[Fot] alternatives to the SCCA?

[Bill Babcock]

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 at bnj.com
503.936.7660
www.bnj.com