This is an intersting idea, not sure if I like it, but it deserves
some thought. It is similar to the structure that many motorcycle road
racing organizations use. It seems to work well for them. One suggestions
might be to have, on a local level, Novice Open and Novice Ladies, as well
as Club and Pro, but only Club and Pro on a national level?
John Moore
1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R (STS)
1993 Toyota MR2 NA (CS) For Sale !
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Shreve [SMTP:ls1_1le@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 8:02 PM
> To: autox@autox.team.net
> Subject: Ladies class debate - A new idea...
>
> To be honest, there is NO perfomance-based reason for there to be a set of
>
> ladies classes. However, they serve a purpose.
>
> I personally think the sport would be better served to making a 'club' and
>
> 'pro' class intstead of a ladies and open class. How do regulate
> something
> like that to take away the 'ladies' class concept we have?
>
> 1. Ladies are allowed to run the 'club' class. Forever.
>
> 2. Men are allowed to run the 'club' class under the following
> conditions:
> a. Rookie who has not won 'open' at a pro/divisional/tour
> b. Have never driven fast enough to be in top 25% of 'pro' class
>
> at Nationals(weather discrepancy years rely on c below, which always
> applies).
> c. Have never finished in the top 3 in 'club' class at
> Nationals.
>
> 3. Anyone is allowed to run in the 'pro' class. Men who do not qualify
> for
> the 'club' class must run the 'pro' class.
>
> This would be governed like everything else in this sport--policed by the
> competitors. Is a man running the 'club' class who does not qualify?
> Protest them and get them booted.
>
> What does this do to the ladies? It protects any lady that drives fast
> enough to be in the 25% of the 'pro' class, and chooses to stay in the
> 'club' class, basically guaranteeing her a trophy.
>
> How do you handle this on a regional/divisional/tour basis? Run the
> existing ladies/open structure--there is no good weay to ensure the big
> fish/small fish get in the right ponds at the lower levels.
>
> Won't this take participants away from the open(now 'pro') class? Yes, it
>
> will allow those who are not at the top of the game
>
> Why do this? It gives some hope to those men who are just starting out
> and
> to those who are terminally uncompetitive. Let's face it--winning
> trophies
> is fun. It would bolster participation at Nationals, too, as less people
> would get that 'I can't trophy, so why bother' disease.
>
> Maybe you call them category 1 and category 2 to steer clear of the
> stigmata
> attached to 'pro' and 'club'.
>
> I know this would probably never fly because there will be so many who
> don't
> like this idea, but I really like it--probably because I have trouble
> justifying the ladies classes, but I would not abolish them without
> putting
> a 'club' class category in place.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> I'm on the digest, so please CC me in any replies.
>
> -dave
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