John
Unfortunately those stories are common, even here in my own region. All
I can say is all of us are volunteers, with jobs, family, lives etc. And
racing is pretty intense - when you aren't at the track, you are probably
keeping long shop hours getting ready for the next event. But most of us
really do enjoy getting someone else involved. If you were in the DFW area
I'd ask you over to the shop for some beer and bench racing, maybe a few
in-car videos.
With a CRX or Miata, I expect you have Improved Touring in mind. Check
the
bulletin board at www.improvedtouring.com. You will find LOTS of SCCA
Honda racers, probably some in your locale. A lot of good information there
in the old posts. Everytime I buy or consider a new race car project, I
read up on it at this site. I bet you will be fast friends and
paddock-mates with a couple of them by this time next year.
Spec Miata (SM) is taking of like a rocket lately, with a Pro series for
2002.
You can also go Production, and there is a website for those guys that is
probably just as good. I think it is www.HProduction.com or something like
that, but it has expanded well past just the HP class and become a Prod
board.
Have you done autocross? If not, it's a great series for beginners and
pros of any age. Also good to get the family involved sharing a car,
learning skills that may save their lives someday. And all you have to do
is show up with a car and maybe a helmet (if no loaners) and about $20.
Just check their website for schedule. BTW, it's also good to shake down a
freshly built car before spending high-dollar time on the racetrack.
I'm not local, but I'd be glad to help you (or anyone else) get started
any way I can. I've race a ITB Pinto, SRX7 Mazda, '84 Reynard FC, just
bought a Swift FC, and have an ITA Jetta nearly completed. Also just ended
two years on the Texas Region BOD. And I've autocrossed since ...well, a
long time ago ;)
good luck, have fun, race safe :)
Last OT post, thanks for the bandwidth, going private.
Rex Burkheimer
Parts Plus Marketing Director WM Automotive Whse., Fort Worth TX
"Never attribute to evil that which can be explained by stupidity" -George
Pyle
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Viviani" <geeno@adelphia.net>
To: "Rex Burkheimer - WM" <rex@txol.net>; "shop-talk"
<shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 2:35 PM
Subject: Re: SCCA (was Woohoo!!)
> I don't want to upset anyone and the numbers you are showing are great.
> However for the last five years (Keep in mind 1st year IL, 2-3 Central
> Kansas, now in VA just south of Summit Point) I have been contacting the
> SCCA about info to join or get involved. When I started I could not afford
> the "race" car then I bought a CRX with intentions of racing, now I have a
> Miata which I bought late last year with the intention of racing this
year.
> The problem is no one ever gets back to me, I have called, emailed, even
> managed to track down a few events but cannot get any help or info. I try
> the website but it is about as helpful as Home Depots, here is some info
but
> you must come to the store to see it. Like I have said I have found a few
> events but since it is race conditions people don't seem to have time to
> answer any questions.
>
> Now that I have bitched, does someone want to contact me so I can get
> involved. I am actually a nice guy.
>
> Gino
> 2003 Mini (ordered)-98 Chrysler-96 Miata(for sale)-95 Wrangler
> 79 LiL Red Truck-75 Spitfire(for sale)- 62 Chrysler- ?? Lotus 7 Replica
>
>
> >
> > Dying? Membership has gone from 55K to 62K in the last 4 years. Our
> > problem is managing growth while making sure everyone has a place to
play.
> > SCCA has always wrestled with the "all things to all people" issues,
of
> > which vintage vs current technology is one. Much as we all like to see
> > vintage British iron kicking Jap butt on the track, we also see a lot of
> > gray hair among the membership. If we are to keep the club vital, we
have
> to
> > recognize the needs of the younger membership - it's their club too -
and
> > they aren't driving MGAs.
> > We co-exist well with those clubs that cater to special
interests -
> > vintage, marque clubs etc. Hasn't always been so, but we're getting
> > better.
> > It's a big job, and a largely thankless one. But we have the most
> > enlightened, forward-thinking, tradition-respecting leadership at the
top
> > that I have seen in 25 years membership.
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