Caught your "Ad Libs" classified on contributions to the newsletter. I have been an SCCA member for 10 years. The primary activity of our region would appear to be Club Racing, an increasingly expensive sport. I did one year of it, in ’89. A completely unsustainable economic activity... I sure couldn’t afford it! I suspect that’s true for the average member. This emphasis could lead to a "detachment," where the average member doesn’t feel "included" enough to want to try to participate (in anything ). I strongly suspect this is at the bottom of the growing worker and other shortages). What do you think?
This doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy motorsports. I just have to do the kind that interest sponsors! (Their perception of the cost/benefit equation is what counts, they’re writing the checks...and it isn’t SCCA Club Racing.)
I enjoy reading stories about folks having FUN with cars. (I usually don’t enjoy the "look what 1 own" object-ownership kind of story that you read in the usual national automotive press...it’s clearly the advertisers, not the readers, that pay for the magazine...and it shows.) Want an "underdog" story about meeting competition...but one that’s not about club racing? I enclose one: THE BIG HILL, from the ’96 Virginia City Hill Climb, that I did (for the first time) last season, Where did that fit in my whole season? I enclose the final ’96 Results data, too...just an ex-farmboy from Minnesota! The RENNTech team that owns the M-B must have liked the Results, they signed me (again) for ’97, with a bonus!
Hope your ad gets more interesting writers for The Tonneau. Thanks for being concerned...and asking, in any case.
Sincerely,
Kim John Crumb
We received our April issue of The Tonneau with the Solo II Championship Rules enclosed. It was nice to see some rules in writing, that way they can’t be changed in the middle of the season by the Solo chairman to his liking, like last year.
As we read the rules, we need to make some comments about the rules. It seems that the Governing Committee is trying to eliminate giving awards to Solo II competitors. The rules state that all events count towards points and you must compete in 75% of LOL events . In 1997 that will make seven out of nine events that you need to compete in with all events counting for year-end points.
This looks almost like a NASCAR point system, where there will be a big money payout at the end of the season. Even in SCCA National Club Racing, only your six best finishes count towards a Runoffs Invitation. This doesn’t seem like it is for the small budget people, or those that may have other conflicts and can’t make all nine events.
In 1996, only three people would have received awards under this plan, not the fourteen people that did because they competed in 50% of the events. The finishing place would have been the same, but less enthusiasm.
Why not use rules similar to the past Solo II series, which is similar to other regions. Must compete in 50% of events with best five out of nine counting for year-end points. This would give everyone a chance, including beginners, not just the few.
My first championship was won because I went to more events than the better drivers that always beat me with all events counting. And I don’t treasure that as much as the awards that I had to earn rather than buying it by going to more events.
We plan to compete at all Solo II events this year, plus Met Council Autocrosses so the rule won’t effect us, but we are thinking of the future of the sport.
Don’t make the new, low budget person get disappointed.
From the Team with 12 straight wins, and going for more,
Carl & Denise Wieman
Someone from LOL sent me a trophy for winning the CenDiv last year in HP. Please thank whoever it was.
In the Feb. Tonneau, there was an article about the Brooke Kinnard award. I did win in ’80 but not in ’82.
Thanks again
Steve Pommer
I just read The Tonneau-Online Edition. You do nice work! I put the LOL homepage on my list of favorites so I can keep an eye on what’s going on with LOL since I am no longer an active participant in the ‘thick of it’. I hope all is well for you!
Cindy Miller
(The Tirpak Kid)
From Autorace Phamily
Good news for Jean Alesi: apparently, Ferrari has signed an agreement with Akai corp. to install top-of-the-line radios in their F1 cars. They guarantee that the communications between pit and driver will work fine now. Unfortunately though, Alesi still might not hear their instructions, since he insisted that Akai Corp. also install in his car a 6 CD changer with 100 watts surround sound unit. Alesi’s personal favorites: Golden Earring’s "Radar Love", U2’s "Where the Streets Have no Name" and "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For", and of course, Alesi’s favorite, Jackson’s Browne’s classic....... "Running on Empty"!
Talk racing with you soon
Dick and Barbara Coburn
Copyright 1996, Land O'Lakes Region.
Last revised: May 5, 1997