"New Guy" Perspective
I have just read every single post of the past 7 pages of this thread and felt compelled to offer the perspective of somebody new to FF. I am just starting my second year running in the AZ ProAutosports FF and can honestly say it is the most fun I have had in my entire life. I look forward to nothing more than a race weekend.
Background: I am in my 30's, love cars, but have no extensive race history. I have been blessed to make a decent enough living that I can afford to do something as financially stupid as amateur racing. I have not even a small percentage of the technical knowledge or experience that those in this thread possess. However, if I use my fingers and toes, I can do math pretty well. Here is an example of a typical conversation with family or friend when they ask about my racing:
Person: "Open wheeled race car? I bet that costs a TON!"
me: You can get into a car for less than 20 grand
Person: "Yeah, but what about those other costs like engine and tires"
me: People have been getting over 80 hours out of their engine between rebuilds. A set of tires mounted and balanced is under $800 and most get a full season (10 races of 2 days each, with four 20 minute sessions each day) out of a set.
As previously stated, the AZ group is pushing 20 cars each event. In my naive view, I figured there were just groups in every state running all the time. After getting my feet wet, I had visions of packing a trailer up and hitting as many events as possible around the southwest.
One of my first questions was "where else can I go race?".
The answer hit pretty hard: "um, nowhere in the southwest with the tires we run on."
I can honestly say there is no way I would be running in FF if the tire situation was that much different from what is done here in AZ. As a percentage of the total costs, it just cannot be justified. The cost of your car itself can be largely recaptured (baring crashes etc.), heck, even the cost of an Ivey rebuild can retain some residual. The tires are total consumables and represent the largest percentage of operational costs. Thousand dollar set of tires every race weekend on tires has (and will continue to) keep people out.
I am pretty dumb, so I just cannot seem to wrap my little brain around the fact that this outrageously fun form of racing that was meant to be an entry level class is dying on the vine in many locals. I don't pretend to know the political intricacies of the SCCA nor the technical merits of what is "real racing". I DO know that even in the short time I have been in FF in AZ, our group has grown to 20 car run groups that are for the most part on a level playing field. Are you guys that are hell bent on "real racing means slicks" having that much more fun in 5 people run groups spending thousands on tires? Are you willing to insist on doing so at the detriment of the class as a whole?
Plenty of opinions on tires that can be debated by those smarter than I, but the glaring fact is that the only heavy growth areas for FF are where the DOT tires are being run.
PS: It is also worth adding that the AZ group would not be what it is without the hard work and dedication of Jens and Lisa Plougmann.
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Originally Posted by SlowMonkey
JIM (2006 GLC CFC Champion) 
