[prt1983]

Well GT racers, I knew it was coming to this, Hans devices are mandatory, at a cost of $600-$1000 now and every five years, even though it says that they must be recertified every five years, there’s nothing that the manufacturer can do to recertify them and they will make you buy a new one every five years. All of these regulations are to sell more products, I and others thought SafeRacer was behind the changes, but talking with them, they said that SCCA wouldn’t listen to them on changes, I told them that’s strange because the person behind the seat belt change is Doug Wheeler, I have it on solid ground that he was overheard saying it will help sell more product. He was Comp. Dir. for Midwest Council and had that changed from 5 yrs to 2 yrs, but there is a new Comp. Dir. and it’s been changed back to 5 years, so SafeRacer with the money they spent sponsoring in SCCA won’t be listened too yet a person like Doug Wheeler is, SafeRacer be better to take their money and spend it over at Midwest Council, rules are not going to get changed for any company but Midwest Council is going to grow because of SCCA and all the costly regulations being added, just look at all the GT cars for sale on different sites..

So I’m also done trying to help GT1 here, I’ve posted a couple of times, trying to get people in banding together, that’s why we created the GT1 board, no one answer my idea for a petition drive, only a couple of others were discussing the situations, Tony and Tom, not much from anyone else, so what we have now, to be blunt, our racing group acting in parallel with Americans who say that it’s alright for the TSA to feel our crotches because they think it keeps us safer, but instead it’s a police state and taken away our liberties, same with racing, all the regulations that don’t do a thing for safety but costing us a lot more money. SCCA doesn’t have to follow everything from SFI, which states that any organization can determine if they want to use SFI rule, but if they use SFI, then they must follow the complete rule (like Hans devices & 5 yrs.).
We all know that GT is more expensive then production cars, we accept it because we love racing these type of cars, a lot of the club racers are doing whatever it takes job wise so they can run these cars whereas the Pros are businessmen with companies that can spend more, what club racers don’t need is unnecessary regulations costing more money when we have a terrible economy and traveling costs are higher, which SCCA doesn’t understand.

Let me also give you more scoop on what is happening with SCCA, here are FACTS from 2011, membership is down and SCCA isn’t bringing in as much money, SCCA cancelled 140 races in 2011 and the Pro Division owes SCCA approx. $1 million, SCCA had ordered new vehicles and equipment in 2011 but because of the huge lost of money, it was all cancelled. SCCA also did away with the 2 ½% rule, because they would have had lost about 25% of the classes with low turnout at events.
As for me, SCCA advertised a opening on the GT Advisory Committee, I sent my resume in, the only one, 6 months later, nothing and no communication, also because of all these bad and costly regulations, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I’ve done everything I can but with no help from any other GT1 racer, so it’s all yours, no more posts from me or any type of help, instead I’ve already told SCCA that I’m not racing with a Hans Device or right side driver’s net, that I’m joining Midwest Council, which I have now and have been offer the position of GT Chairman, which I have accepted.

I like everyone to consider Midwest Council, they are more membership friendly than SCCA, it’s $50 for the year for a single, with a new Comp. Dir., it’s been assured that they are going to run the club with NO Hans Devices, NO right driver’s nets, NO 2 yr rule on fire bottles (like TransAm), belts going back to 5 yrs, GT1 weights to be back at 2010 and earlier weights, they are going to do more advertising in the future, they also going to try to have more spectator events in the future and they have talked with the group that handles FIA licenses and will work on Midwest Council racers able to get FIA licenses and be able to enter TransAm events or other Pro events without going thru SCCA. This way we can support the new TransAm group, which is the way I’m going to go, so I’m still building my car and will be racing in Midwest Council, if we can get more racers and members, I believe in my opinion that the club would think about expanding to more tracks. If your interested check out www.mcscc.org and please pass on to other SCCA members tired of the costly regulations in SCCA.
Midwest Council hasn’t cancelled a race and at a couple of them, had more racers than SCCA, plus we can get FIA license and support the guys in the TransAm. I’m hoping the TransAm group realizes that what SCCA has done has driven away racers and that they change the rules to be less restrictive along with being more sensible for everyone.
So count on 2012 being like 2011 for SCCA events or worse, they listen to certain people with big money and the rest of the members can take it or leave it, they are getting their salaries and perks from members moneys, yet members do have other options, go race with a club that is more membership friendly.

Mitch Poremba

[rydermike]

Mitch I think there are more reasons why SCCA membership has dropped. #1 being the economy #2 Are the expenses to go club racing and just the entry in getting a competition license. While many purists may laugh about groups like Chumpcar , plese go to an event and I think you will see far less car contact than a club event. First time racers there are given a classroom kind of event ( I can't say exactly what since I had racing experience and didn't have to do it) then they cut them loose. With most driving stints being 1 1/2 - 2 hours the newbies learn pretty quick and you can tell whom they are , because they are the ones waving you by long before your right on them , but with laps they get confidence and go faster.You cannot beat the track time for the money in it , rental rides are roughly 800-1000 dollars and that will buy 3-6 hours depending on what race it is. There are other cost issues , and yes they could merge many classes , but then there will be whining about less guys going home with hardware from winning in some low number classes.