40 replies to this topic

[Bench Racer]

TOPEKA, Kan. (December 12, 2011) – Sports Car Club of America’s Board of Directors has amended the process in which invitations for the Club Racing National Championship Runoffs are determined, adding an option for those finishing eight races to the 2011 policy.

Any driver that finishes eight races in a class during the 2012 season, two of them in their division, will automatically be eligible for the National Championship Runoffs at Road America. In addition, the remaining criteria for qualification are unchanged from 2011.
Like in 2011, drivers will be eligible to compete in the Runoffs by starting a least four races, with a minimum of two within their Division of Record, and finish at least four National races in their class, while also either:
- Finishing in the top three of their class in their Divisional Championship.
- Finishing in the top half of the coast-to-coast, National Point Standings within their class during 2012.
- Reach or exceed a minimum number of points for a given class in the National Point Standings (listed below), set by the top half of the 2011 National Point Standings.
SCCA has previously announced that bonus points will be awarded to all drivers participating in BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour events, not just those placing in the top nine positions.
Minimum Number of NATIONAL (not Divisional) points to qualify for the Runoffs based on the point tally of the driver finishing at the mid-way point in the 2011 standings.


American Sedan – 35 points
C Sports Racing – 30 points
D Sports Racing – 35 points
E Production – 35 points
Formula 500 – 44 points
Formula Atlantic – 25 points
Formula 1000 – 46 points
Formula Continental – 20 points
Formula Enterprises – 28 points
Formula F – 27 points
Formula Mazda – 32 points
F Production – 30 points
Formula Vee – 35 points
GT-1 – 23 points
GT-2 – 36 points
GT-3 – 30 points
GT-L – 26 points
H Production – 32 points
Sports 2000 – 40 points


Spec Miata – 25 points


Spec Racer Ford – 28 points
Showroom Stock B – 41 points
Showroom Stock C – 47 points
Super Touring O – 22 points
Super Touring U – 18 points
Touring 1 – 39 points
Touring 2 – 41 points
Touring 3 – 50 points

[davew]

Although I think 8 races is a little high, this is a great way to allow the majority of SCCA drivers to participate in the National Championship event.

dave

[James York]

Although I think 8 races is a little high, this is a great way to allow the majority of SCCA drivers to participate in the National Championship event.

dave

Yeah, we all know what happened when the format was similar to this in 2010 Runoffs. Six freaking green laps with cars scattered everywhere in the kink on lap 1 and probaby a dozen cars off the track at various locations when they double yellow flagged the race and ended it.

I understand the club trying to boost attendence, but for some, even though you can go to the Runoffs, it might be better to stay home. RA is a fast and potentially danerous track for the inexperienced.

[LarryKing]

Mr. York, do we know for certain that it was inexperienced drivers that caused the FCYs? My observation is that front runners have contact too. However, personally, I will not enter a championship event just because I can / just to say I did.

[Jim Drago]

My opinion is that the attendance we saw in 2010 will likely never be repeated again. I think it was the first time many go ever go to the Runoffs and it was at a track that many wanted to attend. The carnage, the gridding issues at the Sprints and lack of green flag laps are all factors i bringing the attendance down. As is the economy. I am sure certain people will chime in about parity and Road America, I don't that will be a case this year, nor do I believe it was a case in previous years.
IMO FCY's were not primarily due to people making the Runoffs because of easy requirements. I think it was a function of 60+ very similar, very competitive cars and drivers on the same track at the same time at a championship event. Everyone wanted to do well, most everyone thought that were 5-10 positions better than they qualified. People took chances they may not normally take. Many were unfamiliar with the people they were racing against.

[James York]

Mr. York, do we know for certain that it was inexperienced drivers that caused the FCYs? My observation is that front runners have contact too. However, personally, I will not enter a championship event just because I can / just to say I did.

No, just an observation and opinion. The first lap wreck in the kink was in the back. Yes frontrunners have contact true, can't deny it.

For example, in the week prior testing, I had, let's say, an inexperienced driver give me a point by going up into blind turn 6. Well I waved back declining since it most likely would have resulted in him going for a ride in the dirt as he would be on the outside. (much better place to get by in turn 8). Instead I set up to get a run through 7 into 8. Next thing I know, this guys is attempting to block and outbrake me going into turn 8 after he gave me a point by???? What's up with that? Instead he gets punted out of the way.

Jim's point also has merit too. There was a lot of cars.... which leads to my point I think...too many allowed in.

Just my 2 cents. It is not worth much. Especially these days.

[davew]

Back in 2010, there was as much banging in the front as in the back.

Is Road America too fast and dangerous for inexperienced drivers. Maybe they should just cancel all the Regional races, those guys don't know how to drive anyways. Tracks don't cause crashes, cars don't cause crashes, inexperience does not cause crashes. DRIVERS CAUSE CRASHES.

Road america is 4 miles long! So 60 cars is the same as 37 at Atlanta. That doesn't sound crowded to me. The SCCA guideline is 25 cars per mile.

IMHO, the 2010 rule requiring 4 races was too easy. From what I have been told by people whom I respect, the 2011 changes effected SM, and SRF only. A couple people in prod cars. But the only major effect was on the 2 most popular classes in SCCA. If you make the investment (time and money) to attend National races, you should be able to attend the Runoffs.

