In a message dated 2/14/01 9:17:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,
haggart@SLAC.Stanford.EDU writes:
> Personally, I would be happy to pay more than $75. And although
> the club could still undoubtedly earn more from a regular event,
> I'd guess that dealing with a huge 250-entrant event instead of
> a focused group of 40 has its major downsides, too!
Personally, I don't think the money is the issue.
> > 2) Scheduling them - there are a limited number of
> > site days available during the year.
>
> How about a weekday? I'll bet I'm not the only one who would
> be more than happy to arrange a day off if necessary. And it
> seems to me that the site availability would probably go way
> up as well.
I'm guessing you'd get VERY few instructors on a weekday...
> > 3) Finding instructors
>
> Being a newbie, I'm afraid I don't have much insight into this
> problem. Are instructors given sufficient incentive? Free
> club memberships? Free entry to events? Track time credit at
> Thunderhill? Anything? From what I understand, the Solo II
> program is a huge revenue generator that helps offset the costs
> of other SCCA racing programs. The club surely must recognize
> the value of the volunteers that make this happen.
>
> Don't they?
Well, the "Club" in this case is really the Solo 2 Steering Committee. Our
funds are separate from those of the rest of the Region, so we don't actually
offset any other losses the Region might incur. Any more "significant"
compensation would make the school a real money loser, one way or another.
The problem goes back to Northern California having too many motorsport
options. We are lucky to have the options.
> > 4) Finding someone to coordinate them
>
> Again, that's a tough one for newbies to help with.
I've been the coordinator, and it takes a lot out of you, though it is
satisfying.
> > There are any number of experienced drivers who are more
> > than willing to provide assistance and instruction at the
> > regular events
>
> True, but (to me, anyway) there's at least one major difference:
> The absolute maximum instruction time possible at a regular
> event is on the order of three minutes, total. And that's only
> if you can somehow find an instructor who can ride with you on
> every run. The experienced autocrossers are understandably
>
Please realize that we have it better here than anywhere else in the country
in terms of track time. I started autocrossing in '74 in Missouri and went
to the first school I could get to (had to move to California to do it!) in
'81. The Steering Committee has discussed a second school, and just can't do
it at this time, though we realize the value of doing so. I think next year
I'd like to see us do the school at Candlestick so we can accommodate more
students. But I realize there will still be those who don't make the cutoff.
We're doing the best we can
Charlie Davis
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