SD's new AM/EX idea...

[Super Dave]

Ok, first a basic history.

Road racing in America has always been a fragmented program.  The AMA program was always originally based around dirt track.  Eventually, bikes specifically designed for road racing came into existance...and racers that were specifically "road racers" began exceling on them.

Club level racing began most noteably in California with the AFM.  WERA soon followed.  Roger Edmonson, now employed by Daytona International Speedway, started CCS in around 1984.

Eventually, he partnered with the AMA, making CCS riders get an AMA card to race, and he pulled motorcycle manufactures into supporting his production based ideas for national competition (Supersport, etc) and regional competition.  Eventually, other contingency sponsors arrived from the aftermarket.

In 1994, the relationship between CCS and the AMA program was shut down.  

All racing organizations continued to show some kind of growth.  

AMA Pro draws its riders from the ranks of AMA Pro Dirt Track racers and various club racing organizations through out the nation.

Club racing has struggled a bit over the past few years as multiple "track day programs" pop up around every track.

With that trend, the population of racers that race has struggled at times.

Potential riders feel the need to "do track days" to become better prepared for racing, although I have some debate as to whether this hurts new riders more than helping.

In the past, the only potential for purse money or contingency was in the expert ranks.  Over the years, amateurs began to get offers for contingency...Yamaha leading the way in the Seca II challenge in 1994...and other aftermarket tire and brake companies following suit.

As actual purse money and purse certificates began to arrive from the racing organizations, some racers refused to move on to the upper club ranks.

At the same time, budgets for AMA Pro racing began to increase in that manufacturers began fielding larger supersport teams, second teams, and support to others.  

This left a field of racers at the club level that had usually moved on to pro racing attempts.

Amateur/novice racing has become a potential feed bag for pretty experienced racers that are far from needing a lot to learn, but some pick opportunities to race for cash and contingency...after having competed as an expert without the same success in the results.  Actual new racers resent the fact that these riders continue to "sandbag", taking cash and contingency that is, rightfully, theirs as a new racer.

Additionally, there are some expert riders that feel that there is no opportunity for them to compete on a reasonable playing field against racers that have had regular AMA Pro, etc. experience.

 to be continued....

[motomadness]

Does this make you Dr. Super Dave, or Professor Super Dave?  Probably the latter with the whole VRU thang.

 ;)

Give us more Professor...

[Super Dave]

LOL!

Given the changes in the market, I would propose that the current two tier structure of licensing be changed to a three tier structure.  The actual names of those tiers could be anything, so I will refer to them as A, B, and C.  A will be the highest tier and C will be the lowest tier.

Entry level racing - Novice?

Class C will be the entry level tier.  The riders will have their own practice.  The riders will have a limited number of classes available to them for racing.  Those classes will be divided by displacement.  Lightweight, Middleweght, Heavyweight, etc.  No trophies, only certificates of accomplishment.  No championships.

A rider would be limited in the time that they could spend in this entry level class.  I would think that you'd want to keep a rider in that status for at least a couple of weekends if they perform admirably, but still allow a rider to stay in that structure for a maximum of about eighteen months. The structure is as such to allow them time to overcome the sensory overload that is associated with beginning racing and to become consistent without the pressure to perform at speed.

Sportsman type racing - Sportsman?

This is the type of racing that many will recognize.  Contingency will be available.  Championships will be offered.  Certain classes would have purses.  Grids based on pre-entry.

Riders in this tier would potentially be made up of some of the current amatuers and current experts.  Racers in this class would be competent and safe.

Upper level racing - Expert or Pro?

This class would be the class for those wanting to really test their skills.  Classes would be limited, the races would be longer, their would need to be a purse for each class, and, as a result, the entry fees would be higher.  As a result, qualifying would be expected.  How about a championship bonus for each class?

How does one become an "A" class rider?  Well, first, one would have to be a "B" class rider.  That shows some amount of compentency to ride.  Then a rider could petition to be moved into the A class.  



So, the A class status wouldn't have to be permanant.  Riders loose confidence at times and also find that they don't have the skills or resources to compete at some levels.  The B class might be the destination for many riders.  

Under the current structure, there are riders that have been amateurs for a few if not several seasons.  There are even some riders that have expert licenses that can run in or around the top ten in a Middleweight race, but that have petitioned to become amateurs...in the sake of making contingency and purse money that, I would argue, is rightfully the property of those entry level riders that the current amateur program is really meant for.

Advantage of such a tiered system:

A longer opportunity for true entry level racers to learn about the sport without the emotional pressure of worrying about being in the way of riders that circulate the track better.

An opportunity for more revenue for the racing community by riders opting to begin in a true entry level racing program rather than spending their money in a non racing track day enviornment.

