2011 Eastern States Championship Challenge: Jan 15-16

[katnip]

The griding did not hold up the event at all. The griding took place while the regional was running. LOR

gridding yes, but there were times when Chris, Scott or I were yelling to get the national guys up to start.  there would be no one at start while the national guys tried to figure out who was going first.  a couple times I had to go find the drivers to get them in their cars.  any time there is no one at start is a delay and it happened way too often last weekend.  not that the stuffs helped, but there were numerous reasons for relays. also no one was telling the regional guys it was there turn to start, because the national guys had taken their turn and they had been yelled at to not get in the way of the nationals they didn't dare go up to start without someone telling them. luckily most people were happy with their runs and the time they got.

[Dr Custom Werx]

well let me first say this was my first experience with this group. i have hosted several of my own events (near 3,000 people) and know all of the stress that goes along with making something like this operate smoothly. there is always someone who has a problem with the way things were done. sometimes its worthy of making accommodations for the next one and sometimes they just need to be ignored. I feel like with as much that was going on the event was very smooth. my personal suggestion would be to have a program. even if not everyone gets one and its just one copy posted on the trailer. this would let EVERYONE know exactly the order of operations and there would be little confusion. thank all of you who contributed to making this go as smooth as it has. i hope i will pick up on the way things here are done so i can assist more with future races.

[Blownb310]

Just received the April issue of Sports Car magazine. Just like last month's issue, I was hoping to see coverage of this event. Nothing again this month. Don't they usually make mention of an event of this scope and importance?

Mike

[E-braker]

Kind of sad isn't it Mike?

I geuss there's more important things going on in JANUARY.

[pzahornasky]

Kind of sad isn't it Mike?

I geuss there's more important things going on in JANUARY.

With the exception of National Championships, the Runoffs, and some BIG road racing traditional events (June Sprints, ARRC, ect.) Sports Car has not been doing much on any sort of event reporting for years.

I wouldn't feel slighted - National Solo events don't get coverage either.

[DennisMotorsports]

National level RallyCross events have been covered in the past.

[ChrisFranson]

National level RallyCross events have been covered in the past.

So was National Solo, but it seems like Sports Car's model has changed over the years.

[RALLY200SX]

Gee - In 2010 Rallycross had a 12 percent gain in participation - Solo was down 5 percent. But to be fair Solo had 70,000 entries while RallyX had 4,300. In 2010 there were 42,000 SCCA members. I'm an engineer, so I see everything as numbers and the one number that says the most to me is that Rallycross is the only program that is showing significant growth. Ted Goddard once told me that if you want to get into SportsCar you must first submit to SportsCar. The thing is - did anybody submit anything? Things normally don't happen in a volunteer organization unless someone volunteers to do it. Should we or do we have anybody in the Rallycross program that handles "press" issues on either the national or local level. If so, does that person need help or are they even aware of everything that is going on. Does anybody want to volunteer to help put "press kits" together? We can't expect the same people to do everything. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it - I have some spare time to volunteer to assist, if needed, with this "issue". Perhaps all these things are already being done.

[katnip]

unfortunately National is not overly interested.  When I asked for a copy of the national press release for the event so I could give it to different media outlets I was told:
Sorry Kathy but press release kits for RallyCross just don't exist.
If you want to send information to Steve Hyatt on the RXB he can put a link to it in the first RX eblast, hopefully which will be done before the end of December.
And you could send Rick Meyers an email and ask him to put it in the next Inside Line.
But they can only put a link.
I just can't get Marketing to do anything for us because we aren't in "the budget".
Sorry.  But I can put links where ever you'd like on the website.
Send me whatever link you want and I can put it on the Challenge page and the event.

Chris created one for the event that I gave out to some media outlets.

I made a point of being an arse at the national convention and pointing this out to Howard Dean and Pego Mack.  I asked that something be done about it.  They asked us to hold the event and yet there was no support.  Howard said he would look into it.  The RXB should follow up on this.

I'm guessing if we want stuff in SportsCar we need to be aggressive and pound them with info and hope something makes it in.  Mike Canny stepped up to do PitTalk.  In his absence Chris writes something.  If there is a regular here that is interested in writing stuff up and submitting it, please let me know.  Don't worry if you are not that adept at writing, Chris' wife is nice enough to edit submissions if we ask her nicely.

On the other hand.  Did anyone note the article on the National convention?  There is  pic of our fearless leader, Scott, receiving the first annual Dirty Cup award.  Congrats!

[chregan]

On the other hand, Pit Talk is like 75% RallyX this month. Wolf Chase by Nate Field and Stafford articles written by Mr Canny. Always a good read. Thanks both!

[pzahornasky]

Gee - In 2010 Rallycross had a 12 percent gain in participation - Solo was down 5 percent. But to be fair Solo had 70,000 entries while RallyX had 4,300. In 2010 there were 42,000 SCCA members. I'm an engineer...

Hardly a fair comaprison as Solo has been around a little bit longer than RallyX.   

Sort of like introducing a new flavor of Coke and proclaiming it needs more attention because it has a better growth rate than good ole CocaCola.  It's a new product - you would expect it to have a better growth rate.

[Blownb310]

unfortunately National is not overly interested. 

Thank you Kathy, for filling us in. I remember seeing a story with pics last year from the National Rallycross event out west [I'm still impressed with that I-Mark in 2WD mod] and just *assumed* the rallycross results from other nationals would follow. I'm not big into auto-x or track days, so if there's no dirt flying in the pics, I turn the pages quickly. 

On the other hand, Pit Talk is like 75% RallyX this month.

This got my attention Chris. I am a Finger Lakes region member so I don't get Pit Talk. My SCCA membership renewal came in the mail today. I think it's time for me to come on board with the NER.