SCCAForums.com

I guess this is the program we have been hearing about?

http://www.scca.com/newsarticle.aspx?hub=1&news=3369

 

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Stan Wilson #92 - Kumho Tires - NetEvidence - Pinnacle Steel - Lux Performance - Dodge Motorsports - Roe Racing
Wilson Racing, Inc.
855 York Road
Mt. Juliet TN 37122
www.wilsonracing.com
stan@wilsonracing.com

Great way to get new blood into the organization... "Welcome, newbie. Please step to the back of the bus."

Or, if you didn't finish in the top 10 in points in your division the year before, but have gone to the Runoffs in the past, you also get the shaft. 

I understand that they need t try and encourage people to go to Topeka this year so that the Runoffs don't become an embarrasment, but this is not the way to do it.

Letter being written against this...

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Jason Berkeley
#57 T1 Corvette
BMG Management / Central Auto Body / Pabst

jasonberkeley:

<snip>    I understand that they need t try and encourage people to go to Topeka this year so that the Runoffs don't become an embarrasment, but this is not the way to do it.   Letter being written against this...

Hey Jason,

After your last topic, I think it was titled "Spineless BoD Rescinds all Class Consolidation Changes Announced Last Month", coupled with this, I figure it will be fun to see the reception you get at the Sprints--tech shed anyone?    

Maybe people will buy tickets to see you and the PTB go 6 rounds at RA? 

All in fun,

LD71 

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LD71

If the BoD is so "concerned" about what the members think, that they will rescind a major change that has been approved with major press releases that are found on every major racing web-site in the english speaking world, after receiving a few letters against it, than why aren't they asking for input first, or sticking to their guns.  They look (are) indecisive, at best, and clueless and/or inept at the worst.

 LD71- the difference between the two issues, is that Club Racing needs a major restructuring, whereas this latest "initiative" is nothing more than a ploy to boost 2008 Topeka Runoffs attendance by penalizing people in the future, rather than rewarding those that attend now.  You think i'm going to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to run at Topeka just so that I can get a better parking spot next year at RA?  Think again.  All this does is create more ill-will than what exists now.

Here are the main points of my letter:

To the BoD of the SCCA,

 

I am writing letter to voice my strong opposition to the proposed new Participation Incentives Program.  While I do understand the need to come up with some incentives to support participation at the final Runoffs in Topeka this year, I don’t think that this program is the way to do it.

 

Firstly, it penalizes new people who are first entering club racing, by effectively telling them that  they are not as valuable as an old-timer, or veteran.

 

Secondly, if you have gone to the Runoffs multiple times consecutively, but than have a bad season where you fail to finish in the top 10 in points in your division, and therefore fail to qualify for the Runoffs, you are effectively told to go to the back of the bus, and your efforts are worth less than the efforts of others who may have raced in sparsely attended divisions. 

 

Thirdly, many members who have invested extraordinary amounts of time and money racing with the SCCA for many years, have been caught-out by the difficult economic conditions, have had to cut their racing programs back this year, with the hope of an economic recovery in the near term so that they can race next year.  Telling these people that their years of participation is effectively worthless is a deplorable thing to do.  Sending this message tells people that the SCCA has no concern for your current economic troubles, nor do we value your contributions in the past.  Additionally, we will do nothing to welcome you back.

 

This is a bad idea, and sends the wrong message to our members.

  

I would hope that the club would reconsider this program, and develop an alternative way to encourage participation at Topeka in 2008. 

 

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Jason Berkeley
#57 T1 Corvette
BMG Management / Central Auto Body / Pabst

good points Jason!!!

But let me give you the Boards response>>>>> "Thank you for your input."

Sometimes it just feels futile!!!

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Bob Mayer#38
2008 SE DIV. BP National Champion

The SCCA confuses me, in one breath they talk about programs to bring the younger generation in to the club and in the next they add a program to further stack the deck against the new guy.  I'm fine with some small perks to get people out to Topeka this year, but it shouldn't handicap those that don't/can't make it or give competitive advantage like practice priority to those that do.  Paddock selection, numbers etc. are comfort issues that the ole' guys can enjoy without potentially influencing the race results.

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CJ
Mitsubishi Evo IX MR
SE Divison T2 #58
AMSPerformance.com
CJ@redcracing.com

It seems like this should be a simple issue. If times are tough, gas is expensive and numbers are down, why contrive a complicated and controversial plan to theorhetically benefit the club AND it's constituancy?  The premise that someone has to suffer or receive less than others to benefit the rest doesn't work.

Just throw everyone a bone!   Lower entry fees. Increase the travel fund for a fuel allowance. Use the clubs buying power to influence motel rates.   I've been doing this (SCCA racing)  for  almost 30 years now, Runoffs since 1989 and I still wouldn't benefit from the proposed perks. Why does it have to be so freekin difficult!   Actually I'd give up any perk thay gave me in exchange for a 400lb  weight penalty on the Solstice    We probably wouldn't *** as much about the cost if we thought we had a chance of winning.                                                                     

 

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Joe Hermes
T2 #22
Gran Prix Imports
Lamborghini Portland
Joe@gpimports.com

These are good incentives, guys.

Look what thay are offering officials  to create excitement.

