On Jun 1, 2008, at 4:05 PM, Bill Babcock wrote:
> Actually, I think Jack is being brutally honest for good reasons.
> I've organized a few races myself, and been involved to a degree in
> the inner politics of several vintage organizations. There are good
> reasons why these organizations resist the pressure of sliding the
> requirements of vintage racing to later years so that various SCCA
> refugees can race.
>
> The cars that people come to see race--even the other vintage
> racers--are cars from the fifties and sixties. Around 1970 wings and
> slicks came in and racing changed forever. Even production cars had
> lots of ground effects and aero tricks. Vintage racing has already
> changed a great deal. The grand old cars don't show up as often
> anymore--they are worth too much and cost too much to fix for their
> owners to have them t-boned by some guy who is risking 20K in a
> corner VS. their couple of million. Vintage organizations are
> getting tougher on their rules, not easier. And it's for good
> reason. I argued the other side long and hard--and I was wrong. It
> doesn't help vintage racing to slide into the 70's, it kills it.
>
> Vintage means Vintage. Adding cars to a group that will circulate
> out front and lap every vintage car, even if they aren't scored
> against them, will change the game and keep even more true vintage
> cars at home. Already saw it happen. If there's enough interest and
> money in it then you can certainly organize racing events that suit
> these cars. The SCCA isn't making these moves in spite of the vast
> amounts of money being made in running club events that include
> obsolete or low-interest cars. Here in the Northwest, Team
> Continental and the ICSCC run races with over 40 racing classes. Of
> course you're on the track with some of the most misbegotten iron
> you ever saw, but it's a fun group.
>
> The SCCA's move is nothing new by the way. I heard people
> complaining about the exact same stuff twenty years ago.
>
> On Jun 1, 2008, at 3:22 PM, Jay Creel wrote:
Bill Babcock
Babcock & Jenkins
Billb@bnj.com
503.936.7660
www.bnj.com
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