Last week in Fastrack a new set of rules for getting to the Runoffs was proposed.  Essentially it is proposed that only the top 3 in the division will be eligible.  My concern is that this will favor those with lots of time off and big racing budgets.  It will be unfavorable to drivers who are fast but have limited time and budgets.  I think as an amateur club we should encourage participation and give the greatest number of drivers the opportunity to go to the Runoffs.  I sent the following letter to the board.


SCCA Board of Directors,
I have concerns about the proposed rules for getting to the Runoffs. 

With the current rules an individual only needs a budget big enough for 5 events a year (4 Nationals and the Runoffs).   With reasonable luck and good preparation that will produce the needed finishes and an opportunity to go to the Runoffs.  With the proposed rule one would need to plan for 8 events (7 Nationals and the Runoffs) and that is assuming one finished no lower than 3rd in any event.  The individual with lots of time and money can run more than 7 Nationals in search of better point totals.  The net result is one might be very fast but due to a limited budget or limited time not be able to qualify.

I do not see that making it harder to get to the Runoffs produces a field of faster cars.   There are only a limited number of really fast car/driver combinations in each division. By making it more expensive and time consuming to qualify you will in fact end up excluding some excellent competitors. 

Those who want a divisional championship will still need to plan to run 7 races.  The fastest racer may not be divisional champ but I think most club members are ok with that.

Lets not make success at the Runoffs dependent on having more weekends off and bigger racing budgets.  Lets get as many fast cars and drivers there as possible and let the race sort it out.

I think the 115% rule makes excellent sense.   (Actually if you want to cut out the noncompetitive cars/drivers you could use a 105% rule.  It is hard to argue that anyone who cannot get within 5% of the pole sitter is very competitive.)

On the other hand big fields make for happy spectators and happy spectators are good for the club.  I think our goal should be:  1.  Get ALL the fast cars/drivers to the runoffs even if they could only afford to run three nationals.  2.  Fill the grid so there are lots of racers racing from front to back and the spectators are giddy with excitement.  3.Lets all have fun.

Sincerely, Mark Brakke
                 25067
                 EP

I hope the club members will communicate their opinions on the proposal to the board.

We still need volunteers for the TransAM race at BIR.

I definitely need F&C workers so please let me know if you can help

www.scca-lol.org/registration for more information.

Cheers

Jim Gillen

Land O’ Lakes Region is excited to be the host region for 2010 Coca-Cola Trans Am race at Brainerd International Raceway over Labor Day Weekend. In addition to the Trans Am race group, we will also have Vintage, Pro-Formula Enterprise and Pro-Formula Spec Ford. SCCA has also added STO as an eligible class for the Trans Am race group.

Volunteers are still needed in all specialties.
Please register at http://scca-lol.org/registration/ or use motorsportsreg.com.

The schedule has been published on the SCCA-Pro website:
http://www.trans-amracing.com/files/schedules/10-TA-8BIR-Final%20Schedule%20V6.pdf

As a special treat, Kathy Maleck has arranged for the SCCA Pro Staff to cook dinner on Saturday for the Volunteers. Thanks Kathy!
Any other questions can be directed to Tom Fuehrer at racer_tom_95@yahoo.com

What a great site Brooke, thanks!  I even see the Jerry Winker photo with my Dad and I watching the start of the '72 T/A race at Donnybrooke!

Steve Barkley

access the registration page here

http://scca-lol.org/registration/

Jim Gillen

The Motor Sport Reg page is up and running. It is the preffered method to sign up.

If you have questionas about the event you can contact me directly.

Thanks!!!!

Tom Fuehrer
Race Chair
racer_tom_95@yahoo.com

Hello,

I am installing my first wet N2O kit on a non-domestic car and I am very interested in help on this project. If anyone has the knowledge or skills please call or email me on aiding in the install. Have some cash to throw my helpers way as well.

952-270-1671

Times listed are fastest time for each car for the weekend.  If you'd like to see all of your times, please let me know.  Thanks to everyone for competing and making the event a success.

