Why is Road America a twin sprint weekend?

[Racingxtc7]

Why is Road America a twin sprint weekend? Thinking about it, Road America is more costly to enter then on top of it having twice as many races to enter. Just doesn't seem to make much sence ???

[Dawn]

More money and track time.


 ;)

[Racingxtc7]

LOL, more money same amount of track time.

[Eric Kelcher]

Hmm you get same number of races in for less dollars spent for entries, traveling and related expenses (hotel, food etc).
entry fees for 600 in GTU, MSS, MSB, MGP (avg rider enters between 3-4 classes with one being a purse class)
Any other track besides RA or DIS
70, 70, 55, 35 =230 x 2 race weekends 460

For Road A
75, 55, 55, 55, 55, 55, 55, 55 = 460

So twice the racing (track time) without the expense of traveling twice for the same entry fees.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

At four laps per race and precious little practice time.  Then crashes or weather screw thing up, and the races get shortened.  Then races get canceled, and you wind up running them 2 months later and 500 miles away at a different track.
Hey, it all make perfect sense to me!  That's why I'm not going to RA this year.

[cbr806]

That crap that happened last year at RA was an exception, not the rule.  With RA being 4 miles & BHF being 1.5 miles, a sprint race at RA gets you 20miles of riding (with warm-up) while one at BHF gets you 13.5.  That means 48% more miles per race run at RA.  A bargin!

[251am]

   If you don't like Road America don't go. I can't afford to go this year. Even though last year was screwed up with weather it was fun. Midnight drunken awakenings from security patrols looking for F1 wannabes on the track. Too bad CCS eliminated the 30 minute GTs and turned em into 5 lap sprints. I guess we were getting too much bang for our buck. It is an awesome experience to do at least once or twice or three times, and then the bug's bit. Unfortunately, I'd lay down money this is the last year for CCS and RA.    

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I hate to even go here.
I've coached for two RA dates with STT.  Between sessions that I was coaching, and sessions that I was running hard on my own time, I've probably done more laps of RA in three days than most CCS riders will get in their entire careers.  It's really a shame, becaust the track is truly awesome.  But let's face it.  I ran at RA for six years with CCS @ 6 races per weekend, and probably did more laps my first day with STT!  RA with CCS is just too expensive for what you get.  I'd personally much rather just go to Blackhawk, and as is my right, I'm voting with my money this year by not racing at RA.

[tzracer]

RA is probably a twin sprint to get enough entries to pay for the cost of the track. RA is very expensive to rent. We are there in April due to the cost of the track being lower than in prime summer months. Perhaps we could have a race in the middle of the week.

The best racing deal I ever had was the old FormulaUSA, when it was a single, run what ya brung, race. For $150 entry fee, gate pass for me included, two 30 minute practices, two 45 minute qualifying sessions and two races (they were either 10 or 15 laps). The same year I also raced AMA, GLRRA, and CCS at RA - 4 race weekends in one year.

Learning Curves used to have a couple track days at RA (stopped due to cost - track rental was $14,000). Riding with one group, I used to ride 200 miles in one day.

[Eric Kelcher]

  Too bad CCS eliminated the 30 minute GTs and turned em into 5 lap sprints. I guess we were getting too much bang for our buck.   

Hmm the schedule I have shows 25 minutes for the GTs same as other tracks?

http://www.formulausa.com/shows/pdf/Spring%20Mailer

Then the schedule page has the same time with the revised time for the team challenge

http://www.formulausa.com/shows/pdf/APR%20RD%20AM%20SCHEDULE

[251am]

  Hmmm the last schedule I looked at had GTs listed as 5 lap sprints. It was some time ago but that was DEFINITELY what it said. Another misprint? It doesn't matter-we can't afford it anyway.

[Racingxtc7]

Having it be a twin sprint weekend to cover the extra cost of the race track is a valid point. I'll go with that.

[Jeff]

I dig twin sprint weekends, and I dig Road A, so it's a win-win for me....

Normally I'd run 4 classes, but I couldn't swing more than 3 for Road A...  But I'm still happy and excited to go stretch my legs out running around that 4 mile beauty...

[Scott]

Three years ago I was sitting in the stands at turn 5 watching the CART race thinking "Man, I would give ANYTHING to be able to race on this course."

This year I'll blow about $500 bucks to spend three days on it.

To me, heaven on earth, and a great deal.