How can we make this better?

[whitey_1964]

G2G you either didn't carefully read the previous posts, or you missed the point entirely.

Gordon (weggieman) probably stated it best:

It sucks when guys on  that level come into a championship weekend on near factory equipment and take away awards, prize money and contingencies from people who have worked hard for it all year.

race the series

earn a weekend at the ROC and nobody would bitch.

I've been under the impression (and evidently I am not alone in that regard) that the Race Of Champions held by CCS was a club-level championship.  If that impression is correct, then why on earth would you allow anyone who didn't participate in the club series all year into your championship event?

If the CCS Race Of Champions isn't a club level championship.... then fine, let anyone in, but don't promote it as a club championship.

[251am]

I understand eliminating some classes to make rrom for qualifying.  But to complain about racers who are faster than you???   Come on people are we going to eliminate everyone who is faster than you so you can finish int he top 5 or top 10.  If you can't handle someone finishing in front of you you have 2 choices get faster or quit racing.   ::)

Bah! He's obviously trolling for Whiteys!!   

Or, he doesn't know who Doug Polen is? WSBK World Champ 91-92?

Anyway, adopt the WERA GNF rules and regs regarding AMA/WSBK/MOTO GP cherry pickers for ROC then we can find something else to whine about!      

[JBraun]

  Come on people are we going to eliminate everyone who is faster than you so you can finish int he top 5 or top 10.  If you can't handle someone finishing in front of you you have 2 choices get faster or quit racing.   ::)

Being faster has nothing to do with it. The problem is that these guys (May, Polen) don't race the series. If they want to show up and kick our ass at regionals, fine, have at it. I'd love to say I shared the track with a two time world champion.
I'll admit to cursing every time I see Rob Jensen's motorhome in the paddock, but I'll never say he doesn't belong there.
He has beat a lot of factory riders in AMA races, and clearly is a professional, but at least he runs our series pretty regularly.
If Nicky Hayden could come back once a year for the AMA Superbike finale, and walk away with a championship that Ben Spies poured his heart into for seven months, would it be fair? They are both professional riders of reasonably close ability, but one races the series, one doesn't.

All they need to do is come up with a points minimum to earn entry into the ROC. It doesn't have to be rediculous, just enough to ensure that the riders competing are series regulars.  Something like 500 points in either of the last two seasons would be fine.

[Court Jester]

never been to the ROC and i really don't see me going, unless i happen to do really good this year. but if i were to consider it and the reasoning for this post were still able to happen, i wouldn't bother with it. why bring a knife to a gun fight. hell, it's 20 some odd hours just to get there for me. why go somewhere you have no chance at all.
i think CCS should have the balls to step up and tell the AMA guys no even if it means they lose out on a few bucks. BUT ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL OF THAT... i think the riders need to have the nerve to stand up in the riders meeting and let those guys know how you feel. if you guys see people at that level there, get together in the pits, pick out the best talker of the group and just stand up at the end of the riders meeting and tell them that they are welcome to ride but you guys busted your asses all year to get there and do not want them to screw up what you've worked for all year and that they shouldn't finish the race. all they are doing is setting up for next year anyway. no one in ccs would argue with you besides those full year ama guys. tell them to pull off the track before the last lap. go to the team manager. whatever it takes. the threat of bad PR goes a long damn way. i do think CCS should manage events like this (all of them really) to benfit the "club racers" but it's as much the riders that need to look out for eachother as it is for anyone to expect CCS to look out for you.
but it all comes down to one fact... if they allow it to continue, they will lose more money from the lower level guys that over the years just say "f**k it" and stay home, than they will get from the small hand fulll of big names that show up.

but one guy did beat one of the ama fellas at black hawk this year didn't he? pretty sure someone did while i was there. i know they battled back and forth up front the whole race. i will admit, that was pretty cool. 

[G2G racing]

Or, he doesn't know who Doug Polen is? WSBK World Champ 91-92?

Yeah thats it   ::)

[dylanfan53]

I like the idea of telling them to piss off.  Still, CCS should step up and do it. 

[tstruyk]

getting the racers together to make a statement needs to happen PRIOR to the race, with CCS. 

I havent read all the posts so it may have been broached... but here's an easy twist... only allow contingency to be awarded if you have X amount of points in that class compiled in that season.  Its clearly a money maker... why would Doug Polen give 2 shits about a CCS national title?  Thats like me going back and braggin that I can kick a HS kids ass!  Yes for those much faster than me that chase that goal... kudos!!  But the likes of Polen and May have moved past that.

what was the purse payout for the win combined with the Ducati contingency that Polen netted that one race alone?  what about May?

Eliminate the opportunity for cherry picking contingency and you eliminate the problem.  They can still show up and test equipment for next year... my bet is with no carrot  they pull off last lap and let the race finish the way it should.

Sorry again if it was already mentioned... if it was than uh...yeah... I agree!! 

[funsizeracing]

Tim, +1.

[Jack_Brock]

Why not move the location? 

I know I will never go while it is at Daytona as I don't think it is a safe track, and its about 3,000 miles round trip for me.  A more central location would make it more accessible to everybody and could increase participation which might solve the $$$ problem with excluding people that don't have CCS points. 

[Rich]

Why not move the location? 

I know I will never go while it is at Daytona as I don't think it is a safe track, and its about 3,000 miles round trip for me.  A more central location would make it more accessible to everybody and could increase participation which might solve the $$$ problem with excluding people that don't have CCS points. 

Yep and Heartland Park is right in the middle of the country.  Its a long drive, but I'd be up for it.  :)

[backMARKr]

I would be more inclined to go to HPT. ( or barber) ..9 hours as opposed to many more to FLA....

[Court Jester]

HPT is is about 6 hours and Barber is... i don't know... much more worht the drive???
that's a hell of an idea too.