29 replies to this topic

[tmartin]

Tom, don't want to defend SCCA when they can defend themselves, but couple of thoughts. Firstly the South West Div SCCA annual schedule is usually put out in December for the next year. The 3-4 weeks mentioned above is registration not a commitment to the date. I doubt that any region allows registration months in advance. Secondly I urge everyone to give both SCCA and COTA till after this weekend to lock down details on what is (to COTA) the smallest event on thier calendar so far. I have no doubt we will all have several months advance notice for what is likely to prove to be one of the most popular club race weekends in the country. The bigger problem is to figure out how to get a reasonable amount of track time on test day when 350 cars show up - or to fight for main paddock space

Cnj

Cnj: I completely agree with the tenor of your remarks. This is a great opportunity (COTA is charging $50k to rent the track for a day to private parties). COTA and Lonestar need time to get it figured out. That's fine and reasonable, especially for a first time event at a new track. I do, as you can tell, disagree that there is no reason to allow registration for events in general 90 days in advance. First, it is happening. On motorsportsreg.com, you can register for events through the end of February now. That's about 100 days in advance (and ironically the event 100 days from now is the SCCA national convention). Second, while SCCA's problem in many regions is getting enough racers to show up, in principle there is a limit to how many cars can be accepted to a race weekend and registration could be closed once some reg number is reached. In that case, racers traveling long distance don't know if they're in until it is too late (Surprise! No race for you). Third, the "guess and check" system of race calendars and registration is a PITA. It caters to the hard core (which is fine) and discourages the new and the less committed (not fine). I want SCCA to succeed, but casual and disorganized calendar systems, together with other squirelly systems (don't get me started on licensing), aren't the way to grow. Anyway, I don't want to highjack this thread any more than I already have. Thanks for listening.

[Cnj]

Cnj: I completely agree with the tenor of your remarks. This is a great opportunity (COTA is charging $50k to rent the track for a day to private parties). COTA and Lonestar need time to get it figured out. That's fine and reasonable, especially for a first time event at a new track. I do, as you can tell, disagree that there is no reason to allow registration for events in general 90 days in advance. First, it is happening. On motorsportsreg.com, you can register for events through the end of February now. That's about 100 days in advance (and ironically the event 100 days from now is the SCCA national convention). Second, while SCCA's problem in many regions is getting enough racers to show up, in principle there is a limit to how many cars can be accepted to a race weekend and registration could be closed once some reg number is reached. In that case, racers traveling long distance don't know if they're in until it is too late (Surprise! No race for you). Third, the "guess and check" system of race calendars and registration is a PITA. It caters to the hard core (which is fine) and discourages the new and the less committed (not fine). I want SCCA to succeed, but casual and disorganized calendar systems, together with other squirelly systems (don't get me started on licensing), aren't the way to grow. Anyway, I don't want to highjack this thread any more than I already have. Thanks for listening.

Tom,

I agree in principle with your concerns. Hope you are coming to the race this weekend and hope you have a great time. Four races and lots of music in the amphitheater (and other spaces) - should be good.

Cnj

[steveracer]

Cnj: I completely agree with the tenor of your remarks. This is a great opportunity (COTA is charging $50k to rent the track for a day to private parties). COTA and Lonestar need time to get it figured out. That's fine and reasonable, especially for a first time event at a new track. I do, as you can tell, disagree that there is no reason to allow registration for events in general 90 days in advance. First, it is happening. On motorsportsreg.com, you can register for events through the end of February now. That's about 100 days in advance (and ironically the event 100 days from now is the SCCA national convention). Second, while SCCA's problem in many regions is getting enough racers to show up, in principle there is a limit to how many cars can be accepted to a race weekend and registration could be closed once some reg number is reached. In that case, racers traveling long distance don't know if they're in until it is too late (Surprise! No race for you). Third, the "guess and check" system of race calendars and registration is a PITA. It caters to the hard core (which is fine) and discourages the new and the less committed (not fine). I want SCCA to succeed, but casual and disorganized calendar systems, together with other squirelly systems (don't get me started on licensing), aren't the way to grow. Anyway, I don't want to highjack this thread any more than I already have. Thanks for listening.

So you'll be running for R/E in the next board elections to straighten everything out?

You get my vote!

[CruzanTom]

Looks like a lot of interest in doing COTA from the folks in the SE Div. The route to Austin seems to run through New Orleans.

Are there any events scheduled at NOLA the weekend before or after COTA? If so, I bet a number of SE Div racers would sign up for NOLA, too. The OPM gang will be on Bourbon Street anyway.

[James York]

To date, NOLA has only hosted NASA events as its form of "nationwide" racing. I don't think the local SCCA region is capable of hosting/staffing a club racing event without lots of external help.

[Mark Domo]

Any contacts for renting in that area? Too far to trailer.

[Blake Clements]

Call John Phillips at PhillipsRacePrep or Tom Fowler at OPM Autosports. I heard he is bringing a lot of cars and has plenty of rentals.

[FTodaro]

Looks like a lot of interest in doing COTA from the folks in the SE Div. The route to Austin seems to run through New Orleans.

Are there any events scheduled at NOLA the weekend before or after COTA? If so, I bet a number of SE Div racers would sign up for NOLA, too. The OPM gang will be on Bourbon Street anyway.

You might see the Ohio crew as Well, you buying the first round on bourbon street on our way through?

[MPR22]

Looks like a lot of interest in doing COTA from the folks in the SE Div. The route to Austin seems to run through New Orleans.

Are there any events scheduled at NOLA the weekend before or after COTA? If so, I bet a number of SE Div racers would sign up for NOLA, too. The OPM gang will be on Bourbon Street anyway.

I have tried to get SOW Div to set up are race at NOLA, as James pointed out the NOLA Region is not financially able to host the race out of their pocket so they would need another region to co-sponsor the event. I haven't made any headway with the Houston Region being the co-host as they have an event in mid Feb that would conflict with the track availability. NOLA hastentively resered the weekend of the 23 Feb for an SCCA race if anyone wants to help me pull it together. Any sooner and you get into the Superbowl weekend and Mardi Gras making hotels a virtual impossibility.

[Keith Andrews]

Wow, after watching that race I can't wait to see 100 SM's on this track. What a great design. Passing at the end of 3 straights and many short burst cornering opportunities, and more. This looks like a home run to me. What an incredible investment in racing.