Just my opinion
Dave

[Jim Drago]

Road America being 4 miles is a great thing, I love the track... I also think the more the merrier.. I came up with the 2010 qualification process, so obviously I support(ed) it. The problem is whether the track is 4 miles or 1 mile, ALL the cars are very close for at least the first few laps and coincidentally, that is when a lot of this stuff happens.. The stuff at the front happens all the way through, before the green, during the race,after the checkered and even during cautions

[Kevin Edens]

The car that started the first lap FCY started mid pack. Not too many positions behind you Mr York. He had some very good races with Jim Drago, Matt Reynolds and Tony Coello before the Runoffs and is a very experienced driver. The crash was an accordian effect from some one checking up in front, and him getting tapped from behind. Could have happened with 30 cars on that same four mile track.

[James York]

The car that started the first lap FCY started mid pack. Not too many positions behind you Mr York. He had some very good races with Jim Drago, Matt Reynolds and Tony Coello before the Runoffs and is a very experienced driver. The crash was an accordian effect from some one checking up in front, and him getting tapped from behind. Could have happened with 30 cars on that same four mile track.

Wow. If you count 31 positions back not too many positions........assuming we are talking about the same person, which I assume we are since you provided a driver resume. But it doesn't matter. Maybe this driver didn't cause the FCY, but some inexperience person that tapped him??? Or was it the driver that couldn't run the kink flat in the race pack checking up that caused the issue? Someone caused a couple cars to get wadded up, and it sure wasn't the wall.

But, I'll acknowledge that perhaps the first FCY wasn't due to inexperience, but instead maybe the quantity of cars tightly bunched on lap one as Jim offers. Like I said, its just my opinion and it can be ignored.

However, it is my opinion that it was too easy to enter the Runoffs in 2010 which; 1) Made the idea of a unique, top tier drivers event less, and 2) greatly increased the likelyhood of wrecks (traffic and some questionable skilled drivers)

But it is what it is. Drago once told me, "a good plan is to start on pole and drive away so you don't worry about any crashes behind".

[LarryKing]

If you make the investment (time and money) to attend National races, you should be able to attend the Runoffs.

+1

[James York]

If you make the investment (time and money) to attend National races, you should be able to attend the Runoffs.

Just my opinion
Dave

That's an ok opinion. I don't subscribe to it and think you need to be "good enough" to at least pass some performance hurdle. Call me "old school".

[LarryKing]

I've seen some real wankers who have bought rides at the 24 Hours of Daytona - I think there's a little more on the line there than at the club race championship.

[James York]

I've seen some real wankers who have bought rides at the 24 Hours of Daytona - I think there's a little more on the line there than at the club race championship.

I agree with this. And when you see those "wankers" what's your thoughts? (go home, you suck....you bought your ride)

[Kevin Edens]

He wasn't 31 positions behind you. That wreck could have very easily have been you, or anyone else farther up the pack. And yes, it was our fault for not having an extra transmission with us to qualify better than we did and should have. The funny thing about all of this is that WE lost a car due to that wreck, but it never was a too many cars on the track or somebody with no experience took us out. He was bumped by an experienced driver that we have raced against many times. Unfortunatly for us, it totally destroyed a decent car. The best thing is that the driver was unharmed. How many cars could the first lap of this years race have taken out just as easily?

[James York]

He wasn't 31 positions behind you. That wreck could have very easily have been you, or anyone else farther up the pack. And yes, it was our fault for not having an extra transmission with us to qualify better than we did and should have. The funny thing about all of this is that WE lost a car due to that wreck, but it never was a too many cars on the track or somebody with no experience took us out. He was bumped by an experienced driver that we have raced against many times. Unfortunatly for us, it totally destroyed a decent car. The best thing is that the driver was unharmed. How many cars could the first lap of this years race have taken out just as easily?

You must be looking at a different grid sheet than i have.....41-10=31.....

But like I said, that is not the point. It could have been traffic as Jim proposed, or maybe it was an experienced driver with the tap? Who lifted in front causing the check up incurring the compression? The run from the carousel to canada corner is flat out. Its not important to answer and I am not blaming your guy.... It was just my opinion and remains that 2010 Runoffs was "too open". That's all, no more.

Concerning this year's lap one... who knows how many cars could have wrecked? Wasn't it wet/damp this year?

However, I am glad your driver was ok. I never like to see anyone wreck or be hurt. I have totalled one SM myself in '05 (I think). It's not fun.

[Kevin Edens]

You must be looking at a different grid sheet than i have.....41-10=31.....

We had a new transmission for the race. He went by me in turn 5 in 30th place right behind Sam Henry. Apperantly being able to shift from third to fourth made the car a little faster.

Either way, our loss is our fault for not being prepared for the biggest race of our year. After having to skip 2011 to build a new car, we have spare everything with us now!

[davew]

We used to run this race at Road America called The Milwaukee Cup. We started 72 cars one year. No crashes on the Saturday race. Sunday we did not make it to Canada Corner. Several cars detroyed. Track did not change, experience level did not change. Conditions where the same. Drivers got over agreesive and wrecked each other.

Dave

[Jim Drago]

I've seen some real wankers who have bought rides at the 24 Hours of Daytona - I think there's a little more on the line there than at the club race championship.

Their certainly is to those racing in that club race championship, if not sure just ask them

[Jim Drago]

He wasn't 31 positions behind you. That wreck could have very easily have been you, or anyone else farther up the pack. And yes, it was our fault for not having an extra transmission with us to qualify better than we did and should have. The funny thing about all of this is that WE lost a car due to that wreck, but it never was a too many cars on the track or somebody with no experience took us out. He was bumped by an experienced driver that we have raced against many times. Unfortunatly for us, it totally destroyed a decent car. The best thing is that the driver was unharmed. How many cars could the first lap of this years race have taken out just as easily?

Well, one for certain