SCCA Weekend Schedule

[andyllc]

(Please let's not make this about SCCA vs Any other organization)

Has SCCA ever tried a Majors or Super Tour event with running entirely in the AM or entirely in the PM?
More specifically, Let's say there are 8 or 9 run groups and 2 sessions on track per day per group. Why not run groups 1-4 on track twice in the morning and then run groups 5-8/9 twice in the afternoon? It would be nice to have half a day to sleep in or sight see or work on your car.
Sure if you have a problem in your first session it could make your second session at risk but that is just part of the deal.
It could also lead to an increase in entries (albeit very slightly). If organized the right way, some cars that might be eligible for more than one class (not typically formula cars) could run one class in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Just a thought. Did the heat in Atlanta this weekend make me crazy or what do you all think?

[Purple Frog]

Andy,
i don't think it was the heat. I think it was a pre-condition. LOL

Ok, a swag at this. Since at a Major, a large majority do the Friday test day, all you are doing is insuring that something like 4 run groups go home late on Sunday and 4 or 5 groups get to leave before lunch. I bet you would see a decrease in entries in the afternoon classes once the Supps are published with a schedule.

I'm not sure it buys any improvement.

[Peter Olivola]

Not exactly as Andy described, but RMDiv had a Majors combined with a regional at Pueblo several years ago with all the Majors run groups finished before lunch on Sunday. It was designed to attract entries from out of division (travel time from San Diego to Pueblo is less than to Seattle.) It was moderately successful, at least by RMDiv expectations.

[problemchild]

Like so many things in our lives ....... once the horse is out of the barn .....

In modern racing, we need to get there several days early to get "set up' ..... then we get all ticked off if we cannot leave the track by early afternoon on Sunday. It is all perverse. Hard to imagine .... but in the old days ...... racers would work Friday, travel half the night, register and tech on Saturday morning, practice, qualify, and race through the weekend, then travel half the Sunday night home, and go to work a zombie on Monday. Many did it with their families in station wagons, and sleeping in tents.

[Robins Ken]

Like so many things in our lives ....... once the horse is out of the barn .....

In modern racing, we need to get there several days early to get "set up' ..... then we get all ticked off if we cannot leave the track by early afternoon on Sunday. It is all perverse. Hard to imagine .... but in the old days ...... racers would work Friday, travel half the night, register and tech on Saturday morning, practice, qualify, and race through the weekend, then travel half the Sunday night home, and go to work a zombie on Monday. Many did it with their families in station wagons, and sleeping in tents.

That was one of the craziest F2000 events. 1983 ?

For our US friends it's Trois Rivieres, turn north and drive for hours to Chicoutimi. La Tuque was the last gas.

KR

[Robins Ken]

(Please let's not make this about SCCA vs Any other organization)

Has SCCA ever tried a Majors or Super Tour event with running entirely in the AM or entirely in the PM?
More specifically, Let's say there are 8 or 9 run groups and 2 sessions on track per day per group. Why not run groups 1-4 on track twice in the morning and then run groups 5-8/9 twice in the afternoon? It would be nice to have half a day to sleep in or sight see or work on your car.
Sure if you have a problem in your first session it could make your second session at risk but that is just part of the deal.
It could also lead to an increase in entries (albeit very slightly). If organized the right way, some cars that might be eligible for more than one class (not typically formula cars) could run one class in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Just a thought. Did the heat in Atlanta this weekend make me crazy or what do you all think?

Good idea Andy. It should not take 3 1/2 days to run a couple of F1600 races.

KR

[andyllc]

Greg, I hear your sentiment. I am not racing right now as I have a new business and spend 20k a year in daycare that I didn't spend two years ago. However my dad is still racing but putting more emphasis on fun than on blood and guts glory. All good. With that, we did the Major at Road Atlanta this weekend and did not do the test day. My thoughts came to me on Sunday when I realized that it was kind of nice to only have two nights in a hotel and not four or five and frankly the order on track isn't much different. Also, for those in the afternoon group, they would be racing in the afternoon anyways so not sure it should have a negative impact on their travel from normal.

[DaveW]

Like so many things in our lives ....... once the horse is out of the barn .....

In modern racing, we need to get there several days early to get "set up' ..... then we get all ticked off if we cannot leave the track by early afternoon on Sunday. It is all perverse. Hard to imagine .... but in the old days ...... racers would work Friday, travel half the night, register and tech on Saturday morning, practice, qualify, and race through the weekend, then travel half the Sunday night home, and go to work a zombie on Monday. Many did it with their families in station wagons, and sleeping in tents.

I sure remember those days racing in the AFFA (American Formula Ford Association). Be the last race on Sunday, 5 PM, in Quebec, pack up and drive all night (~13 hours) to get home, then shave, shower, eat breakfast, and go into work. When I got to age 40 (1983) I stopped being able to do that (double-vision while driving from lack of sleep driving all night).