15 replies to this topic

[mhiggins10]

Is this a done deal, or could something happen to pull this out (as happened this year)?

 

http://www.racer.com...article/318711/

[LarryKing]

Just add money.

[steveracer]

Sure.

 

We just need 450 people to pre enter at $1500 each.

 

Done

 

Before you mathmagicians attack, I know that comes out to $675,000.

 

Almost as ridiculous a figure as they want to charge us.

[Jim Drago]

Last year we had around 450 entries, some of which dusted off cars that had been sitting for ten years because they wanted to “run an F-1 track before they die”. Others are so pissed off about how they were treated (doesn’t matter if it was by the track or SCCA) that they won’t come back if it was free.

25% of last years entries that enjoyed the event are likely not coming back as they just wanted to run it, travelled from far away etc.


So we needed a min of 400 entries at $1000 or so to break even. Many of us would pay $1500, but far more won't. IMO 300-350 entries at $1000 would be no problem, but the last 50-100 entries that are absolutely needed would be a real issue. It was just too much money to risk in order to put on the event IMO.

[steveracer]

Yep.

[James York]

That's a bummer

[James York]

Oh yeah, and what genius thought putting Hallet and TWS on back to back weekends is a good idea for number of entries?

[steveracer]

Ripple effect from COTA.

[mhiggins10]

Last year we had around 450 entries, some of which dusted off cars that had been sitting for ten years because they wanted to “run an F-1 track before they die”. Others are so pissed off about how they were treated (doesn’t matter if it was by the track or SCCA) that they won’t come back if it was free.

25% of last years entries that enjoyed the event are likely not coming back as they just wanted to run it, travelled from far away etc.


So we needed a min of 400 entries at $1000 or so to break even. Many of us would pay $1500, but far more won't. IMO 300-350 entries at $1000 would be no problem, but the last 50-100 entries that are absolutely needed would be a real issue. It was just too much money to risk in order to put on the event IMO.

 

That's a shame- I got my competition license this year and was planning to be a back-marker in March of next year.  It's tremendously unfortunate that the track refuses to drop their price, especially given that the drivers/SCCA are likely paying for any damage caused.

 

I suppose it's becoming more and more true- if you want to run COTA, you better have a Ferrari or McLaren, otherwise they have zero interest in getting you on track.

 

 

I would hope this also changes the minds of many locals with regards to the funding model in place.  If the track decides to be exclusive or ultra-expensive, it shouldn't be on the taxpayer dime.

[mdavis]

Oh yeah, and what genius thought putting Hallet and TWS on back to back weekends is a good idea for number of entries?

Wow... saw that too.  Great way to get crappy fields at both races. 

 

 

This is going to get some people angry but why in the world are we going to Pueblo and HPR on  the same dates that Southwest and Midiv have hosted very successful national events in the past?  (TWS Memorial and Hallett 4th of July).  I'm sure the tracks in Colorado are nice but that is NOT where the majority of the racers are.  Is the purpose of the Majors program to get the 'majority' of the racers to tow long distances?  That's a recipe for disaster.  I understand that some of this is based on track availability but I'd think we'd have a better turnout at ECR or MSR-Houston in Feb/March than we will with back to back weekends at Hallett and TWS.  That's probably not where the surveyed racers wanted to go but I also bet that the surveyed did not anticipate racing back to back weekends in April.

I know it's very easy to criticize but this really, really stinks.

[mdavis]

Just for fun I looked up the results for 2013 at the "Majors" events in Colorado.  

So..... one weekend there were 10 spec miatas.   The next there were 12.   That is in the class that is the most subscribed in SCCA.  Why in the world are there 2 events there?

Am done ranting.  Will call Jim Wheeler.

 

If you happen to read this Jim- will assume Chuck has your cell.  Otherwise shoot me a PM.

[Jim Drago]

Oh yeah, and what genius thought putting Hallet and TWS on back to back weekends is a good idea for number of entries?

Wow that does stink
Jim

[Mike Collins]

A lot of us who raced last year did so knowing that another race at COTA in the immediate future looked bleak.  It's the latest new shiny toy, when the luster dulls a little and another new toy comes along the SCCA along with others will be welcomed back with wide open arms and reasonable rates.

[Doug007]

Seems like COTA isn't interested in anything that doesn't ring up the spectator ticket and concessions cash registers.  Vintage racing recently did just that but other amateur racing much less so.

 

PCA and BMWCCA had club races last year too.  Wonder if those will disappear too...

 

Eventually they will figure out that they are losing huge amounts of money by not having events nearly every weekend.  It might take a few years.

[steveracer]

Not that many spectators at the vintage race.

[Matt Reynolds]

Wow... saw that too.  Great way to get crappy fields at both races. 

 

 

This is going to get some people angry but why in the world are we going to Pueblo and HPR on  the same dates that Southwest and Midiv have hosted very successful national events in the past?  (TWS Memorial and Hallett 4th of July). 

 

 

I believe the Hallett race in July was eliminated from the schedule beginning last year.  The theory was that they would eliminate that race and make the one in April a double national to boost entries.  Another reason is most likely the heat during that time of year and the lack of corner workers willing to stand out in it.  This may have been more of a problem at TWS because of the amount of corner workers necessary.  Also, some fires cause by broken down cars sitting in a field of dead grass created a little more excitement than necessary.

 

All of this and more probably attributed to the schedule we saw last year in the Southwest, in which no races were conducted during the summer.  We also only had a total of 4 national race weekend, all of which were doubles.

 

I am not agreeing with the schedule changes, just wanted to share what I believe were the reasons for taking those races off.

 

See yall next year!

 

-Matt