Rich, a CF will run closer to 125+ at PR and PIR
Seems like a simple answer to me - Compared to OW cars, production based cars are simply easier and cheaper and there are way more of them. Sky's the limit I'm sure, but the cost of entry is much lower. My first race car (a Fiat) cost less to get on the track than a weekend does now.
From my point of view, part of the problem is that conference in general has never been too welcoming of racers who aren't 'serious'. I have a perfectly raceable CF in my garage, but have been under a bit of financial uncertainty for the last few years. I wanted desperately to make at least my local race, but spending $1000 plus for an hour or so of track time just didn't make sense. Join a club, join another club, replace my brand new belts (again), is the helmet still good (seems like I replace it every time I race), entry fee, reuse the old tires and hope it doesn't rain. And what??? I have to do a novice race again??? Oh, and there's the continuous argument that I need yet another $1000 safety item otherwise the sun will explode (hint: maybe if you didn't drive like a psycho and think you owned the planet just because you have a nose even to my back tires, there wouldn't be so much risk). I believe us non-serious racers that fill out the grids are the ones that kept it going for so long.
Years ago I called an IRDC person to express my displeasure with a big hike in entry fees and I was basically told to go f**k myself. This is why Chumpcar is cutting into Conference action. More racing, less paranoia.
This is why Chumpcar is cutting into Conference action. More racing, less paranoia.
Goddamn! I'm about six drinks into my evening and that just about sobered me up...
......And of course if you increase entry numbers enough and permanently there is always the possibility of lowered entry fees. LOL I remember when entry fees were $65.00 and going to Deer Park and being amazed at watching our satellites go over as the sun set. At least I thought they were ours.
At the risk of high jacking this thread, whose subject I am very concerned about, I need to respond to the entry fee remark. When the Seattle track charges $10,400 per day for track rental plus we have to pay another 5-6k for tow trucks ambulances, etc., etc., etc. The entry fees are a serious concern for any club that wants to continue to put on races and continue to exist to put on races for the following year. Would lowering the entry fee $20.00 bring out more entrys?
I am not against combining 3 and 6 but if we do that we need to attact a new group of cars that will increase our entry numbers and hopefully not from an existing class of cars presently in Conference. There needs to be serious outside the box thinking. Is it Vintage, SRF, Legends, FSAE, Hornets!!? Ground pounders?of some sort/class? Lap attacks, 944 cup car series, Special races combining existing classes. IMHO the key to any club's racing survival is increased entrys. However that can be achieved is in the hands of the local clubs and their creative thinking. Conference has the ability to be flexible and accomodate the clubs without long periods of delay and mind numbing debate. Of course that is always debatable.
And of course if you increase entry numbers enough and permanently there is always the possibility of lowered entry fees. LOL I remember when entry fees were $65.00 and going to Deer Park and being amazed at watching our satellites go over as the sun set. At least I thought they were ours.
Seems like a simple answer to me - Compared to OW cars, production based cars are simply easier and cheaper and there are way more of them. Sky's the limit I'm sure, but the cost of entry is much lower. My first race car (a Fiat) cost less to get on the track than a weekend does now.
From my point of view, part of the problem is that conference in general has never been too welcoming of racers who aren't 'serious'. I have a perfectly raceable CF in my garage, but have been under a bit of financial uncertainty for the last few years. I wanted desperately to make at least my local race, but spending $1000 plus for an hour or so of track time just didn't make sense. Join a club, join another club, replace my brand new belts (again), is the helmet still good (seems like I replace it every time I race), entry fee, reuse the old tires and hope it doesn't rain. And what??? I have to do a novice race again??? Oh, and there's the continuous argument that I need yet another $1000 safety item otherwise the sun will explode (hint: maybe if you didn't drive like a psycho and think you owned the planet just because you have a nose even to my back tires, there wouldn't be so much risk). I believe us non-serious racers that fill out the grids are the ones that kept it going for so long.
Years ago I called an IRDC person to express my displeasure with a big hike in entry fees and I was basically told to go f**k myself. This is why Chumpcar is cutting into Conference action. More racing, less paranoia.