>
> STS has proved to be hugely
> popular and will probably be the most popular class in
> autocrossing if it isn't already
And here's a little more food for thought inspired by the comment above....
There were some messages about media exposure for Solo2 and alot of it
focused on the "Pro" side of the sports. Well, maybe rather than making it
look "Pro" it *should* look amateur. What were all those extreme sports
before the X-games? Amateur. Those guys are doing it for the exposure and
the FUN! Some manage to eke out a living in that realm, some make real
money, some don't care. Is this much different than autocrossing?
ST has this appeal more than the other catagories simply because the
modifications allow differentiation between cars yet the limitations make it
attainable.
First, print -- Sport Compact Car, Max Power, Super Street, etc. Then C&D,
R&T, and MT. Next thing you know Solo2 will become an "Extreme" sport on
ESPN. I'd think it would have a lot of the appeal of the X-games in that
it's regular guys with readily attainable equipment doing interesting
things. Nothing contrasts with moldy big-business sports (baseball,
football, basketball) more than some guy on a half-pipe with a skateboard
when his wallet and comb go flying out of his pocket during a trick. It's
real. And so is autocrossing, particularly the kind in cars like everyone
else's, like ST. People can relate to he guy in the Civic with the phat
wheels, or the Solara with the TRD package, or the crazy guy in a
10-year-old Escort of all things ;^) BTW, does anyone smell Event
Sponsorship with the mention of things like the Solara with the TRD package?
I do.
And an X-game competitor would lend another competitor a skateboard to
replace a stolen/lost/broken one in a second - just like the guy I read
about in the latest issue of Sports Car who gave someone a clutch even
though it meant certain defeat for himself.
Will Kalman (asbestos shields up)
'91 Escort GT
CSCC #232 STS
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