2025 June Sprints Invites Small FOrmula Classes

[GregAmy]

I'm'a gonna stick my winky out here, so feel free to slap it...

"The Chicago Region, SCCA Board of Directors and Competition Committee are pleased to announce that the 2025 Chicago Region June Sprints®, a Hoosier Super Tour event, will include the F6/FF/FV small formula classes.
...

In order to include the small formula group, the Region is required to alter the June Sprints format to a Single Race event. On-track time will include one practice session, two qualifying sessions and a 13-lap feature race."

I'm not a formula car guy, I'm a production-based-car racer*. But I've been watching the machinations of all this with much interest as I believe I wholly understand both sides and empathize with that's happening here. The belly-aching here has been understandable.

But the Chicago Region has just tossed you a bone, and you should take it. Now is your time to shine: you need to show up with the numbers and prove to everyone around you - not just within you - that your numbers are still strong, you are relevant, and that you can present.

So I strongly recommend that you turn that belly-aching into a demonstration of how much you really mean to this club. Show the rest of the club that you can still bring the numbers.

Do that, and you will make a powerful statement.

But...if you don't, or even worse you decide to "boycott", then you will demonstrate to everyone else that the changes made this year was "the right move". Do that and you will irrevocably damage your reputation as hundreds of other competitors watch a near empty track not making a lot of noise as they wait for their one race session.

And you can bet they'll be watching. Closely.

I totally get that these are bold, provocative words I'm presenting. But they're done so that you will understand how important this one feature event can be to your future.

So in the words of the wise philosopher, "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

It's time to "do".

GA


*.P.S., although one of my very first race cars was a '69 Merlyn Mk11A that I dragged to autocrosses in BMod behind my Mk1 GTI. It didn't take long for me to realize that I needed a bigger cage around me and I turned the tow car into a race car...

https://scca-chicago.com/board-of-di...-announcement/

[Speed Sport Engineering]

That group has continually proved their right to be at the June Sprints year after year. They have nothing to prove. There could be 80 FV's and FF's at this race and it won't change their elimination from the HST events.

This group had 51 entries last year. That's a lot of cars. You make it sound like there were 10 cars putting around.

Is this going to be an on-going game now where there the smallest group is eliminated until only Miata's and SRF's are left standing?

I never thought I would see the day where all race groups needed an equal number of cars to be considered legit.

I'm'a gonna stick my winky out here, so feel free to slap it...

"The Chicago Region, SCCA Board of Directors and Competition Committee are pleased to announce that the 2025 Chicago Region June Sprints®, a Hoosier Super Tour event, will include the F6/FF/FV small formula classes.
...

In order to include the small formula group, the Region is required to alter the June Sprints format to a Single Race event. On-track time will include one practice session, two qualifying sessions and a 13-lap feature race."

I'm not a formula car guy, I'm a production-based-car racer*. But I've been watching the machinations of all this with much interest as I believe I wholly understand both sides and empathize with that's happening here. The belly-aching here has been understandable.

But the Chicago Region has just tossed you a bone, and you should take it. Now is your time to shine: you need to show up with the numbers and prove to everyone around you - not just within you - that your numbers are still strong, you are relevant, and that you can present.

So I strongly recommend that you turn that belly-aching into a demonstration of how much you really mean to this club. Show the rest of the club that you can still bring the numbers.

Do that, and you will make a powerful statement.

But...if you don't, or even worse you decide to "boycott", then you will demonstrate to everyone else that the changes made this year was "the right move". Do that and you will irrevocably damage your reputation as hundreds of other competitors watch a near empty track not making a lot of noise as they wait for their one race session.

And you can bet they'll be watching. Closely.

I totally get that these are bold, provocative words I'm presenting. But they're done so that you will understand how important this one feature event can be to your future.

So in the words of the wise philosopher, "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

It's time to "do".

GA


*.P.S., although one of my very first race cars was a '69 Merlyn Mk11A that I dragged to autocrosses in BMod behind my Mk1 GTI. It didn't take long for me to realize that I needed a bigger cage around me and I turned the tow car into a race car...

https://scca-chicago.com/board-of-di...-announcement/

[RussMcB]

There is a lot of grumbling about this decision (mostly about the change from two races to one), but I was glad to hear it, especially if small bore formula racers can show up with a big field.

[Eric Cruz]

I am really pleased that many folks are paying attention to the thoughtfully expressed concerns - and more importantly, the actions taken - by ApexSpeed members. While I started racing in FF, I have been one of “those FE guys” since its inception. Nonetheless, it is a good thing for all of us and we should be grateful for the forum the Carters have created and nurtured that gives us a real voice.

Best regards,
Eric

[Mark_Silverberg]

T

Is this going to be an on-going game now where there the smallest group is eliminated until only Miata's and SRF's are left standing?

Having been part of the nearly 60 car SRF field at the recent Sebring Super Tour I can assure you that huge race groups also have their issues - particularly if the pack does not get well formed such as what occurred during the start of the Sunday race.

[FVRacer21]

---

From the outside there seems to be a lot of dead time at Majors events. Is this because we are working to a schedule?

Since we are streaming, can’t we go back to the old schedule and maybe fit in an extra group?

ChrisZ

[Peter Olivola]

---

From the outside there seems to be a lot of dead time at Majors events. Is this because we are working to a schedule?

Since we are streaming, can’t we go back to the old schedule and maybe fit in an extra group?

