To the Great Unwashed:
I like Henry's term of "Festival Event". I also appreciate his opinions and I
have another spin on this. I'll try to make it brief.
BRIC is a 'Festival Event'.
At one time Group 2 was the most heavily subscribed group at BRIC. This is
'our' group.
I noticed the numbers were WAY down for BRIC's Group 2 in 2004, and it seems
that the 'gate is down, as well. Between the cost for entry at BRIC and the
family cost at the gate, many of us are voting with our feet. The vendors are
as
well.
I'd like to think that folks identify mostly with the 'production' based cars
that we drive and that we provide a draw. (I know that there are other
factors at play here)
I sense that the Walter Mitty has experienced some of the same maladies and
between HSR and GRM, they are attempting to reprofile the event for more
universal appeal.
The Triumphs have had some great successes at Mid-Ohio, Mosport, ViR, and I
expect the same at the Walter Mitty. (I am not forgetting Button Willow in the
West)
My budget is good for one Festival Event a year, especially if Triumph is
featured and focused. Looks like the Walter Mitty is it for me and many others.
If we continue with these successes, I suspect Road America & BRIC will be
approaching us in 2006 or 2007.
Let's do it!!!
Joe (A)
> Bill,
>
> I appreciate this well thought out response to the FOT at large. Obviously,
> it is all a dollars and cents issue, as if somebody in the loop is losing
> lots of money, there will be no more tracks to race at or sanctioning
> bodies to organize events.
>
> It just seems to me the "for profit" sanctioning bodies are getting fat and
> have lost all interest in us, the small bore, grassroots community.
>
> Luckily, the "not for profit" sanctioning bodies are still catering to us.
> My hat is off to FOT alumni Bob Wismer and Bill Dentinger of VSCDA, and
> Mike Jackson of VDCA. I'll bet I am missing others who are involved in a
> sanctioning body, I apologize for my omission to each and every one of you.
>
> I will continue to happily pay my dues and run events put on by VSCDA,
> VDCA, VARAC and the newly formed, northeast US based Vintage Racer Group,
> headed up by Mark Palmer, the MGVR leader.
>
> As far as your comment about track owners being squeezed for cash, I
> certainly sympathetic. I have many thoughts about this that are well beyond
> the scope of the FOT mail list, and I look forward to boring you with them
> at Mid-Ohio next week!
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