An update here as ideas keep flowing and more options are surfacing. At the Brandon site Friday after testing some of the local TBM had a powow with the Charleston group. John Knight suggested we consider a "OB Tunnel Masters" type series with a best 3 out of 4 scores from races including the Charleston Worlds, a TBM Brandon race and possibly Savanah? or even Jacksonville in the mix. What we envision is clubs hosting races at their site with STRA? members doing the work. Some revenue share in order for both to benefit. Would not be opposed to any other Florida, Georgia and Carolinas clubs getting involved. Up to the OB guys in any area to promote. Looking for a few select events over a season we can all bring our "A" game to and enjoy racing. Nothing written in stone yet so nows the time to voice your opinions and we need to all step up and make things happen. Be proactive.
Hope we can use our nice weather winter months to entice participation. Rather than stock or sport I am just using superstock as a term as internal mods are ok. Here is an overview of classes we might try, and what is on the table so far.
21 Mod Tunnel
21 Super Stock replcing NAMBA & IMPBA rule differences (keep it simple)
45 Mod Tunnel NAMBA-B / IMPBA-D
45 Superstock - Charleston can muffler rules
Gas Tunnel
Mod VP - Mod VP tunnel-v or OB vee bottom run together Superstock motor
Open Tunnel - hopefully .47 and larger so as not to repeat .45 tunnel
OB Hydro - lets see what surfaces
OB Kneeler / per Dunlap influence we'll plant the seed see what happens.
FE Spec Tunnel? cells?
FE Open Tunnel
Positive dicussions on Tri-Oval and some smaller radius turns making a drivers course that could change per site logistics. This would allow clubs without a permanent course and site adapt a challenging race course to a one time site. Small turns minimal bouys.
5 heats till we grow out of race days. Right now a local race might be 8-12 rounds for all classes making a 40-60 heat day.
Charleston started out small and blew up in a couple short years.
A two lap timming day is on the burner. (standard oval) Format suggestion being a line up order of entries. Instead of 4 minutes you get 2-3 laps to warm up and the next 2 your on the clock. 3 watches taking the middle throwing out high and low. Your class time goes on the board till someone knocks you off. One contest official timmer and the other two watches manned by the guy who just finnished and the next in line who both will be in the pits, Yes we will need a volunteer to start the progression. Fee's will be say a dollar a run and a dollar more if we have to retrieve, hopefully speeding up the program. No officila time if you are retrieved. End of the day you have the fastest man on the water bragging rights. Can be used as fun fund raiser and official individual course record established where permanent sub bouys exist. This also could include all classes besides OB's.
This is all still up for discussion but ideas seem to be moving forward. As our district race schedule has priority when its published we are going to set forth to get a clubs blessings on a some dates. Maybe at the Tampa WCRA one day we can meet up on Saturday before racing on Sunday? who's up for that?
Thanks for your attention.
Mic