I will quit SCCA if this happens!
I could rant on here but I will try to control myself for now. I have had quite a bit of seat time in recient years competing against 14 year olds(and thier fathers!) in 125 shifter karts and in Kenyon midgets at the Speedrome in Indy. As a result of many "incidents" I refuse to compete with them any longer. Mostly it is the parents that are dangerous and the kids are just doing what they are told, win or crash(usually with me!) trying. Who do I have to contact to stop this insanity?
Not age that is the problem!
We have had a few 15 year olds run FC and one 14 year old run FF with the sanctioning body we run EFF with in AZ. In the first year when ALL open wheel and sports racers were on track at the same time, we had one issue with a young driver (distinct brain fart; late braking) and 5 or 6 issues of us old farts overdriving our own cars, and 3 incidents of purposeful retaliation for a perceived 'block' of a faster car by a slower FF - all 3 of those were by guys over 50 who thought because they have the 'fastest' car on the track, we should all melt out of their way, or at least drive off the track so we do not impede their progress. These guys are a lot more dangerous, and very difficult to get thrown out.
Bad decisions are not made because of age. Lack of experience, minimal seat time, red mist, quick temper (mostly older driver) and the mentality that "I" have the right of way because "I" am faster, are much more detrimental than youthful exuberance.
Sure, restrict the SCCA driver entry even more. Watch the fields dwindle further. At our Double National 2 weeks ago we had 3 FF's and 0 FC Pintos. It seems to me that the SCCA is trying very hard to be an 'exclusive' club. Let's exclude everybody that doesn't fit in 'our' mold of National Champion. Some of us do not have the ability, nor the financial werewithall to race on the National circuit. Was that not the reasoning behind the Regional series? Isn't the regional series for the amateur? Guys that want to do this for fun, and only for fun?
With the EFF series, we are trying very hard to be an inclusive club (Thank you Pro Auto Sports) for anyone interested in running an affordable open wheel car. We will help you find a car to buy. We will help you get settled in and have fun. This year we are planning 3 or 4 driver clinics, with subjects from set-up to driving, presented by local people that are better than most of us and make a living either prepping a car, setting up a car, or driving instructors. Helping all the participants be aware of what it takes to race, from car prep to driving, to situational awareness, will help grow our series further. We have gone from 2 cars to 17 in one year. Our next goal is 25 cars by the end of 2007. I will let you know when we make it.
My two cents worth; sign them up. Let their performance be the determining factor. Tutor them, and while you are at it, tutor the rest of us. There are as many bonehead moves by us older drivers that makes you shake your head in wonderment. True?
Best Regards,
Jens
www.EuroFormulaFord.com