88 replies to this topic

[Jim Drago]

Just wanted to bring this back up..  Working on some things for 2015.. Please throw out any ideas you have

Jim

[Johnny D]

Please throw out any ideas you have.. ( ha! fixed)

Jim

 

J~

[Johnny D]

I once suggested having a channel to monitor corner workers, we could flip on and off.

 

I was told it wasn't nice to flip off corner workers.

J~

[Danny Steyn]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE CONCEPT!

 

Spec Miata provides some of the best damn racing in the country. The economy is improving, personal budgets are beginning to improve, we have more young drivers in the class than ever before, and I believe the time is right to float a series like this and to actively seek a series sponsor. I suspect it might take a year to work out all the nuances and kinks, but I absolutely endorse the direction that this is headed.

[ChrisA]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE CONCEPT!

 

 personal budgets are beginning to improve, ..

How I wish that were true.    Think I need a new employer!

[tferranti]

Texas World Speedway!  

[Jim Creighton]

Just wondering, will racing with Pro events delete/redirect the top end of the fields at regular season races? I know in the past many of you have said you didn't want to do anything to SM that diluted the fields.

 

A series with the top end tracks is going to cost some $$ for travel. Some will pick this and leave club racing. Is that what you want?

 

I would think a points series within regular scheduled events say Majors and then the shoot out for double points at the Runoffs. Drivers count their best 8 races within Majors. Pick the top Majors races. Only drivers registered for series get points from the Majors. For sake of finishing positions and points, non series drivers are omitted from points/finishes. Drivers must sign up before race in order to be eligible for points. Then, the Runoffs decides final positions.

 

Need an Administrator, Pointskeeper and Treasurer. I believe Motorsportreg could handle series and event registration.

[LarryKing]

Does anyone else remember the "Pro SM" series? I don't recall it being a rousing success.

 

Don't we already have the Mazda MX 5 Cup for those with the means and desire? And wouldn't Mazda prefer to highlight their new MX 5? 

[Sebastian Landy]

Does anyone else remember the "Pro SM" series? I don't recall it being a rousing success.

 

Don't we already have the Mazda MX 5 Cup for those with the means and desire? And wouldn't Mazda prefer to highlight their new MX 5? 

 

^This. Also, racing in the Mx-5 Cup is a whole week affair, often relegated to the "dead time" in the schedule, i.e. We have everything from 8:00 am sessions to 7:00 pm sessions, from Tuesday until the end of the weekend. In some cases we don't even race on the weekend, other times we're the last race before TUDOR on Sunday. I know that a lot of people don't enjoy having to take a whole week off work for events like the Runoffs, but a potential Spec Miata race series accompanying a series like TUDOR would entail taking a week off for each and every event. Just food for thought.

[James York]

This national tour concept does not have to be any new races or events.  It can easily be organized "within" the existing club racing program.  Just need to come up with a points system, selected "bucket list" events from established scheduled, set some rules, and get a few volunteers.

 

I don't recall how many majors races there were in 2014, but this tour could include the marquee events, and not the ho-hum locations.  Just review the SM attendance figures and that should give an idea of where people want to race and which events to include.

[Jim Drago]

This national tour concept does not have to be any new races or events.  It can easily be organized "within" the existing club racing program.  Just need to come up with a points system, selected "bucket list" events from established scheduled, set some rules, and get a few volunteers.

 

I don't recall how many majors races there were in 2014, but this tour could include the marquee events, and not the ho-hum locations.  Just review the SM attendance figures and that should give an idea of where people want to race and which events to include.

 

 

This is MUCH more in line with what we are trying to do. Pick marque events already within our system.  Use a points system that rewards good finishes at all the events. I also want to have some drops so you don't have to drive all the way across the country unless you really want to. Also, not so many drops that it is an attendance contest like we are quickly approaching in our current national points championship.  Double points for the Runoffs. No desire to run with pro events or be "pro'.  Just the true best events at tracks that we all deem "majors" worthy tracks, the ones that have proved that we all like to race on. 

Jim

[FTodaro]

This is MUCH more in line with what we are trying to do. Pick marque events already within our system.  Use a points system that rewards good finishes at all the events. I also want to have some drops so you don't have to drive all the way across the country unless you really want to. Also, not so many drops that it is an attendance contest like we are quickly approaching in our current national points championship.  Double points for the Runoffs. No desire to run with pro events or be "pro'.  Just the true best events at tracks that we all deem "majors" worthy tracks, the ones that have proved that we all like to race on. 

Jim

I think we have posted much of this already, but someone mentioned before to have a sponsor in the series that would pay a contingency well into the field so that the top ten get into the action, that will promote attendance and big field.

 

Maybe get Hoosier to bonus up on there contingency like they did with the super tour.

 

Another idea is to have a special race for the series over the weekend that gives points much like the Pro-it race at Atlanta that has an additional fee and a payout.

 

Maybe give half the entry fee back in payment for 1st to 5th or something along those lines.

 

I am going to suggest we try that formula regionally next year.

[Johnny D]

For Immediate Release

 

SCCA Announces 2015 Majors Schedule, Moves to Five Conferences

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (Sept. 18, 2014) – The calendar for the 2015 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour was released today, with an announcement that the country will be divided into five Conferences for the 2015 season. The total number of events will remain the same in 2015 despite the Conference expansion, with select events counting for points in two Conferences.

 

The schedule divides what was previously the Eastern Conference into the Northeast Conference and the Southeast Conference, while the Mid-States, Northern and Western Conference remain intact.

