Hey Corey, I understand your points and suggestions, but SCCA being SCCA (not just corporate, but the members, too) there is a lot of history goes into this triennial decision.
Heartland Park Topeka is about as close to centrally located as one can get, but the members just about revolted about having it there, so that criteria for choosing a location is now discredited.
Likewise, splitting the Runoffs has a long discussion history. Short version? It's dead in the water. Not gonna happen anytime soon.
Since splitting the Runoffs and having them out West are out of consideration, that leaves changing the business model to try to make the members happier. Up to now (at least for the past decade or three), tracks have bid for the rights, then been left to their own devices to recoup their costs...hence member dissatisfaction with being dinged for dollars for every little thing.
The potentially better model, and one I am told is under active BoD consideration, is to put out RFQs to straight-up rent the track. That way the track gets its price per day, and the pressure is off for it to act like a crack hooker on payday.
Of course, that leaves it to SCCA to recoup what it pays the track. And as is says in the good book, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Anyway, once thing is certain...the members are ready to move on from RA. Where we end up nobody really knows yet, but my money is on VIR.
How's that for sticking my neck out!?