day, Father's day and Easter. We race 6 months out of the year and the number or days available is finite.
The truth is that after 25 or so years of SCCA keeping Sears Point open they no longer needs us, thank you very much, and we best move on.
I live 18 miles from the track, went to driver's school there in 1976 and consider it home but I was surprised we even got ONE event there. We are club racers, we don't pay a lot and we have to deal with that.
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Post by tvracer on Nov 21, 2004 7:43:13 GMT -8
Marty, Thanks for the reply. 2 things: I would still like to know the actual money that SCCA pays to Sears (not that I'll ever find that out ) compared to what other venues are charged and maybe Riverside Motorsports Park will be a great option after it opens. However, that doesn't solve your situation of having a great track right in your backyard and being forced to use it less  Tom |
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Post by hardingfv32 on Nov 21, 2004 8:41:07 GMT -8
What is the purpose of the dark weekends?
Brian
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Post by DerElf on Nov 21, 2004 10:20:40 GMT -8
Brian;
Dark weekends are used for a lot of things, mostly set up for the sactioning body and teams as well as testing. When a body like NHRA or NASCAR comes in they basically OWN the track until the event is over and the amount of preparation is amazing.
Tom:
I do not know what the exact numbers are, I do know that we pay more for Sears than we do for Laguna but we get charged more for Laguna because it has always been pereceived as a "prestige Venue". Sears, in the past, has not shared that distinction.
As for me I will continue to TEST at Sears next year when I can because it is by far the most challanging track in the area, if the car works there it will work anywhere.
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Post by hardingfv32 on Nov 21, 2004 17:56:21 GMT -8
When are some of the times you are allowed to test at Sears?
Brian
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Post by DerElf on Nov 21, 2004 18:34:32 GMT -8
There are still open test days and I have contacts with some of the shop who said they will let me jorn in on their time as well. With the price of Gas to tow to Thunderhill being what it is it winds up being a better deal to test at Sears.
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