A regional pro level opportunity for racers to compete at a high level with the potential for fair earning of purse money and contingency.  Many racers at this level cannot financially move up to the next level of racing, currently, because of the extraordinary travel requirements.

Potential marketing opportunities of having pro level racing consistently at multilple events (look at the opportunities that oval tracks have with multiple events at one location...some racers are reconized as successful racers at local tracks without having to move up to ARCA, Busch, ReMax, or Nextel Cup racing).  

A tier of racing for those who like the volume of races and laps under competition without being made to feel as though they are competing against professional racers with professional budgets.

[motomadness]

Since this is the voting season.  Can we print up a bunch of fliers and mail them to the membership?  I'll pay for it up to $75.  It was $15 on the other note, but no one seemed to catch on.

Of course we need to also decide which classes we would like in each tier.

[Protein Filled]

Dave,

Not that I disagree with your structure, but here are some of the things that may be a problem:

Issue 1 that I see is the rather low turnout for many events. You need between 8-10 bikes for most contingency. If you turn this into 3 classes, the number of bikes in each field would be lower, which could affect this. Who wants to run a race with 5 people in it?

This would also add a higher number of races/practices to the weekend, which would make it a bit harder to keep on schedule...unless they eliminate some classes, which means less money for CCS so I don't think they would.

I would still see some people who could technically be "A" riders staying as "B" riders just to make the contingency/championships and wins. I don't think that it would stop. A sandbagger will sandbag...It's in their blood. (cough cough, Brian and Paul, cough, cough)   ;D

[motomadness]

Edgar,

Good points.  At this though we need to expand the forum of this topic to accurately survey the membership's desire and propensity for change.  Since will require lots of rules changes to properly detail, it's got to begin asap.

[motomadness]

Maybe these proposed ideas can be experimented with during the next season at tracks where attendance is much more condusive for the spectacle.  Pick tracks that have track championships.  These structures could be the basis of the track championships.

This way no one is forced to deal with this system for an entire season and at every track if it proves to be too cumbersome.

[Super Dave]

Dave,

Not that I disagree with your structure, but here are some of the things that may be a problem:

Oh, yeah...well...  LOL!

Issue 1 that I see is the rather low turnout for many events. You need between 8-10 bikes for most contingency. If you turn this into 3 classes, the number of bikes in each field would be lower, which could affect this. Who wants to run a race with 5 people in it?

This would also add a higher number of races/practices to the weekend, which would make it a bit harder to keep on schedule...unless they eliminate some classes, which means less money for CCS so I don't think they would.

I would envision potentially fewer races during the weekend.  Should free up some time.

Numbers for races.  The C class wouldn't have contingency.  We're trying to get these guys to learn and get them to the B class.  The B class should be big regardless.  Fun with contingency and a couple few paying events.  A class...purses, championship bonus...GLRRA was pretty successful as there was some reasonable amount of reward to the riders.  The number one plates I've won got me bragging rights...and a cheaper cost for number replacement.

[/quote]I would still see some people who could technically be "A" riders staying as "B" riders just to make the contingency/championships and wins. I don't think that it would stop. A sandbagger will sandbag...It's in their blood. (cough cough, Brian and Paul, cough, cough)   ;D
[/quote]

Ok, so would someone rather race for tenth place where they get their money back or more...

Or race for second place where they don't...

There would have to be some kind of risk vs reward to get guys into the A class.  But additionally, there are some that just might not be able to get into the money in the A class...they might not want to spend the money to prep, set up, and commit.  Additionally, their skills might not be up to task.  

Some of those riders do become experts under the current structure and decide that motorcycle road racing doesn't have anything for them.  They quit.  

[Steviebee]

I think there needs to be a few less classes!!

They should also make the "premier" race more like a "main event"  ULGP is just another sprint race.

A,B,C riders are just like speedway and other series.  The speedway races here get proable 200 spectators.

[motomadness]

N,S,E I agree!

Hey that rhymes.  ;D

[Protein Filled]

Well, heck. If you are talking about paying back all the way to 10th place, then maybe people would bump up. But to do that, you would probably have to make all entry fees $70.00 or so, or we have to find some way for CCS to make up that money. I guess it would help if there was a bigger gate.

I know what you are saying about lots of people going expert and quitting. It seems that to a lot of folks, if they don't win, they get bored and stop. Then again, many times the money situation (or crashing) makes them quit before they want to.

So the big question is: What is the right solution?

[Super Dave]

I'd figure that the races would cost the pro's $80ish.  Less races.  If normal sprints are eight laps, theirs should be twelve.  Payback to AT LEAST tenth, if not back to fifteenth.  Don't have to get your money back at that point, but something is better than nothing.