14 replies to this topic

[Charlie Hayes]

I just copy and pasted the links. Lots of Infineon dates

FEBRUARY 11-12 : RALPH ALEXANDER MEMORIAL TRIBUTE Infineon Raceway | Register Online
MARCH 10-11 : HPDE / TT / RACING Infineon Raceway | Register Online
APRIL 14-15 : HPDE / TT / RACING Thunderhill Raceway Park | Register Online
MAY 19-20 : HPDE / TT / RACING Thunderhill Raceway Park | Register Online
JUNE 16-17 : HPDE / TT/ RACING Infineon Raceway | Register Online
AUGUST 18-19 : HPDE / TT / RACING Thunderhill Raceway Park | Register Online
SEPTEMBER 29-30 : HPDE / TT RACING Infineon Raceway | Register Online
OCTOBER 27-28 : HPDE / TT RACING Infineon Raceway | Register Online
NOVEMBER 9-11 : HPDE / TT RACING Infineon Raceway | Register Online

[dtfastbear]

I'll work with Jerry to pick some of the dates where we will run petite enduro or extra-long sprint race formats. I'm hoping that if you all know which events these will be, you can help get some of your SCCA-only brethren to come across the river and try out NASA for these special events.

Also looks like the September 29-30th event would be a good one for the "West Coast Championship" weekend to bring the Northwest contingent down here...

Cheers,

Dean

[Ron Alan]

I just don't see the purists running a "West Coast Championship" race with a mixed class...can that be changed if you get 40+ cars? Just might have to do a few NASA events given Infineon is in our backyard!! My toe is feeling the river water right now

[dtfastbear]

The beauty of NASA is that Jerry has the ability to change it around to be whatever we need it to be to attract the numbers. If we can "guarantee" 40+ entries, then we can have our own run group, have qualifying races, have a 45 minute championship race, whatever we want. It just has to make financial sense, promote NASA in the right way and be planned in advance.

And yes, with SIX Infineon dates, we'd better see a bunch of cross over. I just can't fathom how many NorCal spec miata racers only race at Infineon once a year... one of the best tracks in the WORLD, and they don't take advantage of it.

Cheers,

Dean

[Charlie Hayes]

It's cheaper.

Scca also has their tentative schedule posted. A few overlapped dates. I am very sure that if there was a west coast champ event and there were enough entries Jerry would work with it. Has to actually be done and not just talked about for it to work. I mean having 100 cars on track for a champ event, true colors will be shown!

[KyleLoustaunau]

And yes, with SIX Infineon dates, we'd better see a bunch of cross over. I just can't fathom how many NorCal spec miata racers only race at Infineon once a year... one of the best tracks in the WORLD, and they don't take advantage of it.

Cheers,

Dean

Word.

[Charlie Hayes]

Dean beat me to it. Also SFR is one of the few regions to have a SM only class. A lot of Regional/National SCCA events are mixed including the thunderhill event. Not that it matters or anything. 2012 will be great for SCCA and NASA.

[Dan Cooper]

I will definitely be doing some NASA racing next year. The longer sprint races are simply a bonus at this point.

Looking at the tentative SCCA sched. there are too many 3 day weekends. Being able to race 2 days w/o taking time off work just 40 mins from my house is extremely appealing.

[dp35]

I assume the first round in February is race/HPDE as usual? It doesn't say.

I agree with everything already said. The West Coast Championship needs to be done, and most have agreed that it needs to happen at Infineon. Miatacage has already said they'd be the title sponsor. This event is just waiting for a promoter to take advantage of the opportunity. SCCA announced their schedule, but not a word about any West Coast thing, so apparently they're not interested. Considering that the rules will be the same in 2012, its a perfect time for NASA to do this.

If possible, it would be sweet if it could be set up so the normal two regional races were used as qual races to set the grid for a championship main event at the end of the day on Sunday. Basically the same format as the NASA nationals.

If NASA sets up an event like this, I'm sure several SM racers would show up at other Infineon races to prepare. I know I would.

[Dan Cooper]

I'd be there.

[Charlie Hayes]

Darin, thats exactly how I think it should be set up. The way I was thinking is very similar to what we had on the season finale weekend.

The West Coast Championship event would involve a warm up, qual, and 20 or 30 minute heat race on Saturday. The heat race would set the grid for a hour long main event on Sunday. If we get enough people involved, maybe we can add another heat race in there. I think one would be plenty but who wouldn't want an extra race? I am all for this event. The sooner the better for agreeing on a format to propose to Jerry, so we can get this event marked on everybody's calendars!

[Ron Alan]

We would be in for sure! One thing to consider in planning...contact/passing rules. Since there is a difference between SCCA and NASA in this area, any reason to run anything other than NASA rules? Also, In a perfect world, it would be really cool if the other Race groups that NASA runs could do something similar to try and get a lot more interest/entries. This way for this one weekend there would be no street cars(HPDE) to distract from a lot of good racing! I'm sure racers would pay a little extra to have the track to themselves?? OK...flame me if I'm

[Sacslider]

This year the sept race weekend was the PDC weekend and we were not invited. If we could bring enough entries there would not be a mixed class if this is the pdc weekend. The would be no beamer boxes at all.

[dtfastbear]

OK, I'll flame you, Ron...

While I appreciate the "go big" ideas and attitude, what's REALISTIC for a first year is not to try and set up a mini-nationals weekend while excluding the groups that actually pay all the bills (HPDE) but rather that we do something specific for SM within the context of the normal event and event configuration. I'll bet I could swing a warm up, split qual, two short qual races and a main event all in one weekend. Beyond that, things like an "exclusive race weekend" or trying to coordinate it for multiple classes, those will all be distractions from getting the important thing done. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but the important thing is a "feature race for all the marbles with a fair way of qualifying in a format that's worth traveling for." Everything else is window dressing.

OK, now go ahead and flame me!

Cheers,

Dean

[Ron Alan]

Certainly don't know the inner workings of NASA and what is profitable...thanks for straighten me out! I just know the difference in feeling i get when I attend a SCCA weekend vs NASA is measurable. SCCA just seems more like your part of a big show and everyone is paying attention...NASA just doesn't feel that way...except of course the 25hr which is off the hook!! And I would imagine Nationals which I haven't had the pleasure of attending yet. Look forward to seeing how this plays out.