 

“We’ve vowed from the beginning to adjust the U.S. Majors Tour to fit the needs of the competitors,” Lisa Noble, SCCA President/CEO, said. “We’ve done that for 2015, making the travel distance for the highly populated East coast manageable yet keeping the number of events the same, supporting our initiative to cluster competition.

 

“Even with the split, the Northeast and Southeast Conferences remain among the largest in competitor population size, and the schedule for the rest of the country is one we consider to be the best in the three years of the Majors Tour. Every effort has been made to accommodate the drivers in each Conference, and hit the tracks that racers have traditionally supported and pointed to as worthy of a Majors event.”

 

The 2015 season opens with back-to-back weekends in the Southeast, beginning with Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jan. 9-11, followed by Sebring International Raceway, Jan. 16-18.

 

The Western Conference opens Jan. 16-18 at Auto Club Speedway, with the Mid-States following in early March with the first dual-Conference event at NOLA Motorsports Park. NOLA will count for points in both the Mid-States and the Southeast Conferences.

 

The Conferences based in the snow belt open later, with the Northeast sharing its opener with the Southeast in a dual event at VIRginia International Raceway in April, and the Northern Conference opening May 2-3 at Blackhawk Farms.

 

Included on the Northern Conference schedule is the 60th running of the WeatherTech Chicago Region June Sprints, June 12-14, at Road America.

 

In addition to NOLA and VIR, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the new 2.9-mile circuit at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (Northeast and Northern) will be dual-Conference race weekends.

 

Two additional Mid-States Conference events will be added to the schedule at a later date.

 

Conference Championships will continue to count the best eight of 12 races, with points for each race to the scheduled Conference. Dual Conference events will score points for a driver in each Conference, but count only once in the Nationwide points and for participation credit.

 

Series registration for the 2015 season will open on October 15. At that time, drivers will once again be able to renew their 2014 number in one Conference, with new drivers eligible to register for a number and other benefits at this time as well. More information is forthcoming on the Majors Series Registration.

 

The 2015 U.S. Majors Tour Schedule:

 

Southeast Conference

Jan. 9-11 – Homestead Miami Speedway, Homestead, Fla.

Jan. 16-18 - Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.

March 7-8 - NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La. (With Mid-States)

March 20-22 - Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.

April 17-19* - VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. (With Northeast)

May 1-3 - Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, W. Va. (With Northeast)

* - Pending track date approval

 

Northeast Conference Events

April 17-19* - VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. (With Southeast)

May 1-3 - Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, W. Va. (With Southeast)

May 29-31* - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio (With Northern)

July 3-5 - Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

July 31-Aug. 2 - New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, N.J.

Aug. 14-16 – Pitt Race (new 2.9-mile circuit), Wampum, Pa. (With Northern)

* - Pending track date approval

 

Northern Conference Events

May 2-3 - Blackhawk Farms, S. Beloit, Ill.

May 29-31* - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio (With Northeast)

June 12-14 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

July 11-12 - GingerMan Raceway, South Haven, Mich.

Aug. 14-16 – Pitt Race (new 2.9-mile circuit), Wampum, Pa. (With Northeast)

Aug. 22-23 – Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich.

 

Mid-States Conference Events

March 7-8 – NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La. (With Southeast)

April 11-12 - Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, Okla.

July 4-5 - High Plains Raceway, Byers, Colo.

July 25-26 – Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, Colo.

TBA - Two additional events will be added

 

Western Conference Events

Jan. 16-18 - Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.

March 21-22 – Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, Calif.

April 11-12 – Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, Calif.

May 1-3 - Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, Calif.

May 23-25 - Pacific Raceway, Kent, Wash.

July 3-5 - Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.

 

More information on the Sports Car Club of America and the U.S. Majors Tour can be found at www.scca.com.

 

Image: The 2015 Majors schedule includes a traditional January stop at Sebring.

Credit: Mark Weber

(For a web-resolution sized image, right click and “save as”)

[MPR22]

And the SCCA continues to not be able to place a reasonable race date in Texas for a F'ing Major.

[Ron Alan]

And the SCCA continues to not be able to place a reasonable race date in Texas for a F'ing Major.

Hold your breath Michael...still 2 dates to be announced

[MPR22]

Hold your breath Michael...still 2 dates to be announced

And just think of it, now you can put a voice and face to my cursing and sarcasm.

[Ron Alan]

And just think of it, now you can put a voice and face to my cursing and sarcasm.

Ahhh...we are singing in the redneck choir together! What is the typical count at a Colorado SM race VS a Texas SM race?

 

I think the Western Conference wins for the farthest between Majors Tracks!

[MPR22]

Ahhh...we are singing in the redneck choir together! What is the typical count at a Colorado SM race VS a Texas SM race?
 
I think the Western Conference wins for the farthest between Majors Tracks!

I'm guessing the numbers were 4-1 before they started running us off to NASA in droves. A good weekend at TWS would draw 40+ SM 3 years ago. Now we are lucky if we get 15-20 at an SCCA event. NASA still gets 40+.

[James York]

Ahhh...we are singing in the redneck choir together! What is the typical count at a Colorado SM race VS a Texas SM race?

 

I think the Western Conference wins for the farthest between Majors Tracks!

The first Colorado race had 6 conference SM Drivers, the 2nd, had 2 conference entrants.......  a "regional race" just held in August (of all times) in Houston had around 20 SMs.

 

Total car counts for the Colorados Major were also low.

[Johnny D]

Bump.

J~