 Posted October 1st, 2009 10:57 PM IP
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jimht
Moderator - MagnaTech Raceway |
Posts: 146
Registered: Nov 2005
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I know this is contrary, but here goes:
The equipment does not determine the capabilities of the user, that's why there are Amateurs and Experts.
I also believe this is why it's useless to have a beginner car class...there are no beginner cars, only beginners,
If the class being raced is Flexi-F7, then even though the equipment rules are very limited, there can still be a tremendous difference between someone who has been racing the class for a year and someone who has been racing a month.
It's always been legitimate and fair to have driver classes within at least one car class: in Opens.
It's just as legitimate and fair to have driver classes in any car class.
Driver classes solve the problem of giving the new racer a place to learn and participate without getting hammered,
If the answer is that there really aren't enough participants to justify such divisions, then my response is maybe throwing beginners in with the experienced has something to do with the lack of entries.
It's difficult enough to get folks involved as it is, why put up unnecessary roadblocks?
I keep seeing references to having had to move up through the ranks and win the big one as a reason to toss everyone in together.
That is caused by using a system of qualifying, timed laps, that really has nothing to do with how qualified anyone is to race.
The USRA recognized this years ago and that is the reason why the elimination races system is used by the USRA, it sorts out the best, regardless of how they qualified.
I feel a driver should be given the opportunity to enter at the skill level he feels comfortable with.
If he wishes to move up to the next level after his first race because he's on a roll, good!: more entries, more racing.
For many years the Series here in Texas was strictly Opens and we ran 3 driver classes. It was not unusual to see someone enter Amateur, do well, then enter Semi-Pro immediately. Likewise for Semi-Pro to Pro. It didn't change their driver classification, just let them race some more.
This was with Opens!! To do the same thing with some of the really limited cars in the TSRA would be easy in comparison and much less expensive money and timewise.
The result:
More entries in each class.
More racing for those who moved up.
More fun!
I'm not expecting the TSRA to suddenly adopt driver classes, just yakking here...but please don't consider the idea of driver classes as a way to "put the newbies in their place" but rather as a way to maybe make the TSRA a friendlier place for them to play.
(Edited by jimht)
Jim Honeycutt
MAGNATECH RACEWAY
"I don't think I'm ever more 'aware' than I am right after I hit my thumb with a hammer." -- Jack Handey [Deep Thoughts] |
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