Redline Soldiers in white

[ncaruso]

What are peoples thoughts on the comments contained within this column?

"Our board also needs to rethink the TT folks getting more track time for less money than the Regional racers. I for one will not work another Colorado Region event that has TT running with it. Watching street cars running around is not why I work corners."

I see that there has been enough fallout that the colorado scca has issued a "clarification"

I know that many of us understand the benefits of the TT program, but I am having a hard time understanding why some of the road racers and corner workers are not happy about the program.

[kc0stp]

The biggest complaint I hear is that its simply not as entertaining to watch so they get bored and end up not enjoying the time. Another semi popular complaint is that it adds time to the day (which frankly Im fine with, untill the point we have 5-6 groups of 30+ cars time isnt an issue.)

[GingerGSR]

Also remember, this the opinion of 1 person. The majority of the Club Racers see the value of our PDX/TT program.

[PaulL]

Just in case you didn't receive the followup clarification;


Dear Redline Readers,

Due to the inflammatory nature of some of the comments in this month’s Soldiers In White (http://coloradoscca.org/redline/redline.php?volume=2009&issue=November&page=6) opinion column, please read the following statement regarding the unofficial status of those comments and a clarification of the position of Colorado Region SCCA with regard to the Time Trials program:

“Soldiers In White” is an opinion column. The Soldiers In White column published in this month’s Redline (link (http://coloradoscca.org/redline/redline.php?volume=2009&issue=November&page=6)) contains inflammatory remarks directed towards the SCCA Time Trials program. These remarks do not reflect the opinion of the Colorado Region SCCA Board of Directors or the opinion of the SCCA National Office, both of which recognize Time Trials as being an important part of the motorsports activities offered by SCCA, and an essential part of attracting new participants to track events which leads to their participation in Club Racing. Colorado Region has realized more new Club Racing participants from the Time Trials program than from any other outreach effort that it has made.

Colorado Region SCCA states unequivocally that the Time Trials program is welcome and valued by its Board of Directors and the vast majority of its driver and worker members, including the over 30 new Club Racing drivers who have come up through Time Trials.)

Thank you,

Joe Gilmore
Colorado Region, Regional Executive
jrgbox@yahoo.com
720-318-5100

[ncaruso]

I did receive the clarification. I just guess the comments weren't as "Inflammatory" as they had thought.

[John Scheier]

Honestly, I'm not happy about it. This is the first published 'crack' at the TT group I've seen, but I've heard of several verbal cracks.

I'm about >||< close to playing with that other organization who actually treats their TT (and HPDE) group as part of the organization.

[EGbeater]

What I take away from this is that poorly-organized events that run really late piss people off, no matter what cars/events are involved.

Of course, if the cause of the delay/extra work is poorly-prepped street cars blowing up on the track (of which I'm been guilty of once @ HPR), or noobies going off into the dirt and requiring the track be shut down to tow them back to the pits, I can understand the source of the anti-TT ire.

Then again, in my experience at open track days, race cars seem to blow up and go four-off just as often as street cars.

[GingerGSR]

What I take away from this is that poorly-organized events that run really late piss people off, no matter what cars/events are involved.

Of course, if the cause of the delay/extra work is poorly-prepped street cars blowing up on the track (of which I'm been guilty of once @ HPR), or noobies going off into the dirt and requiring the track be shut down to tow them back to the pits, I can understand the source of the anti-TT ire.

Then again, in my experience at open track days, race cars seem to blow up and go four-off just as often as street cars.

The thing is, PDX/TT had absolutely nothing to do with causing any delays at any events for the past two years. We were late to grid at the 1st event at HPR this year because the run group before us consisted of one car that that took 2 laps for his practice session and came in. So we were all still getting ready when the call to grid came. This didn’t cause any delay for the remaining groups, it only shortened our practice session.
The other long day (referred to in the Op/Ed piece) was due to a problem with the radios at the track. We were the 1st session after lunch and we didn’t get on track until after a 2 hour lunch break while they tried to figure out the issue with the radios. How anyone can blame PDX/TT for the radios not working properly is beyond me.

