[F500] racing car counts

[Jeremy Swank]

I, as well, am worried about car counts.  I think with the introduction of 
f1000, the SCCA got their entry level step for the karters to go to and we 
will forever be forgetting the 600cc bike motor debate.

The large problem, I see, is budgets and the move of the Runoffs.  I, for 
one, will not be going to the Runoffs this year due to time and work 
commitments.  I hope to return next year, but quite frankly am curious how 
the big event goes this year.  Others whom I have talked to cite gas prices 
and a new Runoffs track that is not only farther away (most of the cars run 
from central/se/ne divisions), but is also not as championship friendly as 
Mid Ohio or Road Atlanta.  I have talked to numerous drivers in multiple 
classes who have stated that unless you are in the top 2 rows for the 
Runoffs, you will be in a crashfest.  Time will tell.

There are a lot of cars out there sitiing in garages........I know of a 
bunch personally, that probably will not race this year for whatever reason. 
  Technology creep is not the culprit.  I think there is too much class 
fragementation in the SCCA that hurts numbers for everyone.  In my opinion, 
open wheel/closed wheel race formats weekends will need to develop to bring 
the cars out.  It will always come down to track time vs dollers spent.  
Track rentals go up and track time goes down.  That and $3.00 gas to go 
away.

My .02

Jeremy Swank