CAR NUMBER   CONES          ADJUSTED TIME   RANK         
13      0      36.606      1
3      0      42.919      52
8      0      41.546      29
10      0      40.363      16
12      0      38.245      5
14      0      39.18      10
19      0      42.918      51
21      0      41.294      23
23      0      38.9      7
26      0      36.953      2
27      0      38.543      6
28      0      42.928      53
30      0      42.413      43
33      0      41.704      36
100      0      43.344      64
101      0      44.981      91
102      0      45.469      97
103      0      43.095      58
104      0      37.652      3
105      0      44.913      90
106      0      41.782      38
107      0      43.667      70
108      0      45.388      95
109      0      43.04      56
111      0      40.077      12
112      0      44.557      87
113      0      43.642      68
114      0      41.006      21
115      0      43.435      66
116      0      40.357      15
119      0      46.942      111
120      0      40.266      14
121      0      43.785      74
122      0      43.666      69
123      0      52.291      122
124      0      42.429      44
125      0      46.041      105
126      0      42.173      42
127      0      49.216      117
128      0      42.062      41
129      0      41.57      31
130      0      43.156      60
131      0      37.731      4
132      0      41.314      25
133      0      41.416      28
134      0      49.752      119
135      0      50.143      120
136      0      46.415      108
137      0      39.078      9
138      0      42.866      49
139      0      43.696      71
140      0      40.898      20
141      0      51.006      121
142      0      41.648      34
143      0      41.566      30
144      0      42.494      45
146      0      41.649      35
147      0      43.56      67
148      1      46.535      110
149      0      44.779      89
150      0      41.294      24
151      0      41.404      27
152      0      48.308      116
153      0      41.625      33
155      0      41.238      22
156      0      43.114      59
157      1      45.695      100
158      0      42.882      50
159      0      40.264      13
161      0      42.782      48
162      0      42.975      54
163      0      44.03      76
164      0      44.486      85
165      0      44.204      78
166      0      45.472      98
167      2      47.774      112
168      0      47.88      115
169      0      58.548      125
170      0      44.428      84
171      0      43.19      62
172      0      47.841      114
173      1      43.162      61
174      0      43.733      73
175      1      44.371      80
176      0      45.938      104
177      0      43.716      72
178      0      44.394      81
179      0      41.575      32
180      0      42.026      39
181      0      43.332      63
182      0      57.391      124
183      1      46.478      109
184      0      44.317      79
186      0      40.432      17
187      2      47.822      113
188      0      45.906      103
189      0      46.149      106
190      0      45.344      94
191      0      41.723      37
192      0      45.766      101
193      0      40.69      18
195      0      44.395      82
196      5      68.359      126
197      0      46.27      107
200      0      45.546      99
201      0      44.768      88
204      1      40.049      11
205      0      43.09      57
206      0      42.038      40
207      0      42.773      47
208      2      49.683      118
209      0      43.026      55
210      0      44.553      86
211      0      43.361      65
212      0      42.742      46
213      1      53.85      123
214      0      45.282      93
215      0      45.259      92
216      0      43.837      75
217      0      39.025      8
218      0      44.115      77
219      0      41.374      26
220      0      40.808      19
222      0      45.817      102
250      0      44.401      83
251      0      45.409      96

Some 30 51 cars at Healey Hillclimb IX Saturday.  A few: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4FyQ99BD4k

First off, I mailed out F&C cards for those on the F&C mailing list.  Unfortunately, some of the cards were sent out with Jack Pines info instead of Trans Am.  If you got a Jack Pines card by mistake, you can still use it, or just email me if you are interested in working the Trans Am weekend.

For all other volunteers we will have the Motorsport Reg sign up available shortly, or you can email me also (please include name, phone number and SCCA license type).  Don't forget to include the specialty you are interested in.

Also, take notice of the general memebership meeting next week (on the announcement forum).  Everyone is invited to this meeting.

Cheers

Jim Gillen
jim@gillengroup.com