3 replies to this topic

[Kevin Coulter]

At competitor request, for the 2010 and 2011 June Sprints, Chicago Region SCCA provided a spec fuel, first for SRF, and then also for FE and SM. The intent was to help assure a more level playing field to improve competition. Instead, and particularly in 2011, while the concept was embraced by most competitors, the costs and the logistics of the program were the focus of well-placed criticisms.
In November 2011, the Region surveyed FE, SM, and SRF competitors who participated in the 2010 and 2011 June Sprints to learn their preferences regarding spec fuel and acceptable price points. While FE competitors rejected spec fuel, SM and SRF competitors favored spec fuel if the cost were kept comparable to the markup at the 2011 Runoffs. As a result of competitor response, the Region attempted to source 93 octane fuel with ethanol for the 2012 June Sprints.
Chicago Region and Road America studied the cost structure collaboratively, based on the following assumptions:

• Neither would profit from the sale of the spec fuel.
• The final price would combine fixed costs and the vendor’s price for the fuel itself.
• The final target would approximate last year’s Runoffs price.
• The logistics of the program would meet competitor needs.

The plan was to spread the significant fixed costs for transportation (including truck and tanker), fire suppression, staffing, and insurance directly across the per gallon fuel price, although consideration was also given to spreading the costs indirectly across all competitors in the affected classes through a surcharge above the entry fee. That could mitigate some, but not all, of the risk, but it also effectively penalizes the entire population. It is worth noting that Runoffs fixed costs are spread over a larger number of competitors with a higher total consumption.
The second component of the final price would combine the current market price, which is expected to rise between now and June, along with the vendor’s markup.
In the end, we find ourselves unable to offer spec fuel at a price point that we feel would both be in line with competitor expectations and which would represent for them a reasonable return value because of the unavoidable and uncontrollable elements associated with providing spec fuel for these two classes, which also included assuring that the fuel would be reliably available when needed by competitors.
Instead, the Region is committed to a robust, systematic, and visible fuel testing plan, in accordance with the GCR throughout the fields for all classes during the June Sprints. Competitors in all classes are free to obtain GCR compliant fuel from the vendor of their choice.
Chicago Region thanks Road America for their efforts during this analysis and candor in opening the books to provide complete transparency in the fuel process, which, when combined with their willingness to forego any rightful profit in providing spec fuel had that been the direction the Region chose, again demonstrates that Road America truly supports our racing program and our competitors.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the WeatherTech Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints on June 15 – 17, 2012 at Road America. Please direct any questions to either of us. Thank you.
Yours, for the Sport,

Ed Locke, Regional Executive
Chicago Region SCCA
regionalexec (at) scca-chicago.com

JoAnne Jensen, Chief Steward
2012 June Sprints
joannejensen (at) cox.net

[Mike Collins]

Thank you for your efforts and for providing this information to competitors in a timely manner so that they can plan accordingly.

[pat slattery]

_{Why not just spec the 93 octane sold at the Marathon station in Elkhart Lake. Atleast we would have a chance of controling 35.00 a gallon fuel?}

[Tom Sager]

_{Why not just spec the 93 octane sold at the Marathon station in Elkhart Lake. Atleast we would have a chance of controling 35.00 a gallon fuel?}

How would we test the Marathon fuel and confirm a car is running on the spec fuel? Doesn't the spec fuel sold previously at the track have a trace ingredient that can be verified in the test process?