Where are the Runoffs going in 2014?

Indy management hasn't supported or maintained road racing for many years. SCCA hasn't held a race there for several years.

Paddock and local accommodations probably adequate, but track would have to be re-surfaced. Facilities (toilets, showers, concessions) nowhere near Run-Offs worthy. (IMHO)

RJS
 
R. J. Sorensen":jbfbh6s5 said:
Indy management hasn't supported or maintained road racing for many years. SCCA hasn't held a race there for several years.

Paddock and local accommodations probably adequate, but track would have to be re-surfaced. Facilities (toilets, showers, concessions) nowhere near Run-Offs worthy. (IMHO)

RJS
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I know that it's a crazy idea, but what about that "other" INDY. They seem to have held a road race there a time or two.
 
Indy or Austin would be as bad for the little cars as Road America has been. I believe they deserve something tight and twisty and technical after all this time.

Watching the video I was very excited to hear the Runoffs would rotate tracks and geographically every to every other year.
 
You are correct by the map... I am in Abq, NM. I am friends with the one guy that went to the runnoffs 2 or 3 years ago. We don't have enough cars to put a race on in this state(we try). At this point I would say we have maybe 15 active SCCA club race cars
 
The cheapest I can get asphalt laid is $5 sq. ft. For every sq. ft. of asphalt I lay I need to dig a pond for water retention of the same sq. footage. Why would anyone think a track would spend money building paddock space for a single event that would at best bring in next to nothing in revenue? VIR has a special property ownership that could assist in such matters, but on the whole it just doesn't make good business sense.

James R.
 
Nobody has mentioned Watkins Glen. It is both a handling and power track. It has tons of room in the infield. Fields of 275, back when most did not double dip, did not even put a dent in the infield parking area. Fantastic coarse, if your not a pussy. Plenty to do for family and friends in the area. And probably hands down the most scenic area of any track in the country. And dozens of wineries nearby for those that need to take the sting out of a bad week of racing. And not to far from MO for those that think MO is the center of SCCA population. And if Topeka is not looking for money from the track this time around, rental would probably be no problem. Thats my choice anyway.
Chris
 
The Glen would be two to three green laps and the rest under full course yellow!

Don't be hatin, it's true.

Bryan
 
zChris":3ml6nyz0 said:
Nobody has mentioned Watkins Glen. It is both a handling and power track. It has tons of room in the infield. Fields of 275, back when most did not double dip, did not even put a dent in the infield parking area. Fantastic coarse, if your not a pussy. Plenty to do for family and friends in the area. And probably hands down the most scenic area of any track in the country. And dozens of wineries nearby for those that need to take the sting out of a bad week of racing. And not to far from MO for those that think MO is the center of SCCA population. And if Topeka is not looking for money from the track this time around, rental would probably be no problem. Thats my choice anyway.
Chris
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I am told (by people who should know) that WG wants NOTHING to do with the Runoffs. And that's it's not WG itself but ISC (NASCAR).

Dayle
 
If you watch the Jeff Dahnert Mailbag video and read the Autoweek article it's pretty obvious that the idea is to move the Runoff's around the country to tracks that people like the best and that includes the West Coast. I don't think a geography is much of a factor. That would mean tracks like Watkins Glenn, Mid Ohio, VIR, Road Atlanta, COTA, Barber, Miller, Laguna Seca and yes Road America again. By renting the track instead of having the track run the event it becomes a bit more feasible. With the new Major's format it's pretty obvious they don't consider long distance towing any big deal so why not have it anywhere they like. It will probably end up with low budget racers only participating in the Majors and going to the Runoff's in the years that it's geographically convenient. I would like to be able to race at some of the tracks like Watkins Glen and Laguna Seca that I have not had a chance to go to but unless I win the lottery it's not going to happen.BTW ISC has been very receptive to the idea of SCCA racing at Kansas Speedway. Not a place you would want the Runoff's but it looks like a local mini-series is a real possibility.
 
