There are a couple of very good talking points brought up here. I think the chumpcar turnouts speak for themselves, however, there are some additional nuances that I think are pertinent to increasing attendence at ICSCC enduros. In many races with high turnouts, you have a set of cars that break and DNF, a set of cars that are competitive and a group that will finish bur don't have driver skill to win. In my case I am as much as seven seconds a lap off the pace in my car from the conference racers or fast guys. So, some of the conference guys probably feel a little bit like they are dunking at the 8 foot net behind the elementary school if they don't have other conference teams to race with. Also there are lots of the drivers who do not have the skill to win who would improve greatly by going thru the novice program and racing in conference, even if it was just for a season to become better prepared for chumpcar. There is also a screaming deal in the ICSCC forum for sale, a race car, spare parts and a parts car for $1500.00 - that car could run conference, chump, lemons and rat race. Another point on the chumpcar rules, suspension mods like suspension bushings, shock and springs are not encouraged and that makes the cars less precise - as well as no race tires. I think those rules mean racers have to give up more room or be willing to rub more, although after reading about rubbing at the 25 and listening to some of the issues in Conference in 2011, maybe not. Anyhow, I think there are lots of very inexperienced racers in chumpcar who would be receptive to seminars on Endurance racing strategy and for sure driver training. I personally have learned a lot in driver training with TC and about endurance race strategy from conference racers. That was a long winded way for me to say there are lots of drivers and teams outside of conference who could benefit from the collected wisdom about driving, strategy and car set up that is resident in ICSCC. And it could surely be a symbiotic and not antagonistic relationship. Everybody should race more. And I might add, if you have raced chumpcars but never raced on an actual race tire, you really ought to try that too. Again, just my opinion, but I do think there is a target group who could be recruited into participating into conference enduros.
Tim