29 replies to this topic

[davew]

SCCA announced the official Majors schedule, http://www.scca.com/...x.cfm?cid=51699 with some changes from what was announced a few weeks ago. 

 

Gone is the Texas World event, replaced by Eagles Canyon. And a firm date for VIR is on Easter weekend     . Could be a slim field for egg hunting

 

Dave

[LarryKing]

Didn't think they held races on Easter in the Bible Belt. Heathens!

 

Gingerman??? Grattan??? For real? (some golfer once told me Gingerman is for pu55ies) If the SCCA thinks I'll pay $600+ to race either of those tracks then they must be on some MAJOR drugs.

[James York]

Wow.  Now I am sure the people scheduling and running this are clueless.  The TWS event WAS scheduled on a weekend adjacent to Hallett (can't remember before or after) because I remember thinking that was pretty dumb and posting such.  It was not on the calendar for October.  Why would it be AFTER the runoffs?

 

And now, putting an event on at Eagles Canyon, in the middle of no where, hardly any paved paddock and during the rainy season in TX.  Since we didn't get our date at COTA, TWS is the next best track for club racing in TX.  But instead, Eagles Canyon?  

 

I am beginning believe this is a deliberate attempt to sabotage attendance at TX event to force us to travel.

[James York]

Found the previous scheduled...

 

Mid-States Conference Events

Feb. 7-9 – NOLA Motorsports Park

April 5-6 - Hallett Motor Racing Circuit

April 12-13 – Texas World Speedway

May 24-25 - Pueblo Motorsports Park

July 5-6 - High Plains Raceway

Aug. 30-31 - Heartland Park Topeka

 

 

Hmmm..  TWS in October for an excuse.    

[mdavis]

I think the release meant that the time of the announcement was late October not the event was in late October.  

The events are spread out better but obviously TWS is a much better course with enough paddock for everyone.  I have no idea what will be done if there are more than 100 entries at ECR.  Maybe we'll have to park up on the hill next to the T&S trailer.  Hope they fix the pavement on track too.  I really do not like going airborne in 6.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

I ran all but one race in conference last season...  But I have said this before, I think eventually numbers will start to wain at many of these tracks.  I have already made my plan to attend race tracks where I want to travel to, not ones in which my conference has decided I should travel to, so as of this posting I am planning to race only 1 major in the Northern conference, they have lost my interest with the schedule they have developed, in some cases their races are scheduled to close to others races even in conference, and mostly they have scheduled races at tracks I just do not care to race at...  We shall see if enough others share my sentiments for a change in this for the 2015 season, just this move on my part is a $5k loss for the conference, as I double dipped every northern conf weekend I attended and only missed one weekend last season. 

 

I will be spending my time between scca and nasa next season with the advent of the nasa championship formats.

[James York]

Matt,

 

That at least makes some logic.  I guess parents weekend is a big deal at A&M

 

Well, I was in for TWS, I won't be going to Eagles Canyon.

 

I guess I need to look into NASA.  I haven't raced with them for at least 3 years.

[luckymiata76]

Gingerman??? Grattan??? For real? (some golfer once told me Gingerman is for pu55ies) If the SCCA thinks I'll pay $600+ to race either of those tracks then they must be on some MAJOR drugs.

Get your facts straight!

#1-Local SCCA regions decide entry fees, not SCCA National office.

#2-For the GingerMan Majors we charged $475(cash or check) for 120 minutes of track time over 2 days. Your $600 price figure is only 20% off.

#3-In 2012 we charged $450 for a similar event at GingerMan. SCCA Major fees added $50 to our cost, but only raised the entry fee by $25.

 

If you come to GingerMan and don't like our event, it's up to you whether or not you return.Most racers enjoy the event and some don't. But to bad-mouth something you haven't even tried is just ignorant. Didn't your mother teach you anything?

 

Jeff

#76 SM

Regional Executive

South Bend Region

[Jim Drago]

I have already made my plan to attend race tracks where I want to travel to

Since our division has little going on in terms of racing over the last few years, this has been my way of racing since about 2008 or so. We go to the tracks we want to go, which are usually the most attended and most competitive.. This year it looks like we will hit the following:



Jan. 3-5 - Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.

Feb. 7-9 – NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La.

March 21-23 - Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.

April 5-6 - Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, Okla.

April 12-13 – Texas World Speedway

May 30-June 1 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio

June 13-15 - Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Somewhere after this we will pack up and head west Still trying to hit VIR and Watkins Glen, but it never seems to really work out

Jim

[DrDomm]

Since everyone else wants to bitch, so will I.  A little.  I'm bummed that Mid-Ohio (Northern Conference) is only 1 week before New Jersey (Eastern Conference).  I wanted to do both.

 

Jim, not sure why Watkins Glen doesn't work out for you.  There's 2 off weekends after the June Sprints.  And what's wrong with VIR on 4/18-20?  You no longer have to travel to TWS.

[mdavis]

Matt,

 

That at least makes some logic.  I guess parents weekend is a big deal at A&M

 

Well, I was in for TWS, I won't be going to Eagles Canyon.

 

I guess I need to look into NASA.  I haven't raced with them for at least 3 years.

 

James,

 

Take a look at my post of the schedule on the Southwest Divison website.  I think the April event at TWS is still on but just not a Majors event.  If you look at what was done, the Majors basically took over the event that was already on the schedule for ECR in Southwest Division.  And hey, if Drago shows up at TWS per his post and you're on old tires you might be able to slow him down too!

