prodracing.com

To reply to a couple of the posts above. My suggestion was for the prod community to have a good long hard look at where its going and with what level of preparation, cars, class structure etc. Get everybody that has an opinion and try to form a blueprint that you can all agree on for an implementation date in a couple of years and take it to the CRB. The current piecemeal comp adjustment system isn't going to get a healthy prod future, it needs an overview . This is not really a BOD function - usually it would be CRB and advisory committee but I think you guys are smart enough to come up with a working group by E Mail and forum that could look at where prod racing would be in say 5 years. In spite of Larry's post I don't however see numbers to justify more than 3 prod classes out there.

When I was on the CRB we introduced Limited Prep (not taking credit but I was there!) and we had a tremendous amount of feedback and help. I don't want to be a cheerleader here but the future of prod racing is in your own hands. Otherwise, I suspect that some cars will go vintage (going to happen anyway) and some of the old hands get too old and we'll be trying to work out how to save which ever prod class stumbles.

Maybe this should be in a different thread

Phil

Phil

Good point Larry. It is worrisome that production exist, in an environment where unfair stereotypes have been so solidly accepted.

The "perception" is that Production participation is low relative to other classes, so leaders are already thinking about our relative status, and standing. But the reality is different when you actually look at the facts.

Phil's comment in his first post in this thread that he remembers (his perception) that 90% of all letters coming to the comp board when he began in 92 were from Production racers complaining about or wanting to slow their competition down. While I have no doubt that for Phil, this was his "reality" at the time, it simply isn't true. I went through 21 of the 24 1992 and 1993 FASTRACS I have available and found evidence of only 4 or 5 total negative adjustment request. Based on column space, Spec Racer, Showroom Stock, GT, and other classes all required more action on the comp boards part during that time.

Phil cmon, really ? Are we at the point already where our demise is certain and you can switch to putting the blame back on racers? Or are you just trying to put off production resistance to all the other things you want to do for a little while longer.

Here's a plan I'll propose to those who jumped at the chance to screw Gprod racers, and those who are excited about the 3 new ST classes. Let's put any and every race car built in the last 25 years (like ST we have to have standards), and weighing less than 2800 pounds, in the Formula Enterprises run group, and then sit back and see how you do growing that class.

EDIT
Seriously now. G was killed in one meeting. ST was created out of the blue in a matter of just a few months. Now you are asking us to take a lot of time creating a plan to be implemented in a few years. That seem unreasonable to me.

I apologize for the sarcasm in my second paragraph. About the only thing that gets me worked up is being treated like I am stupid. That is how I perceived your post although it might not have been intended that way.

delete

Exactly Curtis,

I'll be the first to admit that I am a somewhat bitter ex G prod racer who was just actually starting to see my hard work and $$$ payoff, I get sick to my stomach when this topic resurfaces. G had decent numbers when it was intentionally killed off, what no regional class even?? You have to be sh*tting me. Everyone did write letters to the BOD, CRB, and the Vatican, to just have someone in the SCCA just use some fricking common sense....to no avail. Now here we are the RACERS who have to decide, what crap.

We'll I've tried ITA in a funky Fiero, but I need to tinker. So now I'm sitting on a beautifully prepped and built FP/GTL Honda just waiting for some rules stability(or logic even) that will never come. But I have nothing to run for, you know, my motivation is gone now. I almost went out at the end of June, but it wasn't even close to worth the $300 entry fee, I put that into a new front suspension on our '91 325i that gets me off at least, somewhat.

Arghh, stepping down now

Peter Baumgartner
X GP Spridget w/Fubar'd Cage
X ITA Fiero GT
FP/GTL Honda Civic Hatch (any offers?)

Bob,

You're fired.

-Kyle

Understand, entry fees is not the only revenue stream for the Trans-Am series. For the last two seasons, 2009 and 2010, capital investment has been made into Trans-Am by investors to see the series operate. In 2009, that money came from Greg Pickett via his Muscle Milk sponsorship, Jim Derhaag and Tony Ave. Now, in 2010, with the loss of Pickett and Muscle Milk, it has been Derhaag and Ave at a reduced input one must assume and perhaps wrongly, I'll accept correction, because entry fees went up and purse payout went down.

Hopefully 2011 and beyond will yield a better plan.

I certainly do not want to be accused of falsely portraying the situation in Production car racing. My perception is that the only place there are a reasonable showing of prod cars is at nationals. In my area at least regional participation is almost nonexistent. Last year there were 78 FP and 64 HP drivers that ran any national races. That does not seem to me to be a lot of cars for a category that has such a rich and dedicated history. If there are ideas that can grow the category then lets work on them.

Well I do not keep files on these people and by definition they are not from my area but lets see, Kephart in FF, Lewis in GT1 and Noble in FV are long time runoffs drivers. Butler in SRF is doing the runoffs this year I think for the first time. Wanarka I think has a GTL and a T3 car. Jones races in SRF and a couple of formula classes I think. Sheridan runs regionally in SM and AS I think. I race an IT car and have since 99. I have run 4 races this year and plan to get in one more double. I honestly do not know how many races the others run. I know Kephart, Lewis and Noble run a lot. I guess there are no real Prod experts on the board, not sure if that is good or bad.

My point is the makeup of the board is not what it was a few years ago. It is certainly not dominated by stewards. Heck we even have one director whose primary interest is Solo

Phil, why would us production folks even bother coming up with a plan to save production? The BoD and CRB have already pulled the plug on production, and what ever plan we would come up with, you'd just come back with

"thank you for your input"

and do what you damn well feel like doing.

That's what you've done in the past, so why should you act any differently?

1. Why didn't G production get relegated to a regional only class, instead of just killed.

2. How did all the special classes (STU, STO, STL) all get National Status with out going through the current rules to gain National status?

When you can answer these 2 basic questions honestly, then the production community might believe you.

If you can't, then go f&*k yourself and stop insulting our intelligence.

You are not representing us "club" members, so best of luck with your re-election

Sorry to be so blunt, but I'm tired of $$$$ from Mazda driving this club into the Mazda Sports Car Club of America.