[GingerGSR]

Post on Colorado SCCA site... (http://coloradoscca.org/msg/viewtopic.php?p=11834&sid=9b3b0a131c075ff4a7e277eaf7293929#11834)

I couldn't have said it any better myself!

[ncaruso]

I Agree

[BoulderG]

Here is a different thread with more discussion, including input from Colo Region Board Member Jake Latham, Regional Exec Joe Gilmore, other long-time road racers, and,uh, me:

http://coloradoscca.org/msg/viewtopic.php?t=3109&sid=22374f08de121cbae9d95ad1d5eba052

[kc0stp]

Heres a loaded question (probbly belongs on Colorado message bord but cant post there) why is it that road racing is reguarly getting done by 14:00 give or take (before 11 at last race around 14:00-15:00 2 prior) but everyone seems to want shorter days? Maybe its just my opinon but race days should not be done before 17:00 at the earliest. Frankly if this means adding in more practice/qual or even lengthing to race I see no reasson not to.

[LoCore]

It would seem there are many opportunities for improvements in the schedule of a race day.

With the variance in attendance between National, Divisional, and Regional races (whether or not PDX/CTT is on the schedule), flexibility and creativity on race day is needed.

As is following a schedule.

And being fiscally responsible.

And delivering customer value.

It is, ultimately, just a car club, run by volunteers, driven by people that want to play with cars. That said, there are tasks that have to be accomplished to put on a good show, and to keep your customers and workers coming back.

NASA and RMVR seems to have this figured out. They must be doing something right, given the number of BMW CCA, RMVR, and NASA drivers that I've spoked with last year that tell me the fun they are having driving RMVR and NASA track events. 2010 will be a season to go check that out.

A universal theme in those conversations was that the SCCA track events didn't have that "fun" factor drivers were finding in other clubs. A lot of it had to do with SCCA personalities and attitiudes. I now have a better appreciation for their remarks than I did last season.

Bottom Line: There are multiple opportunities to go out to the track and thrash the car around. I plan to do it where and with whom I can have fun, and where my volunteer time matters and is appreciated. Racing is too expensive and my free time too limited to do differently.

[Jake Latham]

Heres a loaded question (probbly belongs on Colorado message bord but cant post there) why is it that road racing is reguarly getting done by 14:00 give or take (before 11 at last race around 14:00-15:00 2 prior) but everyone seems to want shorter days? Maybe its just my opinon but race days should not be done before 17:00 at the earliest. Frankly if this means adding in more practice/qual or even lengthing to race I see no reasson not to.

Patrick -

Seems to me almost all the race days finished around 4:00-6:00 or so. Speaking as an apparently permanent member of group 5, believe me, I'm well aware of the late finishing times. The only reason the last Sunday was so brief was because there were 3 run groups, and just a handful of cars.

The corner workers have stated as a group that at 6:00, they are done, whether the race groups are or not.

-Jake

[///M Baer]

Thanks you guys. I'm looking forward to hearing new ideas and following up on some of the ideas we already have - see Latham's List.

If a little criticism is all we had to deal with this year, I think we got out easy. All we can do now is work on making it better for everybody. New track, new Board, new opportunities. It's just too bad we had to do it in public.

[usakubko]

Post on Colorado SCCA site... (http://coloradoscca.org/msg/viewtopic.php?p=11834&sid=9b3b0a131c075ff4a7e277eaf7293929#11834)

I couldn't have said it any better myself!
Watch this. Big bore; 5 cars at $350 per car equals $1750 for their run group. TT; 22 cars at $190 per car equals $4180 for the same track time. Makes you think, huh?
What he said :cool:

[BobDixon]

NASA and RMVR seems to have this figured out. They must be doing something right, given the number of BMW CCA, RMVR, and NASA drivers that I've spoked with last year that tell me the fun they are having driving RMVR and NASA track events. 2010 will be a season to go check that out.


Just my .02. I'm racing a vintage Formula Vee with RMVR. Our smallest group was 17 Vee's (in Hastings). The Formula Ford groups are even larger. It was an absolute blast, always someone to race with. It's also under gentlemen's rules. No one will punt you out of a corner, no trophies, no prizes, just racing fun. It was a great transition from Time Trials.