Sears / Infineon Season opener

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Entry list out. Only 32 entries in grp 4.
12 CFs, 8 FFs, 9 FVs, and 3 F5s. Compare that to 55 Miatas. If I put fenders and a tin top on, could I ...., naw, I couldn't take all the bumping.

Note: we have a full 20 minutes of qualifying for the Fords and a full 20 for the Vees. Thank you Blake and Peter.

Start thinking about gas cards again.
dave

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Hey, no FFirsts?
dave

[milldawg]

Looks like rain on Friday for testers, and Saturday morning showers. Is it April yet?

[brian]

I will be working tech this weekend, let me know if anyone needs me to bring something.

[sabre1]

Brian,

Will you be there on Sunday? I can bring the Z-bar bits to update your Vee. Or is that backdate? ...couldn't resist ;-)


-Jim

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Guys-we need to be thinking about having another class added to our run group. BIG TIME BUMMER! Grp 2 is closed for entries as of last week (3/20). Max for Sears is 63. We "only" have 35. You know that the only grp that they can move formula cars into is OURS. Grp 2 is having a driver's meeting to discuss this and other problems. As I look at the numbers, it would seem either FC (4) entries or FM (11 entries) or BOTH could be moved into our grp to ease the crowding in grp 2. I would prefer FC, how about you?
I would hate having our little grp disrupted, but we don't have the numbers to turn back the tide. What are your thoughts-can we get another 10 Vees?
dave

[qposner]

dkjx said:

Guys-we need to be thinking about having another class added to our run group. BIG TIME BUMMER! Grp 2 is closed for entries as of last week (3/20). Max for Sears is 63. We "only" have 35. You know that the only grp that they can move formula cars into is OURS. Grp 2 is having a driver's meeting to discuss this and other problems. As I look at the numbers, it would seem either FC (4) entries or FM (11 entries) or BOTH could be moved into our grp to ease the crowding in grp 2. I would prefer FC, how about you?
I would hate having our little grp disrupted, but we don't have the numbers to turn back the tide. What are your thoughts-can we get another 10 Vees?
dave

Christ! I don't see why you guys don't run nationals. We could have a host of vees and only 10 or so FF and 2-3 500's. That is IT. NO need to worry about 35 fords, 10 of which are 2 seconds slower than the fast vees. BUt, if you prefer it this way, be my guest...

[sabre1]

Dave raises a valid point (unfortunately). I heard that the Formula Mazdas were here because their series went away and they are looking for a place to race. Supposedly they are only allowed to run a few regional events this year; also some of them caused a few incidents in Group 2 last year that impacted (literally) some of the regular group 2 cars. We should look at this very carefully. Perhaps our board reps could provide some insight into what might be in the works.... Blake, Peter? Might be worth going to the meeting to listen in, at that point you are done for the day anyway - I would if was going to be there on Saturday, but I'll only be there on Sunday.

As for more entries, I don't have an answer; personally I'm $ limited and that limits the number of events I can enter. As for racing nationals, unless you want to travel a lot further, you can do one weekend (already passed) in SFR this year so that doesn't seem to help. This would then make group 4 smaller and even more likely to have other groups added in...

-Jim

[brian]

AS far as entries are concerned, some of the vees, about 4, went to the 45th Bday party.

We ran with the FM at Phoenix and it was not nice. The closing speed is higher than Fords and being passed on the outside on the exit of Nascar turn 4 while another one was diving underneath us was a bit too much. Literally there was just inches between me and disaster. Last time for PIR for me if they don't change the grouping.

If the merger is made this weekend, and I realize there may be no other answer, then a driver's meeting must be held and discussions held.

Dave and I discussed the issue at the Thunderhill double because the FF did break up the vee race quite badly. My thought is that the single car when approaching a pair or more of cars or visa versa, two cars approaching a slower car, the single car MUST defer to the pair of racing cars. By defer I mean either wait till a straightaway or move over immediately if youre the slower car. Just because your faster does not give you the right to ruin someone elses race.

[qposner]

sabre1 said:

As for racing nationals, unless you want to travel a lot further, you can do one weekend (already passed) in SFR this year so that doesn't seem to help. This would then make group 4 smaller and even more likely to have other groups added in...

-Jim

I understand that. However, SFR used to offer much more in the way of nationals. We used to head down there 3-4 weekends/year. Now it is all about regionals. I don't get it. Seems rather isolationist. But, it seems to fit with some of the little Napoleans who run your region (not you Blake).

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

Quinn, It's the SFR DRIVERS who have spoken, not the BOD. With only 150-160 entries for the DOUBLE Nat and 350 for the regional, the BOD is listening to the MAJORITY. The majority could care less about the Runoffs or the National race program. Who really cares about going to HPT. Now if the Runoffs were in Indy...
Jim is right, the smaller OUR (Fords & Vees), the greater likelihood we will be combined with other groups. And the more SMs they may take over a second group.
dave

[qposner]

dkjx said:

Quinn, It's the SFR DRIVERS who have spoken, not the BOD. With only 150-160 entries for the DOUBLE Nat and 350 for the regional, the BOD is listening to the MAJORITY. The majority could care less about the Runoffs or the National race program. Who really cares about going to HPT. Now if the Runoffs were in Indy...

True enough. But you do have little Napoloeans running around IMO.

[brian]

National racing is in bad doo doo all over the country. Topeka and the BOD are really looking at the issue but I think the economy and fuel prices will serve the death knell to national racing.

[sabre1]

Quinn,

Dave is 100% correct. The region did look at the nationals vs regionals situation several years ago and the regionals clearly were the favored flavor. Economics unfortunately affects just about everything we do and the region has to be sensitive to that.

3 or 4 nationals in a year in SFR? How many years ago was that? You are going waaaay back I think; another point to consider here is that 'back then' there wasn't as much competition from other sports car groups for the same track time that our region likewise has to negotiate for.

"Little Napoloeans"?? They are all volunteers working to support and improve a sport that we all enjoy. Have you ever talked to any of them besides Blake?

-Jim

[brian]

Having run nationals for 30 years I agree with Jim. Originally, there were several nationals including the big June Sprints at Laguna, but unfortunately all have gone by the wayside. Participation has been going down for many years but SF region made the decision many years ago to not promote their nationals and the results were a forgone conclusion. SF entry fees were higher than everyone else's and the national weeekend schedules usually got the short end of the stick. Yes, they loose money and choose to do as little as possible and have done so for at least 15 years.

I have incurred the wrath of "Little Napoloeans" all over the country. It's just the nature of volunteer leadership to have a few clinkers. I will admit to being a bit of a pain in the a## but have filed protests and appeals against the Stewards in only one region. Yep, you guessed it, SF.

Part of the problem is that some regions find the GCR and it's procedures, too incumbering and sometimes get a bit creative. That's not cool. The GCR is there to keep us all honest. Including the poobahs.