Listers,
I switched from the Labor Day event, to the Glen event a number of years
ago. My reasons: I love the Downtown Festival at the Glen; much more track
time; better & more reasonably-priced accomodations; no quiet day on Sunday;
and of course the Collier Cup all-MG race (yes, that's what I drive).
It seems pretty clear to me that the vintage race world is changing,
especially over the past 2 - 3 years. I believe one of the primary reasons
is track management. At many tracks, the Big Vintage Weekend is now one of
their top money-makers, often behind only the NASCAR and CART events.
Hence, the Big Vintage Weekend has now attracted management attention.
At some major tracks, the General Manager is now a person who is far younger
than me, or my car. To an ambitious 20/30-something Manager, a 1986 IMSA
GTP car seems pretty darn "vintage". Heck, it's half as old as HE is.
Plus, it's big, fast, loud, and is painted in lots of pretty colors -- just
the thing to attract more spectators. By contrast, a '50's & '60's era
small-bore production car is only that ... just a small bore to the X-Gen
Track Manager. Little, slow, and plain-looking.
The fragmented nature of having 20+ vintage racing organizations in the
U.S., has allowed the tracks and event sponsors to assert far more control
over the scene. If one vintage club won't do what the track wants, the
track can shop the event around to other vintage clubs. I think this is
what the SVRA/HSR alliance is all about -- trying to regain a more equitable
bargaining position with the tracks. I for one, certainly hope it works out
that way. They're not perfect, but I still have more faith in the
management of my vintage organization, than the management of a major
road-racing facility, when it comes to protecting my interests as a
participant.
This is all just personal opinion, and only applies to the current crop of
"major" vintage events like Labor Day, the Glen, Mid-Ohio, etc. There is a
whole 'nuther class of events that I regard as "club events": small,
non-sponsored, often non-spectator, usually just 2 days, where a vintage
club rents the track & runs the whole deal. I've always found these small
club events to be extremely enjoyable. At the small club race, the primary
customer to be satisfied is the participant, and the decisions are mostly
made by the club's event chairman, who is usually also a participant ... at
the Big Spectator/Sponsored Vintage Event, the primary customer becomes the
spectator, and decisions are driven by vintage-ignorant track managers
trying to increase the gate and please the sponsor.
You pays your money & you takes your choices ... I like a little of both
myself. I just hope the Mega-Events don't become so ponderous that they
aren't fun anymore. For me, right now, the Glen is still a lot of fun!
(And so is the Turkey Bowl)
Regards,
Mark Palmer
MGA #185
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