Majors to Replace Nationals by 2014
10-18-2012, 11:22 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Majors to Replace Nationals by 2014
I think the SCCA is on to something here...
http://www.scca.com/news/index.cfm?cid=51181
http://www.scca.com/news/index.cfm?cid=51181
Majors to Replace Nationals by 2014
TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 18, 2012) – Sports Car Club of America’s Board of Directors announced today the most significant change to its amateur road racing program in 50 years. Following the 2013 season, “National” racing will be phased out, with the U.S. Majors Tour serving as the top level of a two-tier SCCA Club Racing program in 2014.
“As the U.S. Majors Tour gains momentum, it will take its natural position as the premier level of competition within SCCA’s amateur road racing program,” SCCA Chairman Jerry Wannarka said. “By 2014, amateur road racing will have two levels of racing – the U.S. Majors Tour and Regional Racing, with the Majors program focused on clustering the best and toughest competition and Regionals focused on local racing programs.”
SCCA’s amateur road racing program has been tiered for more than half a century, with “National” racing serving as the top level.
“Over the years, SCCA’s ‘National’ program has evolved across the country into something with little cohesion,” Wannarka continued. “With only a handful of General Competition Rules requirements separating a National event from a Regional event, these two programs have morphed, in many cases, into one type of event that is managed entirely at the local level.
“The changes over the next year will take the premier events, geared toward our National Championship drivers, and provide a better link through a series managed by the SCCA National Headquarters. For non-Majors events, this change will remove the limitations that holding a National event have historically placed on our Regions, providing the flexibility needed to customize their Regional Racing programs.
“The focus of the Regional Racing format is on the experience of getting on track and racing wheel-to-wheel. The U.S. Majors Tour takes that same experience and focuses on the intense competition of Championship racing within the SCCA.”
A path to the National Championship Runoffs will exist through both the Majors and Regional programs.
For 2013, that path includes Majors Conference Championships (comprised solely of Majors events) and the National and Divisional Point Championships (including all Majors and regular National events).
Details of the 2014 path are still being determined, although the Board has committed for paths to exist for Runoffs-eligible classes through both the U.S. Majors Tour and Regional Racing.
“The goal is to have a very direct path to the Runoffs through the U.S. Majors Tour,” Wannarka said. “But, there will continue to be an additional path through local events that a driver might support throughout the year. It is important for both the U.S. Majors Tour and the Regional Racing programs to thrive. The Runoffs need to support this initiative with a qualification path for each.”
Details on Championship point structures, 2013 events and Runoffs criteria will be announced in the coming weeks.
Additional information is available at www.sccamajors.com.
TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 18, 2012) – Sports Car Club of America’s Board of Directors announced today the most significant change to its amateur road racing program in 50 years. Following the 2013 season, “National” racing will be phased out, with the U.S. Majors Tour serving as the top level of a two-tier SCCA Club Racing program in 2014.
“As the U.S. Majors Tour gains momentum, it will take its natural position as the premier level of competition within SCCA’s amateur road racing program,” SCCA Chairman Jerry Wannarka said. “By 2014, amateur road racing will have two levels of racing – the U.S. Majors Tour and Regional Racing, with the Majors program focused on clustering the best and toughest competition and Regionals focused on local racing programs.”
SCCA’s amateur road racing program has been tiered for more than half a century, with “National” racing serving as the top level.
“Over the years, SCCA’s ‘National’ program has evolved across the country into something with little cohesion,” Wannarka continued. “With only a handful of General Competition Rules requirements separating a National event from a Regional event, these two programs have morphed, in many cases, into one type of event that is managed entirely at the local level.
“The changes over the next year will take the premier events, geared toward our National Championship drivers, and provide a better link through a series managed by the SCCA National Headquarters. For non-Majors events, this change will remove the limitations that holding a National event have historically placed on our Regions, providing the flexibility needed to customize their Regional Racing programs.
“The focus of the Regional Racing format is on the experience of getting on track and racing wheel-to-wheel. The U.S. Majors Tour takes that same experience and focuses on the intense competition of Championship racing within the SCCA.”
