[Wichita-SCCA] New Dallas race track

[Greg Laws]

" My opinion is the reason road racing isn't as popular around here is simply because we don't have a local track anymore.  Ask people about racing in Tulsa and most folks have at least heard about Hallett.  Same with HPT and Topeka/KC.  Nearly everyone I talk to around here about the SCCA (who isn't otherwise associated with it) will refer to the races at Lake Afton"  -- Byian Meyer

So now we get into the which-came-first, chicken-or-egg problem about tracks versus racers.  { **Note: official answer to be found at bottom of this message. }   My opinion is a little different and has to do with the lagging economy of the State of Kansas which, in my view, is largely caused by over-taxation of small business and the middle class ... but I digress.

Anyway, I stand by my opinion that SCCA is a Nervous Nellie when it comes to firesuits required in Showroom Stock racing or for karts of any discription in solo competition.  I certainly agree that roll bars and cages are nice things to have, especially in a convertible, in any class of road racing.   I think that the solo rules could be lightened up a bit so as to not kill off otherwise suitable sites.

Looking back at my first message  I realized that I jumped from one subject into another without clearly stating what I was talking about.  The first bit was about track days where people go out and drive their personal cars at speed on a track.  I'd be happy with a helmet and stock seat belts in that situation.  Then without notice I shifted gears into road racing to say that fire suits in Showroom Stock road racing was silly.   I think that I could even make a case that in most classes there was more danger in HAVING a firesuit which can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke on scorching summer days then in not having a firesuit at all, especially in tight-to-the-body cockpits such as Formula Vee.  

Mostly, however, I was just having fun seeing if an old retired guy could spook the working men into wasting the day on the company computer!  <grin>

Enjoy,
Greg Laws

** official answer:  A circle has no end.
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