Sticky issues indeed. For me, it all comes down to a simple thought process.
As part of my "bigger plan" for why I vintage race, it is my goal to race at
all the great tracks like Watkins Glen and Road America, and yes Road
Atlanta. As a certified Triumph nut, it is my greatest pleasure to be able
to get to these type of tracks with the added bonus of being there with the
rest of the Triumph nut fraternity. From that perspective price and track
time is less an issue. Having said that, I can understand the frustration of
those closer to these tracks that are tired of paying too much for too
little. I think the FOT factor will make the Mitty a great event.
Bob Kramer
rkramer3@austin.rr.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <BillDentin@aol.com>
To: <henry@henryfrye.com>; <N197TR4@cs.com>; <fot@Autox.Team.Net>
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: Walter Mitty - MG TR Challenge April 2005
> In a message dated 10/03/2004 7:24:04 AM Central Daylight Time,
> henry@henryfrye.com writes:
>
>
> > I'm going to be sitting out the big "Festival" events for a while. After
my
> >
> > Watkins Glen experience where I paid over $500 (including membership
> > renewal) to run 5 sessions over 4 days and none of the sessions had more
> > than 6 timed laps I'm focusing my schedule on events where I can
actually
> > run the car.
> >
> > Those recent comments about the packed paddock don't get me very excited
> > either!
> >
>
> Henry:
>
> Good for you! Displaying your likes and dislikes to the seller is the
> American Way. But as long time Treasurer of the VSCDA, I see more than
one side of
> these issues, and believe me there are not always easy fixes. But enough
> people avoiding specific events for highly publicized reasons, will
certainly get
> attention.
>
> I certainly relate to Jeff Snook's comments about 'set up problems',
> particularly for people who have large (long) race rigs. Your race week
end is always
> 'apprehensive' until you are set up satisfactorily, and in a timely
fashion.
> I've never experienced ROAD ATLANTA, but have had problems elsewhere
(i.e.,
> SEBRING, etc.,).
>
> Keep in mind that fixing such problems involve dollars. In the case of
set
> up, the sanctioning body needs to buy the set up day from the track. Week
days
> are not as expensive as week end days, but at major tracks they still cost
> thousands of dollars. Sometimes running a test day will pay (or help), or
else
> it just gets added to the entry fee. So that can be fixed, but it will
> involve more dollars from somewhere.
>
> If a successful racing week end relates directly to track minutes/entry
fee.
> That's easy, you avoid the big glitzy events, and focus on the smaller
> events. Especially those at 'club tracks'.
>
> I am also sympathetic to the tracks. For a myriad of reasons, they are
> having trouble making ends meet. VSCDA is a ROAD AMERICA stockholder, and
we
> receive financial statements and attend annual meetings. They have been
losing
> significant money for several years. Their problems are due to current
capitol
> improvement depreciation and their CHAMP car event, rather then amateur
racing.
> I know exactly what VSCDA pays Midwestern club tracks like BLACKHAWK and
> GRATTAN. I'm a business man, and I can guess at their potential annual
income
> and expenses. Quite frankly, I don't know how they make ends meet.
>
> These are sticky issues.
>
> Bill Dentinger
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