2006 Great Plains Region??

[Jack_Brock]

Maybe I'm confused, but isn't somebody who lives in Chicago considered Midwest Region?  It appears to me the guys that are actually considered Great Plains are from Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma.  Thats what I was getting at with a seperate series for GP region at tracks in those states.

Anyway, if I have it all screwed up, let me know.

[Super Dave]

Yeah, Jack. licenses are "regionalized" in that your home region for your number is based on your home location.  So, if you live in Milwaukee, Chicago, you're gonna have a MW number.  If you live in Omaha or KC, you're gonna be GP.  I don't know the real specifics, but that's the way it works.

As for distances for driving.

If you road race, you're gonna travel.  It's easier to accept that than complain.  When I started road racing, there were no tracks near me, period.  When I went AMA racing, though, it was nice because I could be anywhere in the US in 24 hours.  

My favorite trasks are VIR and Sears Point.  Both a long way away from me.  That's thw way it is.

[Jack_Brock]

Dave, thanks for confirming that.  I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining.  I was simply pointing out something that I believe is an opportunity for CCS.  Hallett had about 20 track days this year, and most sold out at their limit of 100 riders.  This is mostly attended by Tulsa and OKC people.  Add in Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City, Springfield, Omaha, Lincoln, and any other large towns in the GP area, and you have a huge group to draw from, most of which are willing to travel within reason.

I love to race, but running a full schedule of events for a championship comes after my job and financial respondsibilities to my family.  I can't afford the time or money it takes to run a majority of the races over 12 hours from my home.  For these reasons, I split my races between CCS and CMRA this year.  I'll continue to do so if the schedules remain the same.  

[Chuck]

If Great Plains meant MAM, HPT, Gateway, and Hallett I'd be in for chasing some championships again.  If not, I'll be buying several liscences to run those tracks for fun....

[Super Dave]

Dave, thanks for confirming that.  I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining.  I was simply pointing out something that I believe is an opportunity for CCS. 

Opportunity.

Well, how will it work?  Example, CCS & CRA have events at MAM.  Does the market do well enough to develop a whole region in one organization?  It does have a tendancy to corrupt it.

CMRA was a CCS affiliate, but they dropped that for various reasons.

Can CCS racing compete with CMRA racing at Hallett?  Different pricing structures, other organizations booking dates for cars, etc.  Even then, there is a natural fluctuation in the racing and track day market year to year.  What happens one year may not necessarily hold true for the next year.

Yeah, I can see where having a region based like some are talking would be great.  Can it be done?  It might be hard.  Even then, CCS does try to book dates in various tracks, but some dates can't be taken.  If you've got a date at HPT on one weekend, you can't have the same date at another track in that region the same weekend.  Sometimes, that's what you're up against.

Example.  CCS had a race at Gingerman and WERA had a race at Grattan on the same weekend.  Is that good or bad for the market?

[Jack_Brock]

I'm not sure CRA will be back to MAM.  They don't like traveling(according to officials and cornerworkers) and booked MAM this year because they were afraid Brainerd would get shut down on them and they would have no place to race.

CCS wouldn't be competing directly against CRA and CMRA unless GP region races fell on the same dates as CRA at MAM or CMRA at Hallett.  I do see a potential conflict with other series in that some people who currently compete with CRA and CMRA may switch exclusively to CCS for convenience.  Does this matter to CCS?  Overall, it would add more people to the race market with a more accessible race series.
  
Where do new racers come from these days?  I don't have anything scientific, but my WAG is 90% or more of new racers have a track day background.  I know there are some strong track day programs in the GP area, and this is what spawned me to put my idea on this forum.  Hopefully the powers that be see this and give it some consideration to detemine if it is feasible.

Track availability, scheduling conflicts and the likes I'm sure would be tough.  I guess I'll remain hopeful and wait for the schedule.

[Super Dave]

I
Where do new racers come from these days?  I don't have anything scientific, but my WAG is 90% or more of new racers have a track day background.

Interesting.  What do you think that?

In the years that I've taught schools when track days were more prevolant like now, not many people have gone on to racing.  CCS is getting involved in track days to try and recapture some of the lost potential new racers that don't seem to enter the market.

Back to having races at Hallett...

If you had two dates at Hallett like the CMRA, you'd probably get a decent turn out.  Double it with two CCS dates and now riders are going to have to make some decisions.  Follow one organization for points (how much travel can each racer afford) or only do the four races at one track and try to afford two licenses.  It's just tricky.  If the riders are trying to follow one region, then they might not be around when another organization is trying to have an event.  It's just hard to battle for racers money.

[Jack_Brock]

Dave, You have obviously been around awhile and maybe your opinion has some weight with CCS, so can I bribe you to agree with me? ;D

I do truly believe there is a strong market in the Great Plains area and the potential will only be realized if the races are mostly held in this area.

I think I spent too much time on the forum already, so I'll leave it at......

CCS, Pretty please with sugar on top!  :)

[Super Dave]

Does my opinion carry any weight?  I doubt it.  I've never found that I could get much done, even when it was extraordinarily important.

Call Kevin.  Generally, he's always working on things like that.  You'll get a real answer that way.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Yeah, Jack. licenses are "regionalized" in that your home region for your number is based on your home location.  So, if you live in Milwaukee, Chicago, you're gonna have a MW number.  If you live in Omaha or KC, you're gonna be GP.  I don't know the real specifics, but that's the way it works.

Then explain why I was listed in Great Plains when I'm 15 min NORTH of Blackhawk? ;D


As for Topeka. I wouldnt mind going once, but driving 10+ hrs for a SINGLE DAY EVENT is a bit rediculous.

[Super Dave]

Mistakes happen in CCS.

You haven't figured that out?