The end of SCCA performance rally!
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250,000-mile Club President
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,770
From: Bizerkeley
Car Info: MBP 02 WRX wagon
The end of SCCA performance rally!
Well they went and did it- pulled the plug on the only national rally program.
Guess its up to NASA, Rally America and ARSG to pick up the ball and run with it.
On one hand the series was badly mis-managed for so long that this should have been seen by many.
But its the only reason a lot of us are in SCCA, shame that they feel we aren't worth having in the club.
They say they will continue with road rally and rally cross, but without the real deal for these events to serve as feeders for, I see those dying on the vine in the next year or two as well.
Guess its up to NASA, Rally America and ARSG to pick up the ball and run with it.
On one hand the series was badly mis-managed for so long that this should have been seen by many.
But its the only reason a lot of us are in SCCA, shame that they feel we aren't worth having in the club.
They say they will continue with road rally and rally cross, but without the real deal for these events to serve as feeders for, I see those dying on the vine in the next year or two as well.
Argh, when I heard the news I just had to post it up on the News and Rumors forum (and the main page). Sorry I didn't look in here, I should have known that you or someone else would have been on top of it.
This is really a downer. I hope it doesn't affect the rallies in the US too much, but I fear it will. I really hope Rally America can run with the ball.
I wonder if the new series organizers will start up their own Rallycross (or other feeder series) or use the SCCAs Rallycross.
This is really a downer. I hope it doesn't affect the rallies in the US too much, but I fear it will. I really hope Rally America can run with the ball.
I wonder if the new series organizers will start up their own Rallycross (or other feeder series) or use the SCCAs Rallycross.
Thread Starter
250,000-mile Club President
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,770
From: Bizerkeley
Car Info: MBP 02 WRX wagon
I really think that between NASA, Rally USA and Rally America there probably won't wind up being that many fewer rallies next year than there were this year.
But there is going to be a mad scramble for all of the organizers to hook up with a sanctioning body soon, and a few favorites are bound to get skipped, hopefully the "next thing" will be bigger and stronger, and better on the promotion side.
And I do want to add that my mis-management comments were directed at the previous year's structures, I thing Doug and Sue Robinson have done as good a job as anyone could have possibly done this last year, but the deck was stacked against them, risk management had it in for Rally for a while, and now we will find other groups to play with.
SCCA rallycross will no doubt serve as an entry point for some, but I expect we'll see these other groups try to do more of that, and short Rally Sprint style events too.
There should be some tremendous opportunities out there for people who like to organize this sort of thing.
But there is going to be a mad scramble for all of the organizers to hook up with a sanctioning body soon, and a few favorites are bound to get skipped, hopefully the "next thing" will be bigger and stronger, and better on the promotion side.
And I do want to add that my mis-management comments were directed at the previous year's structures, I thing Doug and Sue Robinson have done as good a job as anyone could have possibly done this last year, but the deck was stacked against them, risk management had it in for Rally for a while, and now we will find other groups to play with.
SCCA rallycross will no doubt serve as an entry point for some, but I expect we'll see these other groups try to do more of that, and short Rally Sprint style events too.
There should be some tremendous opportunities out there for people who like to organize this sort of thing.
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But it is NOT THE END of RALLY
SCCA is not the end all (as stated above) and the SCCA will work for a smooth transition. So rally is certainly not dead:
Message from Steve Johnson (Rally Supporter and Fan)"
As President and CEO of the SCCA, this decision has also been difficult for me. I did not get a vote but if I had, I would have had to vote to discontinue the SCCA Performance Rally program. Many of you know me and know that I support the sport of Rally and our members. I also support the other activities and members of the SCCA. We can debate the insurance costs and allocations all day but the bottom line is the premium increases we have been receiving and the upcoming increase can be attributed to the Rally program. The Rally program would not have been able to absorb the increases and we can not ask the other members who participate in our club to absorb them.
As far as risk, the Rally program is the riskiest activity that SCCA is involved in. It is not just spectators, speed, transits, trees, rocks, running at night on little sleep, land issues ie. fire dangers, environmental dangers etc.. It is a combination of all of these.
I am working around the clock to secure a place for you to race. I will not abandon you nor will I tire in my efforts to assist you. I am meeting on Thursday with Rally America to put a plan in place that not only saves rally but puts rally in the position to flourish and prosper. I am convinced that the program will be better in the hands of the enthusiasts (Rally America)who share the passion than in the hands of the SCCA. Although I shared the passion, I was not able to invest properly in the sport and give the organizers and competitors the resources that are needed to make this a world class sport that it deserves.
I am sorry for you, I am sorry for the SCCA and will do everything in my power to make you proud of our organization.
Steve Johnson
President, SCCA
Message from Steve Johnson (Rally Supporter and Fan)"
As President and CEO of the SCCA, this decision has also been difficult for me. I did not get a vote but if I had, I would have had to vote to discontinue the SCCA Performance Rally program. Many of you know me and know that I support the sport of Rally and our members. I also support the other activities and members of the SCCA. We can debate the insurance costs and allocations all day but the bottom line is the premium increases we have been receiving and the upcoming increase can be attributed to the Rally program. The Rally program would not have been able to absorb the increases and we can not ask the other members who participate in our club to absorb them.
As far as risk, the Rally program is the riskiest activity that SCCA is involved in. It is not just spectators, speed, transits, trees, rocks, running at night on little sleep, land issues ie. fire dangers, environmental dangers etc.. It is a combination of all of these.
I am working around the clock to secure a place for you to race. I will not abandon you nor will I tire in my efforts to assist you. I am meeting on Thursday with Rally America to put a plan in place that not only saves rally but puts rally in the position to flourish and prosper. I am convinced that the program will be better in the hands of the enthusiasts (Rally America)who share the passion than in the hands of the SCCA. Although I shared the passion, I was not able to invest properly in the sport and give the organizers and competitors the resources that are needed to make this a world class sport that it deserves.
I am sorry for you, I am sorry for the SCCA and will do everything in my power to make you proud of our organization.
Steve Johnson
President, SCCA
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