4-5 years ago you could count on an additional 6-7 very talented drivers to enter at Nelson. Those drivers don't race SM anymore. I really should start a list of everyone who's dropped out of this class in our division. There was a time when 40+ SM fields were common.
Are there statistics that support that Nelson is more dangerous than other tracks?
There will always be people moving into and out of the class, money, family, other special interests, moving out of the area, etc. Some my even take a season or two off only to re-enter at a later point. The trend I have seen in my short time 3rd season, is less turn out at some of the smaller name tracks, and more attendance at the larger named tracks, Its no mystery why NASA in our area races 3 weekends at Mid Ohio, more than any other single course. A trend that SCCA also seems to follow with. They simply try to go to the tracks where they can sell the most entry fees. Also the larger name tracks are usualy a longer milage course which allows more entrants per class than most of the other shorter courses as well. If VIR, ATL and Mid Oh, Watkins, RAM were all equal drives for me my favorite track would be Watkins, and I would pick it over all others if there were other races scheduled around the same time. Just as the NE folks are saying with the other races that are scheduled may pull entrants away from them, it's just good common sense on their part to think that if you have choices and limited budgets due to ecoomics of our time, you will choose the best venue to spend your budget.
I dont particularly feel more unsafe at NL, because I am not off course much, but if I was I would have to say their tire walls there look like an ancient pyramid one that could really ramp your car right up and over rather than just absorbing the hit. Have alos have heard several stories of SM on their lid at NL, yet never seen one at Mid ohio and I have raced there nearly every time there is an event.
K. Webb
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