79 replies to this topic

[Bench Racer]

I have lost track of the swirl surrounding the 2017 Indy Runoffs. Would someone please post "the 2017 Indy Runoffs tiered approach?"

 

Posted another site:

 

A few weeks ago an SCCA announcement was released talking about a tiered approach to accept 2017 Runoffs entries in case of over subscription. That announcement was received  not so well.

 

At the 2017 Club Racing Town Hall at the Convention, the crowd expressed their displeasure with the announcement, with the "minimization" of the Divisional Runoffs path and with the complicated and uncertainty surrounding the 2017 SCCA Runoffs oversubscription announcement. ALL Board members I spoke to were unaware of the announcement before it was sent and all were unhappy with the announcement.

 

At the Club Racing Town Hall meeting, the crowd made suggestions related to over subscription. Eric Prill, COO of SCCA accepted one suggestion. Eric said he would not allow his race car to be entered into the 2017 Runoffs until all other competitors had been accepted and had been parked in the venue. This means that Eric will find a way to put "any and all" qualified Runoffs entries into Indy. Good news. Everyone can breathe a big sigh of relief (except maybe SM and SRF3. They might have to deal with oversubscription of their class.)

 

Peter (not a Director)

 

[Richard Astacio]

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO: SCCA Club Racing Drivers

FR: SCCA Club Racing

RE: Runoffs Oversubscription, Invitations and Schedule

DT: January 13, 2017

 

With the anticipation of high entry counts for the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, SCCA is evaluating how to address potential oversubscription for the event, as well as class qualifying and race groupings.

 

Before determining how to address groupings, we first have to decide on the pre-race event format. While we have yet to finalize everything, this is what we anticipate:

 

• Testing
  • Four days of testing, Sept. 21-24. Considering most drivers will have never been on the track prior to the event, we anticipate structuring test day registration in a fashion that drivers will have a timeframe to register for one test day, then open up for second test days, and so on, so that everyone has an opportunity to test if they want. 

• Qualifying
  • Four qualifying days will be held Sept. 25-28. Because track time is at a premium, we will run 20-minute sessions for each class, each day. To do this, we can only schedule 18 run groups per day, meaning that multi-class sessions will be the norm, rather than the exception. That is why we sent the survey late in 2016 to collect data on everyone's intent to participate and preference for class combinations.
  • Qualifying groups will initially be set based on historical and survey data. This will determine the shared car number pools.

 

• Oversubscription 
  There are two kinds of oversubscription for which we need to prepare. Class oversubscription and event oversubscription
  • Class Oversubscription
    • We will attempt to accommodate everyone that qualifies for and enters the event (assuming there is enough space). We anticipate some classes (SM, SRF3, etc.) may eclipse the 72-car limit for the length of the track. We are making plans to address this. This could mean that a run group would be split into two separate sessions (for example, a 110-car class would qualify in a pair of 55-car sessions or run a 72-car session with the remaining cars being combined with another class). Group splits will be handled by an initial "seeding" described below under "Class Seeding," and then by lap time once qualifying has begun.
    • Consideration is being given to ensure that everyone qualifying for the race will have a chance to take a green flag start at Indy. For over-subscribed classes, this may mean a Thursday "Last-Chance" race to fill in the final qualifying spots for the National Championship race. This gives those that don't make the 72-car field a chance to have a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

• Class Seeding
  • In past years, SCCA has used the nationwide point standings as a means to seed classes for the first qualifying session grid. With the elimination of that point structure, and the creation of the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour, we have revised the seeding process to be as follows for each class:
    • 1.Defending Class National Champion
    • 2.Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour Standings
    • 3.Majors Conference Point Standings (For drivers not scoring Hoosier Super Tour Points)
      • Majors Conference Champions, with tiebreakers across conferences per the GCR (most wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc. within the driver's Conference), then...
      • Majors 2nd place, 3rd place, etc. with similar tie-breakers
      • If ties cannot be broken by finishes, they will be broken by random draw amongst tied individuals.
      • Drivers scoring points in multiple Conferences will be seeded by their highest Conference finishing position.
    • 4.Drivers not scoring Majors points will be seeded by entry date.

 

• Event Oversubscription
  • There will be a finite amount of space on the grounds of the Speedway for paddock. We should be able to accommodate approximately 700-750 cars, but are still in the process of designing the paddock maps. We will need to limit the event entries to what the paddock can handle.
  • Should we need to limit entries due to paddock space, we will do so with the following process:
    • 1.Each class will be seeded individually per the above "Class Seeding" process.
    • 2.The percentage of total pre-event, qualified entries that a class constitutes of the total entry will dictate how many invitations will be extended for each class. For example, if there are 800 total pre-event entries, of which 80 (10 percent) are Spec Miata, and we need to limit to 750 total entries, SM would receive 75 invitations (10 percent of the total).
    • 3.Invitations will be sent after the early-entry deadline date (to be published with the supplemental regulations in the spring).
    • 4.Drivers not receiving invitations will be placed on two separate wait lists, a per-class wait list and an overall wait list.
      • Per-class wait list is seeded as above (Class Seeding) and only for drivers entered before the pre-entry deadline. Spaces opening up in a class due to withdrawals will be filled in with class wait-listed drivers.
      • The overall wait list will be based on the below order. If an invited driver withdraws from a class and no one is on that class' wait list, the next driver in the overall wait-list will be invited to the event, regardless of class, space permitting.
        • 1.Defending Class National Champions
        • 2.Hoosier Super Tour total points earned per class (not limited to best six races). Must score at least 1 (one) point. Tiebreakers as follows:
          • Most 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on place finishes in Hoosier Super Tour races within that class. If ties cannot be broken by finishes, they will be broken by entry date.
        • 3.SCCA U.S. Majors Tour total points earned per class (all events, regardless of Conference, no point minimum). Tiebreakers as follows:
          • Most 1st, 2nd, 3rd place finishes and so on in U.S. Majors Tour races within that class. If ties cannot be broken by finishes, they will be broken by entry date.
        • 4.Remaining drivers by entry date.
      • Drivers entering after the pre-entry deadline will be added only to the end of the overall wait list by entry date.

