[Rob Hood]

Not sure who the letter writer is pointing a finger at, but he's definitely pointing a finger...perhaps at NASA?

[rmackintosh]

I guess our difference lie in the definition of "amatuer motorsports" and what they are "designed" to do....

It is a wonderful world where SO MANY of us can afford to build up a car and take it out to some of the most amazing road courses in the world! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif) Great stuff. And YES, there SHOULD BE groups that are flexible to allow "casual competitors" to bring out their street rod that turned into a dragster that evolved into an autocrosser then into an HPDE car and now is somewhere between all of these prep wise and the owner wants to take it to the track and mix it up a bit. There are PLENTY of groups that cater to these crowds. Sometimes, it seems as if EVERYBODY has their own track group these days...I say GREAT...more power to them!

Then there are groups like the SCCA. Which is aiming to be amatuer road racing at its pinnacle (no need to argue whether or not they achieve that here....) . As a dedicated road racer I RELISH rules that are written and enforced and are relatively stable. Accomodating "small variances" is called rules creep in an established racing series such as the SCCA is trying to run....and as someone who has dealt with THAT for years....RULES CREEP SUCKS! The SCCA does NOT "force" ANYONE to sit on the sidelines.....as mentioned above....there are PLENTY of options out there for that person to take. Why does SCCA have to bend to that person? If I decide, "hey, I can afford to race the NASCAR race at Sears Point, but only if they would accomodate my buddies Winston West car...should they have to accept my entry? I think not.

I just think there are levels, even amongst the amatuer racing crowd, that are a good thing. If I want to take my bone stock car to the track...there are plenty of smaller clubs that are there for that. If I want to take a more serious car out that is "not to spec" there are groups out there for that as well...hell, even SCCA has ITE that will run ALMOST everything. A group like NASA tries to catch both sides of the fence on this with HPDE's and a more liberal approach to race groups....good for them. I am free to decide not to race there.

JMHO