by ERC » Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:04 pm
There is a valid reason for splitting classes when the speed differentials are large, but not if it means two (or more) tiny grids.
We split ours into two groups as we had too many for one grid years ago. We now have the second highest number of registered competitors in our 27 year history (120) , yet this weekend, we only have enough for one grid. Ice Breaker 2010, we had 80 cars at the first meeting (43 AES +37 ARROWS) out of a season's total of 117 cars.
The speed differentials within the two classes mean that splitting by speed works best for us so as to eliminate faster cars starting handicaps from the pit lane, or people getting lapped in scratch races - and I do prefer handicap races..
We currently have a situation with two marque series running small grids this weekend, one well established and one trying to get off the ground, so I approached them to see if they would consider combining (most of the drivers run in AES or Arrows alongside each other anyway.... ). The long established marque club were happy enough, but the newer series marque club did not want to combine as they "wanted to promote their marque".
Now the other side of the coin is that as a series organiser, I have had a lot of stick (written as well as verbal) over the years for being pragmatic and allowing in cars that the "establishment" or even purists within our ranks refused to accept. As a great supporter of Mike John's inital Targas, there were many cars that did not fit into the established race categories, but driver's wanted to race their Targa cars on circuits. When we rewrote our rules to accept some of them, the established organising club at the time, wouldn't accept them at their meetings, nor replicas, as they didn't fit with THEIR philosophy.
Our own philosophy has always been inclusive and pragmatic, but then even the H & C Commission don't see it that way either, hence our running outside of T & C - a situation that we have now accepted.
It is a complex area and I agree, there are far too many classes and many of them are not financially viable now and never will be.
The only alternative is to say to invited race groups, you buy a grid for say $3,000 (+ the MSNZ levy per driver), and split the entry fee between your guys however you think fit. Get 30 guys together and that is only a $100 entry fee plus levy. If you can't justify the $3,000, then combine with another group or groups, but I certainly will no longer be promoting any race meeting that is going to lose money.
Sadly, no one will normally take up the grid purchase offer. At this stage, they can't see that they are indeed killing off the club level of the sport and by being unwilling to share the track, they are hastening their own demise at this level.
If the U2K group gets off the ground and they get 25 cars at each meeting, then I can guarantee that they'll be higher on my invite list than a marque club that only produces 6 entries paying the full fee.
From my own perspective as a driver, then as long as I am not lapped and driving standards are enforced, I really don't care who I race with, BUT (and it is a big, "but") much as everyone used to enjoy the annual Datsun Z speed group meeting, I do prefer a series environment, as the camaraderie is what makes it so enjoyable.
There is a valid reason for splitting classes when the speed differentials are large, but not if it means two (or more) tiny grids.
We split ours into two groups as we had too many for one grid years ago. We now have the second highest number of registered competitors in our 27 year history (120) , yet this weekend, we only have enough for one grid. Ice Breaker 2010, we had 80 cars at the first meeting (43 AES +37 ARROWS) out of a season's total of 117 cars.
The speed differentials within the two classes mean that splitting by speed works best for us so as to eliminate faster cars starting handicaps from the pit lane, or people getting lapped in scratch races - and I do prefer handicap races..
We currently have a situation with two marque series running small grids this weekend, one well established and one trying to get off the ground, so I approached them to see if they would consider combining (most of the drivers run in AES or Arrows alongside each other anyway.... ). The long established marque club were happy enough, but the newer series marque club did not want to combine as they "wanted to promote their marque".
Now the other side of the coin is that as a series organiser, I have had a lot of stick (written as well as verbal) over the years for being pragmatic and allowing in cars that the "establishment" or even purists within our ranks refused to accept. As a great supporter of Mike John's inital Targas, there were many cars that did not fit into the established race categories, but driver's wanted to race their Targa cars on circuits. When we rewrote our rules to accept some of them, the established organising club at the time, wouldn't accept them at their meetings, nor replicas, as they didn't fit with THEIR philosophy.
Our own philosophy has always been inclusive and pragmatic, but then even the H & C Commission don't see it that way either, hence our running outside of T & C - a situation that we have now accepted.
It is a complex area and I agree, there are far too many classes and many of them are not financially viable now and never will be.
The only alternative is to say to invited race groups, you buy a grid for say $3,000 (+ the MSNZ levy per driver), and split the entry fee between your guys however you think fit. Get 30 guys together and that is only a $100 entry fee plus levy. If you can't justify the $3,000, then combine with another group or groups, but I certainly will no longer be promoting any race meeting that is going to lose money.
Sadly, no one will normally take up the grid purchase offer. At this stage, they can't see that they are indeed killing off the club level of the sport and by being unwilling to share the track, they are hastening their own demise at this level.
If the U2K group gets off the ground and they get 25 cars at each meeting, then I can guarantee that they'll be higher on my invite list than a marque club that only produces 6 entries paying the full fee.
From my own perspective as a driver, then as long as I am not lapped and driving standards are enforced, I really don't care who I race with, BUT (and it is a big, "but") much as everyone used to enjoy the annual Datsun Z speed group meeting, I do prefer a series environment, as the camaraderie is what makes it so enjoyable.