[MPR22]

Since our division has little going on in terms of racing over the last few years, this has been my way of racing since about 2008 or so. We go to the tracks we want to go, which are usually the most attended and most competitive.. This year it looks like we will hit the following:Jan. 3-5 - Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.Feb. 7-9 – NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La.March 21-23 - Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.April 5-6 - Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, Okla.April 12-13 – Texas World SpeedwayMay 30-June 1 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OhioJune 13-15 - Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.Somewhere after this we will pack up and head west Still trying to hit VIR and Watkins Glen, but it never seems to really work out :(Jim

Jim, check the updated schedule, TWS was replaced by ECR. Was looking forward to having you out to the best race track in Texas that doesn't race F1.

[LarryKing]

More facts - Drive time from my home:

 

Gingerman - 5 1/2 hours

Grattan - 5 hours

Watkins Glen - 6 1/2

VIR - 7 hours

Charlotte - 7 hours

 

Decisions, decisions

 

Time will tell my percent of over-estimation on 2014 entry fees.

 

Let's leave moms out of this discussion - k?

[Caveman-kwebb99]

In Luckys defense....  I did gingerbreadman last season, it was a well run event, the officials went out of their way to deal with a poorly planned race groupings to assure that anyone in SM could double dip in STL.  They also put the K-Bosh on the Tech official that made MIS a miserable experience for some of us...

 

Anyone going to this event will find more then enough track time for the price charged and I dont even know what the price will be this season!

 

For me I am not attending this event again this year, but not because it is not well run, or that there was not enough competition, or that the travel was to far, or that the cost was to high!  

 

I am simply not going back as there are alot better tracks in other conferences to race at, I am not chasing a points title, therefore I am free to choose what venue I will race at!  So Watkins, Vir, Atl, will be getting my race dollars.

 

Go back to MIS, and I am signing up, but its not on the schedule???  

 

Lucky and his crew put on really nice races, so if you have not been to their region and you want to race in the Northern conference, give them a shot I do not think you will be disapointed!

[Jim Drago]

Maybe we can make this travelling circus work.. I will talk to the guys about VIR or Watkins, we will try and make one. Looks like our "home" race is 6-7 hours away Unfortunately, it has always been that way for me for the most part, so the majors are not a huge change in my travel.


Jan. 3-5 - Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla. 15-16 hours

Feb. 7-9 – NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La. 6-7 hours

March 21-23 - Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga. 8 hours

April 5-6 - Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, Okla. 8 hours

April 18-20 - Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. 13 hours

May 30-June 1 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 12 hours

June 13-15 - Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. 13 hours

[Butch Kummer]

WMR wanted to run MIS again but the track did not have an available date in 2014 that fit - it would have been Sept or later. It could possibly be back on the schedule for 2015.

After CoTA fell through we had the Apr 12-13 weekend at TWS as a back-up, but apparently "Parent's Day" at A&M is even bigger than a football weekend. There were maybe 30 motel rooms available within a 50-mile radius and those normally going for $80/night were almost $200/night. There will be no SCCA event at TWS that weekend, Majors or Regional. Eagle's Canyon was the next best option for a second SOWDiv Majors (NOLA being the other one) and reportedly the track has made significant improvements in the last two years with more planned before March 2014.

[davew]

I am anticipating:

 

Sebring 26 hours

Nola   14 hours

Atlanta 14 hours

VIR  16 hours

Blackhawk    10 minutes !!!!!

Road America 3 hours

Midohio   8 hours

Gingerman  6 hours

Grattan 8 hours

Road America again   3 hours

And maybe Watkins Glen  14 hours

 

That's 100 hours of driving, double that for round trip.

 

Don't overlook Gingerman or Grattan. These are both pure drivers tracks. Twisty and technical. Leave your Road America motor at home. Top speeds of 90 mph at Gingerman and only 1 fast straight at Grattan. Seperates the drivers from the motor builders.

 

Dave

[Danny Steyn]

Maybe we can make this travelling circus work.. I will talk to the guys about VIR or Watkins, we will try and make one. Looks like our "home" race is 6-7 hours away Unfortunately, it has always been that way for me for the most part, so the majors are not a huge change in my travel.


Jan. 3-5 - Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla. 15-16 hours

Feb. 7-9 – NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La. 6-7 hours

March 21-23 - Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga. 8 hours

April 5-6 - Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, Okla. 8 hours

April 18-20 - Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. 13 hours

May 30-June 1 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 12 hours

June 13-15 - Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. 13 hours

 

Jim, glad you are finally making the trip to VIR - possibly my all time favorite track. No matter how hard you charge, the design of this track means that there is always a train of cars competing for the win. No sensation at any track has ever come close (for me) to the sensation of bump drafting through the uphill esses at 107mph!!!!

 

Do this track once and it will be on your annual list forever!

[Ron Alan]

Ok...I will officially never complain about any towing times on the West Coast ever again. You guys are animals

[James York]

Wow.  Now I am sure the people scheduling and running this are clueless.  The TWS event WAS scheduled on a weekend adjacent to Hallett (can't remember before or after) because I remember thinking that was pretty dumb and posting such.  It was not on the calendar for October.  Why would it be AFTER the runoffs?

 

And now, putting an event on at Eagles Canyon, in the middle of no where, hardly any paved paddock and during the rainy season in TX.  Since we didn't get our date at COTA, TWS is the next best track for club racing in TX.  But instead, Eagles Canyon?  

 

I am beginning believe this is a deliberate attempt to sabotage attendance at TX event to force us to travel.

 

Wow, one week out from the "Majors" at Eagles Canyon at 9 SM's registered (smallest group) with 115 total entries.  What a dud.  I hope the logic that decided moving away from TWS to this date and time was a good fix for the scheduling conflict at TWS in College Station is seriously reviewed.

 

I am not a rocket scientist, but I saw this result 4 months ago.  People in charge of scheduling need a reality check.

 

http://www.dlbracing...69&EventID=5512

 

It is too bad, I live in TX but am not travelling to that place, and it looks like a lot of others are not either.