The real issue, in this "build it and they will come" discussion
is NOT whether SM, ST et. al. are attracting new members.
The true question is are they attracting new members in excess
of the classes/methods that were previously available?
That is, prior to ST/SM, folks new to Solo II would enter the
most convenient applicable class at their first event(s), be it
the local novice class, the street tire class, the Speed Freakz class,
or in the (rare) absence of such a class at the local level, the
Open class.
So even in the dark days before we became enlightened with these
wonderful, new, Demographically-Correct (tm) structures, we attracted
new participants. Especially in times of economic strength.
Frankly, I am not sure how objective proof for either side of this argument
might be found. It is clear, however, that claiming credit for participants
that would have gotten involved, even under the archaic systems in
place prior to the Renaissance, is less than honest.
Roger 2
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