Thanks for the clarification and English lesson. Although this structure is much better, the whole year of racing is still worth only 20% of a championship. Why is a smaller value given to the regional races towards the championship? Kind of like the final exam worth 80% of your final grade.

Since it's the cumulative outcome of 3 separate sessions, it's more like each test being worth 25+% (or 10, 20 & 50% if you prefer) and attendance being worth 20%. One wouldn't expect a passing grade in school simply for showing up or an "A" for attending when they got a "C" on all their assignments.

Smaller values are given to the regional races because they're just that, regional races. Regional races are meant to award a Regional Championship, that's why each chapter has one. A National Championship is about besting those who come to race head to head on a National level... with a kicker to help those who race all year. If everyone in the Series raced against each other all year long, then it would be like F1 (et al) and all results would be summed. As is, expecting a top 5 finish to win a National Championship is not unreasonable and is far better than the winner-take-all format that many other classes have.

And by way of further comparison, NASA and SCCA do not provide any credit for regional races in determining their National Champions...i.e. only the race results at Nationals decides the National Champion.

NASA does determine if you are allowed to show up at Nationals by setting a required minimum number of races for a driver to qualify. But we didnt want to follow that system because it could preclude some of our drivers from participating at all at Nationals and discourage particpation at the Annual Awards Ceremony. At the same time, we didnt want a driver who hasnt raced all year with us to show up at Nationals and be on even footing with drivers who were Cup regulars.

SCCA is even more restrictive in who they allow to go to the Runoffs, as many regional races are not counted at all towards in being able to go to the Runoffs.

We think the system we have in place is a good comprise between rewarding year long partipication and encouraging particpation at Nationals, making for a more exciting event. And so far the system has proved as out when you study the results from last year's results from Nationals. The Top 10 Cup class drivers at Nationals were regulars and the Top 5 SC drivers were too.

SWC has asked if our National Champions from 2009 would like to lead the SWC cars around the track on the parade lap at VIR in September. Quite any honor for our Cup boys and a great photo opp for the series for what may be our first TV air time.

ps. and I have been given the pleasure to ride in the pace car.

pps. Our SC Champ maybe racing in the SWC race and so a sub may be sitting in for Karl in his car.

Getting ready for Nationals.

Attached are some of the forms for drivers to start their licensing with SCCA Pro Racing for the Cup Nationals. This way drivers can get a head start on the process.

SCCA Pro will accept the NASA physical form, but their form is attached if drivers are making an appointment with their physician.

See attached:

SCCA membership application

SCCA Pro Racing License application

SCCA Physical Medical History and Physicians Exam form

Like maybe the 2008 SC natl. champion??

....or maybe a nobody that would REALLY appreciate the chance to take his 13 year old kid on a lap for a memory of a lifetime.

Time for a shameless plug....
And by the way for those that will have SCCA credentials, you will be ready to participate in the Polish Mountain Hill Climb here in Western Maryland. Fast becoming one of the favorite event on the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association's calendar. Go here for details http://www.polishmtnhillclimb.com/ (needs updated) and here for a look http://www.vimeo.com/6042327

DD,
Who do you suggest we get to write the letter of recommendation for the license form? Will SCCA allow you to do it? I have only competed in the National event one time so I have to go this route.

Also, everyone may use me for a referred by and SCCA member for the $15 discount if you don't know anybody. PM me and I will send you my SCCA number.

DD, you wrote:



Looking at the GCR, one thing I noticed was a requirement for a fuel inspection port. Do we have to worry about that?

No, the port is there more for performance checks and not safety.