Free Camping, Discount tickets to the motorcycle races.

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SCCA 1966-82,93-now
Sound Control, DA, SOWDIV
Sr. F&C, ex crash-rescue

Wayne, you forgot to add the eMote for tongue in cheek. 

 This is by far the most deranged thing I've ever seen in my 44 years of association with the club.  Right up there with Dr. John Bishop telling me that I couldn't work F&C because I wasn't 21 and by the way quit dating my daughter you don't make enough money and never will.  (This after I'd been doing both for almost a full year.)

 

James Rogerson
Wayne's favorite FM-CSR.  ;)

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James Rogerson - SowDiv; CSR #32, ASedan #2 and XP #46
Men that like golf are unhappy at home and unable to have meaningful relationships with women. - Joseph Heller

Yeah, this is just ridiculous.  Last year I did not attend, through no fault of my own.  This year I may not attend out of spite due to the arm twisting that I need to attend to get a good paddock spot.  Nice.........

 I'm glad I'll be crewing at the Sprints, I'll see the show!  I got my money on Jason for the "tech shed rumble"!!

 

Joe

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over1g-racing.com
#86, 2008 SCCA Northeast Division T1 Champion!
Thanks to our sponsors: Peko & Associates, Pfadt Race Engineering, Carbotech

No tech shed rumble, folks!  The Chicago Region and Milwaukee Region tech folks do a fantastic job every year.  They have alot of cars to get through at June Sprints and they do it with a smile.

As to any other kind of rumble, let me say that Larry Dent from the BoD has sent me a couple of notes regarding my letter, and I was definitely thankful for the response and knowing that somebody is listening.  While we may not agree (which is fine), he was very courteous in outlining his and the board's positions.

While I still whole-heartedly disagree with the program, I think it is a huge step forward that the folks that WE elect to run OUR club are responding personally more and more.

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Jason Berkeley
#57 T1 Corvette
BMG Management / Central Auto Body / Pabst

Regarding the younger generation and participation, SCCA really needs to make an effort to get their name out at HPDE and Time Attack events. Those type of events are incredibly popular with the 18-25 demographic and would be an excellent feeder in to the club.  Many drivers participating in these events have lots of talent and a desire to race, I mean look at the numbers NASA is posting, this model works. I think part of the problem is that SCCA is not seen as "accessible" by the younger crowd. I didn't even think about joining, or think I could join, until a particular SCCA driver came out and kicked everyones ass at a local HPDE at LimeRock Park in his mostly stock T2 car! After a small conversation I found out it wasn't as complicated to join as I had thought.

I think SCCA would be wise to send a rep or two out to these HPDE events and show people that they can have fun, be competitive and be fast, even on a budget, racing wheel to wheel with SCCA. Maybe even send them for a recruiting type deal where SCCA will sponsor an aspiring racer for a driver's school plus a rental. Do something like that and already you've built loyalty to the club and if they had any bit as much fun as I did in my school, they'll be coming back for more very soon. I know that's sure as heck more compelling to me than runoffs participation.

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Charles K.
#13 T2 Mitsubishi Evo - NER/NeDiv

Stan,

Are you comming to the Sprints?

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John (sr)
Principle
Nearbrook Motorsports
T1 #52 C6
T2 #73 CTS-V

CKEvo:

Regarding the younger generation and participation, SCCA really needs to make an effort to get their name out at HPDE and Time Attack events. Those type of events are incredibly popular with the 18-25 demographic and would be an excellent feeder in to the club....

I think SCCA would be wise to send a rep or two out to these HPDE events and show people that they can have fun, be competitive and be fast, even on a budget, racing wheel to wheel with SCCA. Maybe even send them for a recruiting type deal where SCCA will sponsor an aspiring racer for a driver's school plus a rental. Do something like that and already you've built loyalty to the club and if they had any bit as much fun as I did in my school, they'll be coming back for more very soon. I know that's sure as heck more compelling to me than runoffs participation.

 

I think this is one of the best posts on this forum in a long time.  I think your idea is fantastic.  That is the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that SCCA marketing needs to enact.  I know some of that kind of thinking is going on today, but I think refinement, execution and a better understanding of the market is still needed.

I helped develop a relationship between SCCA here in SoCal and the biggest local HPDE organization in the area called Speed Ventures.  They do over 50 track days per year around here.  Just this week they ran Willow Springs, today and tomorrow is CalSpeedway and last weekend they did two days at Buttonwillow.  They have about 6000 drivers on their customer roles.  How does SCCA tap into that. 

Steve Stavely our local Regional Exec has done some very innovative and productive things since taking office in January.  One thing he has done is develop a partnership between our local SCCA club and Speed Ventures.  Both are doing cross promotion, but the uptake on both sides has been dissappointing.  Your ideas are a step in the right direction.  Any other ideas I would welcome.

 

Oli

 

 

 

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The T1 Nubee from Trabuco Canyon, CA (Orange County)

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Stan Wilson #92 - Kumho Tires - NetEvidence - Pinnacle Steel - Lux Performance - Dodge Motorsports - Roe Racing
Wilson Racing, Inc.
855 York Road
Mt. Juliet TN 37122
www.wilsonracing.com
stan@wilsonracing.com