Dayle Frame":355rwbr2 said:
zChris":355rwbr2 said:
Nobody has mentioned Watkins Glen. It is both a handling and power track. It has tons of room in the infield. Fields of 275, back when most did not double dip, did not even put a dent in the infield parking area. Fantastic coarse, if your not a pussy. Plenty to do for family and friends in the area. And probably hands down the most scenic area of any track in the country. And dozens of wineries nearby for those that need to take the sting out of a bad week of racing. And not to far from MO for those that think MO is the center of SCCA population. And if Topeka is not looking for money from the track this time around, rental would probably be no problem. Thats my choice anyway.
Chris
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I am told (by people who should know) that WG wants NOTHING to do with the Runoffs. And that's it's not WG itself but ISC (NASCAR).

Dayle
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Might recall that the Runoffs used to rotate between Daytona and Riverside, back in the day.

Watkins Glen has replaced most of the gravel traps with rough aggregate pavement so the cautions should only be for cars that crash heavily. The Safer barrier on the outside of the last turn is a bit unusual for a Road Race setting but it seems to work.
 
The SCCA sure knows where the SCCA membership is located and they should know to date where the members come from for the Runoffs, BUT have they done a survey to see how far members will travel to attend the Runoffs.

Retired Mark Coffin, or anyone else, who has the know how to do site surveys. How about doing one with respect to how far drivers will tow/travel by vehicle to the Runoffs. I understand this site is limited but a trend will result. A second survey for workers could come later.
 
Dayle Frame":2dh8lwhq said:
I am told (by people who should know) that WG wants NOTHING to do with the Runoffs. And that's it's not WG itself but ISC (NASCAR).

Dayle
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I thought they'd announced that the idea going forward was that they were going to just rent the track and promote the runoffs themselves.

So, you'd think that this would end up making the track's interest simply getting the week's rent paid.

-Kyle
 
David Dewhurst":3zfo7l9q said:
The SCCA sure knows where the SCCA membership is located and they should know to date where the members come from for the Runoffs, BUT have they done a survey to see how far members will travel to attend the Runoffs.

Retired Mark Coffin, or anyone else, who has the know how to do site surveys. How about doing one with respect to how far drivers will tow/travel by vehicle to the Runoffs. I understand this site is limited but a trend will result. A second survey for workers could come later.
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You could probably ballpark it by looking at the participation numbers by division, and use a weighted average average distance from the center of each division.

I've modified my original hypothesis and estimate the Mid-Ohio is probably the closest Runoffs capable track to the CoG...which is probably why it was so popular. :mrgreen:

MC
 
I remember when Topeka was announced someone (maybe Matt Weisberg) did a similiar study. I think it was a 500 mile radius around Runoffs type tracks, Mid-Ohio, VIR, Road Atlanta and Heartland Park with National licensed drivers. VIR had the most, even with half it's circle in the ocean.

I miss Matt. He was right about alot of things.
 
Not me. I don't miss him :p

Maybe this is a case of what comes first, the chicken or the egg Don't racers tend to choose SCCA in part because the runoffs are near and accessible. There might not be that many racers for a west coast Runoffs the first time but rotate it there once every three years for a couple decades and you might be surprised what happens, or not, it's just a theory but worth considering I think.
 
West Coast

Miller would be a good start, lots of options. Cutting down on days you could use the East and West course and each group could get more track time than they need. The outer or full course would be other options depending on how many laps you want the races to be. Plenty of paddock space and reasonable local infastructure.

Another option would be to go to a "bucket list" track like Laguna Seca. Problem is the extra tow day from the East coast would stop alot of people who might go to Miller, but not Laguna.

Middle America

Back to Road America or to Austin. You could also throw Indy in, but I would want to run the Motorcycle chicane instead of Speedway turn 1.

East Coast

Take your pick, Mid-Ohio, VIR, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Barber the list goes on.

Where ever you live you would have a chance at a year with a short tow, moderate tow and long tow.
 
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