A path to the National Championship Runoffs will exist through both the Majors and Regional programs.
For 2013, that path includes Majors Conference Championships (comprised solely of Majors events) and the National and Divisional Point Championships (including all Majors and regular National events).
Details of the 2014 path are still being determined, although the Board has committed for paths to exist for Runoffs-eligible classes through both the U.S. Majors Tour and Regional Racing.
“The goal is to have a very direct path to the Runoffs through the U.S. Majors Tour,” Wannarka said. “But, there will continue to be an additional path through local events that a driver might support throughout the year. It is important for both the U.S. Majors Tour and the Regional Racing programs to thrive. The Runoffs need to support this initiative with a qualification path for each.”
Details on Championship point structures, 2013 events and Runoffs criteria will be announced in the coming weeks.
Additional information is available at www.sccamajors.com.
10-19-2012, 09:39 AM
#4
Drifting
There were too many national races, national races on the same weekends in neighboring divisions, etc... The regions were only concerned about money and having more races, not about a cohesive national schedule. I'm the first one to criticise the SCCA when they do things wrong, but i'll also tip my hat to them when they do things right. This is a good move.
But calling it "The Majors" is super lame.
10-19-2012, 10:30 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
JB, while I am not enthralled with the name, I have a renewed sense of excitement about amatuer road racing.
I have heard that the schedule will likely include 48 "major" races per year; maybe less. 5 conferences with 8-12 races, almost all doubles. The June Sprints will not be a double, and I don't know if it will be a part of this deal. But to me, whatever it is called by SCCA, it is a "major" to me...
I have heard that the schedule will likely include 48 "major" races per year; maybe less. 5 conferences with 8-12 races, almost all doubles. The June Sprints will not be a double, and I don't know if it will be a part of this deal. But to me, whatever it is called by SCCA, it is a "major" to me...
10-19-2012, 10:52 AM
#6
Drifting
David-
As an STO guy (whough one whose car is for sale), how do you think the new T1 / STO rules will affect the current crop of STO competitors? It sounds like almost nobody from the current T1 will make the move down to T2 or up to the new T1 / STO.
As an STO guy (whough one whose car is for sale), how do you think the new T1 / STO rules will affect the current crop of STO competitors? It sounds like almost nobody from the current T1 will make the move down to T2 or up to the new T1 / STO.
10-19-2012, 12:58 PM
#7
Racer
[ I have heard that the schedule will likely include 48 "major" races per year; maybe less. 5 conferences with 8-12 races, almost all doubles. The June Sprints will not be a double, and I don't know if it will be a part of this deal. But to me, whatever it is called by SCCA, it is a "major" to me...[/QUOTE]
Maybe SCCA National Championship Qualifying Event of Runoffs Qualifying Race; I'm sure Butch is open to suggestions on a more exciting name.
I do like the idea of trying to do deconflict the 'National' events and put more importance on them. I'm not sure about having Regionals count toward the Runoffs.
Having been around the Club for a long time it was disturbing when we started having so many (any?) exceptions to Regions and tracks having Double Nationals. I do recognize that having more events making it easier to qualify for the Runoffs helped put more cars in the race. Of course there's that ages old battle of when to remove a class from the Runoffs and years of exceptions to those rules too.
Locke
SCCA since '72
NCCC since '74
Maybe SCCA National Championship Qualifying Event of Runoffs Qualifying Race; I'm sure Butch is open to suggestions on a more exciting name.
I do like the idea of trying to do deconflict the 'National' events and put more importance on them. I'm not sure about having Regionals count toward the Runoffs.
Having been around the Club for a long time it was disturbing when we started having so many (any?) exceptions to Regions and tracks having Double Nationals. I do recognize that having more events making it easier to qualify for the Runoffs helped put more cars in the race. Of course there's that ages old battle of when to remove a class from the Runoffs and years of exceptions to those rules too.
Locke
SCCA since '72
NCCC since '74
10-19-2012, 01:21 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Jason, I accepted a deposit on my STO Viper, so my mind hasn't been focusing on the consolidated class.