So very, very difficult to bite my tongue here. The truth is that in the early 2000's when Group Two was huge and competitive we used to come out of the paddock to watch that race because of two things. 1) Many of the top drivers in Conference came out of that Group and the racing was fierce and exciting and 2) they ran into each other in fits of red mist more often than blindfolded anger management patients in a figure eight race.
That's horrific, it's not a good thing and unfortunately, explains quite a lot.
I started a few years before you Colin so I remember exactly what it was like including the cars you wrote off ....
My understanding is that in the years before me (pre-2001, the Chris Bowls days) things were really bad and I'm glad they improved under Dennis Peters, Dan and Rick D. No reason they can't be improved again. Also, no other drivers were involved in the 2 cars I've written off so if you need to attack me, please find an more applicable avenue to do so.
Yes, the average cost of cars racing in Conference has risen dramatically. The spread between the most expensive and the least has gotten larger by an order of magnitude. The demographic mix of drivers and their backgounds, interests, opinions, and financial resources has continually changed. What has remained the same? Conference is actually operated by VOLUNTEERS drawn directly from the ranks of our drivers and workers so the idea that somehow it no longer represents the will of it's members is virtually impossible!
And you accuse me of rose colored glasses? The demographic of the audience has dramatically changed but the rules have not and nor do they adequately serve their current audience. We simply
do not have a consistent policy of fines, probation and suspension that adequately deters avoidable contact. A $50 or $100 fine and loss of a lap is a "nothing penalty" after costing another driver hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage and/or ending their weekend prematurely.
This is not something where those of you who are suddenly offended by the amount of contact in racing are in opposition with the clubs and Conference - we have been addressing this for years! It would be a large undertaking, but I can dig out the records and compare incidents per year and it's pretty likely that it isn't going to show the statistical trend you are suggesting.
In the last memo alone there's 5 instances of avoidable contact over 2 weekends that didn't have a large turn out. Just in G5 at Pacific there was physical damage across 10 of the 39 cars however, 1 penalty for avoidable contact was issued so pulling historical data isn't going to the tell the whole story. If we can't race at 10/10ths without a quarter of the field taking damage, it's my opinion and that of several others, that change is necessary.
Frankly, I don't want to be in a position where I have to drive 7/10ths to insure I have room to make up for my innocent and unintentional mistakes.
If you're committing unintentional mistakes at 10/10ths that consistently damages other people's property - then you absolutely should be operating at 7/10ths. 10/10ths probably isn't for you.
Taking an activity that we all voluntarily choose to participate in and attempting to fundamentally changing it for everyone as an emotional reaction to something negative that happened to you personally rarely serves the group as a whole.
It's exceptionally rare for a driver to be smashed into and be totally cool with it. I think prioritizing safety and non-contact as an ICSCC core competency DOES serves the group as a whole. After attending the last IRDC meeting with several suggestions, there was a lot of opinions and some overdue but tough dialogue. I'm thankful that Gama twisted my arm and coerced me into attending because the interest for improving the status quo was overwhelmingly positive. There is an appetite for better policies that better and more equitably deter avoidable contact that still allows for 10/10ths driving. Rules change proposals have been submitted.
To everyone who feels ICSCC club racing should strive to be a non-contact sport, please don't remain silent. Attend your next meeting and consider the proposals.