If I were looking at changes to HST so they could partner with pro series I’d plan on just a few run groups. But first I would want to crunch a lot of numbers. What has HST accomplished so far and what trends are emerging? Turnout has been pretty good at some but do the numbers show that it has produced a net increase in total participation? Financially? The original topic, and certainly the broader problems, are not about HST, but that series impacts the rest so how well it’s working should be a factor in future planning overall.
If HST is not proving to be a significant net plus in overall participation then I’d be more inclined to take the next big step because I think it negatively impacts other events. I haven’t studied participation numbers closely so the specifics might change a little, but my goal would be just four run groups assuming that would work with a F3/F4 partnership. SRF3 and SM of course. FE seems the most obvious fit but even FE and FE2 combined don’t add up to a lot. However, if announced well in advance and marketed, I expect that would change. So barring evidence to the contrary I would pencil that in which leaves room for one group. GT2 has boomed lately and GT1 is just plain big-bore fun. Run together with a split start I think they would be an excellent fourth group to contrast with everything else on offer. But, I also considered them as a more natural fit with Trans Am weekends, in which case perhaps include American Sedan in that mix. (AS has fallen on hard times and wouldn’t otherwise make my cut.) On the other hand, would Trans Am want an amateur race faster than their TA2 class? And don’t they already split some weekends to parter with others? But if the GT cars can partner with Trans Am then that opens one slot. I think it would be hard to ignore STL given it’s trajectory and the mix of makes & models. With continued fine tuning it could be an even stronger class. And then the manufacturers take notice and screw it up.
Obviously that means everyone else is out of HST. I’ve talked to a few drivers in various small production classes, some really like the whole HST thing and say they race more because of it, others just see it as a more expensive (entries and travel) path to the Runoffs. I’m sure there would be a range of reactions. Part of the number crunching would be to estimate how much the HST has cannibalized the other events and how many of those, if left out of the new HST, will still race as often without it. If the most important factor is decent car counts in their class then the non-HST events start looking better again and total participation may actually increase. Those kinds of answers and projections could make or break any big overhaul concept.
Condensing HST and partnering it with pro events may somewhat help participation in the remaining club racing events but it doesn’t address or negate all the other challenges and ideas discussed above. Over the years we’ve had people try some of the things discussed to draw spectators. For example, getting local TV news crews out a few days in advance for a ride around. That yielded a decent TV spot and as I recall a noticeable number of curious spectators, but as someone described earlier they were mostly families attracted to something a little different and free to burn a few hours. That’s great and all but extremely unlikely to lead to new participants. Still, as I mentioned previously with a few active members seeking out every free or nearly free opportunity to draw people in you increase the odds of one getting hooked. And yes, video and a better web presence needs to be part of that, but I believe direct comparisons to the small-scale likes of Gridlife are unrealistic. If they had 100 track events instead of 5 would they draw as many people from as far away to each? Never mind, it’s an unwinnable, though not pointless, debate.
BTW, qualifying is often easier to watch, follow and understand than races and produces a lot more drama if presented correctly. Has anyone not watched F1 this decade? Even for Indy cars which have some pretty good road racing due to a largely spec chassis, qualifying is pretty cool. For people coming from F&F street racing, drag racing and drifting, I’d argue that Time Attack (or whatever) with wild cars would draw and satisfy a lot better than the
average SCCA road race. Not even a contest.
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