ChrisZ

Super Tours run on a fixed schedule to the extent that no session may start before its published time. That creates a challenge for writing the schedule since there is no opportunity to make up time by shortening intersession times early in the day against the likelihood of problems later. Then when the problems occur, things start to run late. So extra time is built into the schedule.

Non HST Majors aren't as constrained on scheduling. Regionals even less so.

There are some operating changes for 2025, but I haven't worked an event yet this year and don't know how they will affect the above.

[FVRacer21]

Super Tours run on a fixed schedule to the extent that no session may start before its published time. That creates a challenge for writing the schedule since there is no opportunity to make up time by shortening intersession times early in the day against the likelihood of problems later. Then when the problems occur, things start to run late. So extra time is built into the schedule.

Non HST Majors aren't as constrained on scheduling. Regionals even less so.

There are some operating changes for 2025, but I haven't worked an event yet this year and don't know how they will affect the above.

Peter,

I wonder why that is. Unfortunately, having the reason for a rule would double the size of the GCR.

"3. The schedule must show start times for all sessions, however, it is understood that actual start
times will vary based on on-track situations and forces of nature. Minor running adjustments
to the schedule do not require Requests for Action to the SOM.
4. All U.S. Majors Tour events are open to the public. Host Regions and the National Office jointly
promote U.S. Majors Tour events."

I heard Lime Rock was asking the regions to spread out the Saturday races. We were sometimes finishing around 4 (if everything went perfectly) and they felt that their (paying) spectators were getting shortchanged. Of course, when things did not go well the latter groups got shortchanged.

According to the GCR you could base the start times on best case and see where that puts you.

Also, where is the incentive for groups to increase their participation? I see the disincentive of being thrown out, but where is the incentive for an individual driver to show up? If the new model is the B-Spec Group, the FC group, the FF group, etc., should the club not promote that as the new model for all classes? And should they get something for their effort?

ChrisZ

[Steve Demeter]

Personally I applaud the Chicago Region for taking the initiative to include these classes!!!!

[RussMcB]

Regarding changing start times, it reminded me of (a different scenario, but ...) when a Runoffs FC championship race started earlier than some competitors expected it to.

I'll bet those guys still have nightmares about it.

[DaveW]

Regarding changing start times, it reminded me of (a different scenario, but ...) when a Runoffs FC championship race started earlier than some competitors expected it to.

I'll bet those guys still have nightmares about it.

Tim Minor and me, plus 1 other driver (don't remember who), at Topeka, Heartland Park, 2006.

Maybe not nightmares, but it does work its way into my dreams sometimes.

[E1pix]

Deleted, off-topic.

[DaveW]

I remember this, and was standing on the grid.

It was odd to me that you’d arrived “late” and wondered why, then came another, maybe Tim. I don’t recall the third car, either.

Little did I know that 34 years after seeing your Vee win at my first Runoffs, that I was witnessing your last.

????????????

The reason we were late:

I was there on time to the grid, but Sherrie had my helmet, balaclava and gloves and we hadn't realized that the posted start time was actually green-flag time, so we were supposed to depart the grid ~10 min before green-flag time. So she got there after most cars were already on the track. Tim and I were really ticked because there was no really good reason that they couldn't have waited another few minutes to get everyone out on track together.

[E1pix]

Sorry, wasn’t that your last Runoffs?

Whoops, I guess not.

[DaveW]

Sorry, wasn’t that your last Runoffs?

See the attachment in the post above yours - I edited it.

2009 was a strange story. I Q'd terribly because the front tires GY sold me there were several years old and they had aged to the point that they were permanently concave and the 160 compound had no grip. Between Q & R I got a more recent set of the narrower GY 160 fronts and they were great but starting back in the pack I got stopped before being involved in a wreck in the kink on lap 1, and was hit in the back, knocking me into another car that was x-ways on the track.

I recently posted about 2010 Nelson incident, etc. (https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/sho...l=1#post671961 ), so 2009 was my last until the Champions invitation to 2013 where I borrowed a car from Lisa Noble - that's another long story.

[stonebridge20]

See the attachment in the post above yours - I edited it.

2009 was a strange story. I Q'd terribly because the GY front tires were several years old and they and aged to the point that they were concave and the 160 compound had no grip. Between Q & R I got a more recent set of the narrower GY fronts and they were great but starting back in the pack I got stopped before being involved in a wreck in the kink on lap 1, and was hit in the back, knocking me into another car that was x-ways on the track.
.

That was an ugly wreck caused by a really stupid move.
JT and I were paddocked next to the boneyard at the top of the hill.
The mangled cars they dragged in and dumped there was impressive.

[DaveW]

That was an ugly wreck caused by a really stupid move...

Yeah - a car qualified mid-20's tried to make up too many places on lap 1 (had already passed me) by also going thru the kink flat out on the 1st lap, but didn't account for the pack jamming up there, and was forced onto the inside grass, then spinning into the pack. That started the whole mess. Several drivers were injured and I got a cracked tailbone out of it when I was hit in the back - didn't know it was cracked until it started to heal a week or 2 later and I had trouble sitting because that's when it hurt.

[grapefarmeral]

Tim Minor and me, plus 1 other driver (don't remember who), at Topeka, Heartland Park, 2006.

Maybe not nightmares, but it does work its way into my dreams sometimes.

2007 FV start time was moved up and some did not hear the call...

[cory mcleod]

Many thanks to the Chicago Region! F600 will be there in force, hopefully replicating or exceeding our 22 car field from the 2024 Runoffs.