Turning ex

[tshort]

My main reasons for wanting to stay AM 1) I have not been to alot of tracks and do  not want to learn a ton of tracks as an EX. 2) I would like to compete at a level where it is poss to do well and to complete a full season, and shoot for a championship win....not to much to ask for right ;D

The number of tracks you race on is not a function of Ex/Am status.  Regional races feature both all season long.  If you want to stay Am, and not race a lot of tracks, you will not win a regional championship unless the region doesn't go to a lot of tracks (you could always move to NH and race LRRS). Not sure what you mean there.

Re doing and and completing full season,  you may want to consider options:

1. check out the points standings, number of races left, and the likelihood you'll end up with a championship if you finish the rest of this season.  If it looks like you will, go like he11 for rest of this season and see where things land.  If you don't end up on top, you'll probably have too many points (based on what you said you have done so far) to petition to stay Am successfully.

2. if after checking points you believe you won't be able to finish the season where you want to be, then do one of two things:
- finish the season and hang back in the races to keep your points low.  if you don't don't accumulate a lot more points this year, then you will have a better chance of convincing them to keep you Am next year.
- quit racing this season, or only race in a few races, not the full sched, and again, your points will stay low.

Bottom line is - winning a championship as an Am is not that hard *if* (and that is a big IF) you're fast right out of the box.  True first year Ams generally have no way of knowing whether they are fast or not, until their first few weekends.  If it turns out you are able to do well in your region your first year, and you weren't planning on racing the whole season (time, money), then you end up in the position similar to what it sounds like you're in.

As an expert the whole thing changes - being fast is relative - there are a lot more up there who are fast.  You'll learn a lot more up there tho, and you'll improve  quicker than you would have staying an Am.  You may not bring home much wood, tho, at least not right away.

My $0.02.  (guess how I figured it out  ;) )

[OmniGLH]

Just suck it up and go expert.  It's not as scary as you think it is.  In fact, I think Am is WAY scarier.  Ex is 1000x cleaner, you're not dodging around newbies who are totally out of control, etc.  When a "fast guy" passes you, you really won't even know it happened until it's over, because they know how to pass cleanly and without leaving total destruction in their wake.

I also dropped 2 seconds when I went to ex.

[tug296]

Happened to win a Championship last year, made it to and finished every race. I kind of jokingly asked if I'd have to go Expert, was told yes, if you win a Championship you must go Expert and can not petition to stay Amatuer.
However, I know of someone that won a Championship in another region, yet did not get bumped up, he also had the required points.
Have always wondered whats up with that.
 Now that I'm out with injured ribs I'll ask.

[sqidd]

I think that, while I do okay in Thunderbike, I'd proably get blown away in one of the faster classes . . .

Most likely ;)

[Gixxerblade]

I think that, while I do okay in Thunderbike, I'd proably get blown away in one of the faster classes . . .

So how are you doing this year Nate?

[Fat_Nate]

Hey Steve,

I do real well when none of the fast people show up . . . I think I've been on the podium in every Thunderbike race, but never higher than second.  And in GT Lights, my best is a third.

I'm getting faster, still don't really know what I'm doing, and I'm having a great time.  You?

Nate

[Gixxerblade]

Doing OK. Nothing better than a 4th and that in LTWTSB. I am catching up to my nemesis Chris Kalb. I will be as fast as that guy one day. LOL Chris!!! ;D

[Super Dave]

Real good question.

Unfortunately, hard rules that seem to guy who goes expert and who doesn't don't seem to apply to those that, so I'm told, threaten with money...  If you let me stay AM, I'll spend all this money in CCS...or I'll leave.  Honestly, it's ridiculous.

I believe that bumping based on an inflated points system is not the way to go.