• Timeline 
  The following are estimated timelines for Runoffs information. Please note that these dates are subject to change, and are to provide a rough outline of what to expect.
  • Draft schedule - April
  • Registration opens - July

[Bench Racer]

Richard, thanks for the info. I couldn't hit the "like this" button because I don't.

[Jim Drago]

so if I am reading it correctly.. if you go the regional route to qualify, you could be in trouble in terms of over subscription?

[Todd Lamb]

Am I reading sarcasm and just not picking up on it? How would Eric withholding his personal entry lead to the conclusion: "This means that Eric will find a way to put "any and all" qualified Runoffs entries into Indy."

 

Not picking on Eric, I just don't understand Peter's comments at all, whoever he is.

[Peter Olivola]

It's Peter Zekhert, former MidDiv Director.  As to how Eric not entering would benefit all, he wants to do the Runoffs at Indy.  His motivation to find a way should be obvious.

 

Am I reading sarcasm and just not picking up on it? How would Eric withholding his personal entry lead to the conclusion: "This means that Eric will find a way to put "any and all" qualified Runoffs entries into Indy."

 

Not picking on Eric, I just don't understand Peter's comments at all, whoever he is.

[Danny Steyn]

There are not just issues with over-subscription in certain classes on the track, but that fact that there is not enough space within the grounds to house all the cars, rigs transporters etc. So accommodating the overflow across the street is going to be a real issue. 

[Jim Drago]

There are not just issues with over-subscription in certain classes on the track, but that fact that there is not enough space within the grounds to house all the cars, rigs transporters etc. So accommodating the overflow across the street is going to be a real issue. 

Strange that space is an issue in a track that large. I guess with golf holes etc inside the oval.. There is not as much space as one would think. As much of crap shoot as Daytona was.. It was fun and plenty of space and Florida Sunshine and the ocean:)

[Richard Astacio]

so if I am reading it correctly.. if you go the regional route to qualify, you could be in trouble in terms of over subscription?

Thats how I understood it as well, Hille is in no mater what, then if you run Super Tour, then Majors you have a better shot. Regional path doesn't look good. At least for SM.

[Tom Sager]

Preference should be given to entrants with smaller trailers. 

[DrDomm]

Preference should be given to entrants with smaller trailers. 

 

 

[38bfast]

Preference should be given to entrants with smaller trailers.

Thanks Tom

[chris haldeman]

Honestly single car efforts take up lots of room and preference if there was any should be for racers using large support teams such as opm,autotecnic,or x-factor as teams put 6-12 cars in the same space that 2 solo guys use😜

[Tom Scheifler]

Honestly single car efforts take up lots of room and preference if there was any should be for racers using large support teams such as opm,autotecnic,or x-factor as teams put 6-12 cars in the same space that 2 solo guys use😜

Depends on how many of those support-team racers show up in their 35 ft motor home.

[MPR22]

Their current methodology makes sense unless it is too inclusive. Give preference to those that have spent the money to support their big races. It cost me 3 to 4 time as much to race the big races as it does a regional. Travel, better tires, more spares......

[Jim Drago]

Thats how I understood it as well, Hille is in no mater what, then if you run Super Tour, then Majors you have a better shot. Regional path doesn't look good. At least for SM.

it could get interesting as these of us who run super tours will have no problem qualifying .. But many of the smaller guys could struggle to make it 

[Tom Sager]

Thanks Tom

I think you can get your big trailer in under the hotel exemption. 

[Todd Lamb]

It's Peter Zekhert, former MidDiv Director.  As to how Eric not entering would benefit all, he wants to do the Runoffs at Indy.  His motivation to find a way should be obvious.

 

Probably needed to be worded a little better to get the intended effect.

[Todd Lamb]

Strange that space is an issue in a track that large. I guess with golf holes etc inside the oval.. There is not as much space as one would think. As much of crap shoot as Daytona was.. It was fun and plenty of space and Florida Sunshine and the ocean:)

 

We were there last year for PCA - there is A LOT of space inside that facility. Parking everyone shouldn't be an issue if it is coordinated well. The biggest downside is that the garages don't have any trailer parking near them at all, so garage dwellers will need to unload EVERYTHING and hike it in to Gasoline Alley.

[Jim Drago]

Their current methodology makes sense unless it is too inclusive. Give preference to those that have spent the money to support their big races. It cost me 3 to 4 time as much to race the big races as it does a regional. Travel, better tires, more spares......

Good point... Somebodies feelings are probably getting hurt one way or the other