GREAT NEWS - FF - 3rd most popular road racing class in USA

[RideMore]

GREAT NEWS - FF is the 3rd most popular road racing class in the USA!!!

Our vision statement on the www.Formulafusa.com website is "Continue making Formula F one of the most popular and entertaining road racing classes in the US for decades to come."

So, we decided to measure where FF is at and the 2024 results are documented in the attached image - along with the assumptions.

There are 14 series racing FF in the USA as shown which had a total of 1497 weekend entries over 233 weekends. If participation increased by about 20% FF would be the largest road racing class in the USA. You may recall our Formula F USA goal for SCCA Majors is a 50% increase. So far with 25% of the Majors completed, we are up 76%.

Naturally, we support and hope all FF racing in the USA is fun and popular.

FYI - In the process of collecting worldwide data. F4 is the biggest competition.

In the meantime - get out there and have some fun! And be proud of being part of such a popular class!!!!

[Messenger Racing]

I had never really thought about how many FF participants there were across the US. Your statistics hammer home a newsworthy point. FF is popular. An event here or there may be undersubscribed but FF is far from dead in the US and even stronger when we think about programs in Canada and Mexico.

It is easy to forget how large and diverse the North American or even just the US FF enthusiast base is. On the Formula F USA zoom call last night someone said "a rising tide lifts all boats". Formula F USA and all of the various FF groups around the US have the opportunity to become even stronger by working together in promoting the class no matter the venue or organization.

There are many things we can do but the the obvious suggestions are:
- phone an inactive racer and invite them out
- invite a person to their first road race
- tell them they will be on "your crew"
- invite a youngster, don't just limit your invites to your peer group
- let them sit in your car
- hand them a radio and let them listen to the communication
- ask them to help you where practical
- have them drop by the house and teach them to bleed brakes
- go help someone at the track that is struggling with performance of the car or the driver
- stay positive and nurture those at the back of the pack.
- introduce the new person or stranger to the former champion/professional racer/race chair/neighbor and make a big deal of welcoming that new person to those around you.

Yes - Formula F - Our diversity is our strength - spread the word.

[E1pix]

Doing my part, even though technically I have no part!

This seems to be working, Kids…

In only a couple months. Stefanelli has proven a one-man hit parade, and deserves much or most of the credit.

One glitch… don’t FRP races count towards Runoffs qualification? I heard they should be but aren’t, what’s up there?

Apologies if too controversial…

I have a great friend who hasn’t been to a National/Major since his dad died in 1979 (Dad was Donald Wands, DSR/S2000). His first comment was “Remember when the Green flew at the Sprints when cars were still in 13?”

There’s a powerful message in there somewhere…

I’m trying to rally some of the Old Guard to return. Might be a chicken-egg thing, but worth a try anyway.

It’s also be good to woo a Euro kid to come over — maybe in a returning manufacturer’s car. Makes me wish I was more than a Thousandaire.

Best to All.

[John LaRue]

Doing my part, even though technically I have no part!

This seems to be working, Kids…

In only a couple months. Stefanelli has proven a one-man hit parade, and deserves much or most of the credit.

One glitch… don’t FRP races count towards Runoffs qualification? I heard they should be but aren’t, what’s up there?

Apologies if too controversial…

I have a great friend who hasn’t been to a National/Major since his dad died in 1979 (Dad was Donald Wands, DSR/S2000). His first comment was “Remember when the Green flew at the Sprints when cars were still in 13?”

There’s a powerful message in there somewhere…

I’m trying to rally some of the Old Guard to return. Might be a chicken-egg thing, but worth a try anyway.

It’s also be good to woo a Euro kid to come over — maybe in a returning manufacturer’s car. Makes me wish I was more than a Thousandaire.

Best to All.

When I was on the CRB I was able to convince the BOD to accept FRP races in lieu of SCCA Majors/HST for purposes of participation credit, the same courtesy was extended to Trans Am for GT1. At the time FRP was running under SCCA Pro sanction so it truly made sense. Despite efforts to entice the FRP racers to participate at Runoffs, very few did. A couple of years ago SCCA Staff complained that the bookkeeping associated with the "pro path" to Runoffs was overly burdensome, especially given how few were utilizing that option, so it was dropped. I am told that FRP no longer operates under SCCA sanction; if that is correct then there is no longer a nexus to justify the path.

[E1pix]

I’m certainly not alone in appreciating your straight-shooting, John.

Thanks once again for that.

[RideMore]

When I was on the CRB I was able to convince the BOD to accept FRP races in lieu of SCCA Majors/HST for purposes of participation credit, the same courtesy was extended to Trans Am for GT1. At the time FRP was running under SCCA Pro sanction so it truly made sense. Despite efforts to entice the FRP racers to participate at Runoffs, very few did. A couple of years ago SCCA Staff complained that the bookkeeping associated with the "pro path" to Runoffs was overly burdensome, especially given how few were utilizing that option, so it was dropped. I am told that FRP no longer operates under SCCA sanction; if that is correct then there is no longer a nexus to justify the path.

FYI, Bob Wright told me that FRP is back under the pro racing umbrella.