When I lived in Salt Lake City, and was a charter member in the sports car
club including the SCCA (1955) ,I was and the only driver licensed by the
SCCA, and we had a race. It wasn't the greatest in the world, but it was a
race and best damn race Utah had ever seen. Everyone had a good time and
tried very hard to be the best. But the thing that brings all this to mind
is the meeting we had one evening to determine if we would have a race at
all, the question in the meeeting was; " Do you know how many cars it takes
to have a race" and I hollared "TWO". We had the race. The Ferraris came,
the Porsches came, the guys from the Coast came, and the Special cars came
it was a resounding success. Hang on Mark it is some times difficult but
there will be a reward in the fun you have with your friends (and enemies).
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark J. Bradakis" <mjb@autox.team.net>
To: <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 9:14 PM
Subject: Events and such
> I've been a bit amused by the recent string of messages lamenting the
> overcrowded, minimal track time, minimal paddock space, high profile
> events. One of my projects over the last couple of days has been
> getting out a quick newsletter about this month's IVR events. You've
> probably read my past weeping and wailing about IVR weekends, and the
> small turnouts and how we're struggling just to break even.
>
> We're lucky to get half a dozen starters for the wheel to wheel
sessions.
> I can't even imagine what it would be like to have half a dozen
different
> race groups. Then again, if we had that many entrants, I'd probably
> have some help and wouldn't have to do it all myself!
>
> Events like IVR race weekends have some good points, and some bad. The
good
> points are a relaxed, casual and friendly atmosphere, all the track time
> you can use, fun saturday night barbeques, all for the whopping weekend
> entry fee of $75! In spite of the amount of work involved for me, I
enjoy
> the weekends.
>
> Bad points are we are racing on a "track" that consists of basically a
> mile long course marked out by cones on a vast slab of old concrete.
> You gotta keep an eye out for potholes. And there isn't much real
> competition to race against when the entry field consists of a few
> first generation RX7s, a couple of way fast Corvettes, an old guy
> in a 1970 Camaro, a NASA AIS Mustang and a Pinto powered Mustang.
> Quite a difference in lap times across the field.
>
> In truth, if I actually put a race motor instead of the F Street
> Prepared autocross motor in Killer, (this winter, honest!) I could
> give the Mustang a run for his money, and the one RX7 as well. The
> old guy in the Camaro tends to be a rolling road block, but if you
> stay right in his mirror for a lap or so he'll overcook it going into
> a corner, slide or spin and you can easily breeze by. And two of the
> RX7s are almost identical, built by the same guy, and both driven by
> someone named Dave. Those two will go a 20 minute session and never
> get more than 10 - 20 feet from each other. I need another Spitfire
> driver to show up so we can race like that.
>
> In spite of the drawbacks and adverse conditions of IVR, I must think it
> worthwhile because I still do it. Somebody has to try and keep wheel to
> wheel sports car racing alive in Utah until we get a real track, and I
> guess for the moment that's me.
>
> mjb.
>
> http://intermountainvintage.org
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