SCCA announces new rally program
A focus on closed course events [11/12/04 - 02:47]

Sports Car Club of America, Inc. announced today (Friday) at the Performance Racing Industry show a new Closed Course Rally Program and Rally Department, combining elements of its former stage rally programs with elements of autocross and road racing.

“SCCA remains focused on providing a new direction for the future of the sport of rally,” SCCA President and CEO Steve Johnson said. “Although the environment for traditional stage rally is changing dramatically throughout North America, SCCA is committed to making rally-type competition more accessible for spectators and participants alike.”

“Part of SCCA's heritage has been its rally programs, in non-speed events such as Time Speed Distance RoadRallies, as well as closed course RallyCrosses and stage-based high-speed Performance Stage Rallies,” the five-page document detailing the program says. “As with most programs that span decades, development and adaptation is required to remain relevant with the times. In 2004, an important part of rally met a crossroads, resulting in the cancellation of one type of program, and now the creation of another.

“To better serve its members and grow the sport of rally in the United States, SCCA has crafted an all-new program to bring many of the elements making stage rally exciting together with elements of its other forms of competition. Most importantly, it is structured to address many of the insurance and liability concerns from the previous program.

“Sports Car Club of America is pleased to introduce its all-new Closed Course Rally program. Overseen by the SCCA Rally Department, the objective of the closed course rally program is to provide new membership activities that blend the elements of SCCA's traditional circuit programs (Solo and Race) with the key features of performance rally.”

Closed Course Rally features three distinct programs, including the existing RallyCross competitions, a revised RallySprint program and a new CircuitRally program. The three programs are targeted at a number of participants, including recreational rallyists in street cars, hobby rallyists in multi-purpose cars (street and rally), sportsman rallyists in fully-prepared rally cars and professional and semi-professional rallyists in fully-prepared rally cars.

Beginning in 2005, RallyCross, which is an off-road Solo (autocross), will hold approximately 125 events nationwide, with a focus on consistent operations, procedures and rules.

RallySprint combines elements of performance rally with the Performance Driving Clinic program and Club Racing. Events will be held on circuits in a primarily off-road setting. Events can either be of the lapping format, where participants navigate their cars on the course with others, or single-car events similar to hill climbs depending on the venue. Speeds will be limited in these events, as will the passing areas for a multi-car format to limit the risk of car-to-car incidents. Competition is based on fastest times turned by drivers around the course. There will be approximately 10 Regional RallySprint in 2005, expanding to 50 events by 2007.

CircuitRally is new to SCCA, combining road racing and performance rally. CircuitRally events will be held at existing motorsports facilities and feature wheel-to-wheel heat-based sprint races on mostly non-paved surfaces. Presently, there are several organizations holding similar events with motorcycles, ATVs and trucks. These organizations have thrived since adopting a controlled environment model as opposed to that of a wilderness adventure. CircuitRally fills a need for events featuring automobiles.

CircuitRally events will largely fill the void left by the cancellation of the SCCA ProRally Championship, as it is geared toward spectators and has a television-friendly format. There will be two CircuitRally events in 2004, expanding to 30 National events by 2007.

With the announcement of the Closed Course Rally program, SCCA also announced the restructuring of its Performance Rally department. Now simply called “Rally,” the department, headed by Sue Robinson, will also include RoadRally, which was previously managed by SCCA's Solo department.

Press release
SCCA

I am with John, i dont think that it is nearly the same. A rally is a race against time and nature, if you go off course, you DNF. Not around in circle only turning left 4 times, this is not NASCAR!!

James

Oops, I reread the original post...
It states the changes were made to address insurance concerns...  Figures!  
CARS, SCCA or FIA should set up an insurance company of it's own!

I'm going to sound culturally insensitive, but after seeing the extremelly dissapointing ROC this Sunday, I hope our Rally doesn't get "Americanized"  

They like their cars going in purty little circles for benefits of audience that wants hotdogs while they sit & watch... that's fine.
I like a bit more wilderness to my automotorsport  

You are confusing the two topics.  They are one in the same.  Read the CARS safety plan first off to understand what is now required of rallies.  All the organizers are doing is trying to make your spectating experience a better one.  Hotdog stands or not spectators are stuch there, so why not have some food and drink to go with it?  Its a fact of rally now, sorry.

John

I guess this is my newbiness speaking; but are these organizations similar in basic concept to how I see RSO/CARS, i.e. a hierarchical orientation of participants (volunteers, crews, drivers, etc - members), as opposed to commercial entities?
Would/how can these changes happen without support from "the masses"?

edit: dam; re-read the announcement and want to cry at the ludicrous spin & silliness. There's something majestic about a wilderness rally that few other sports can approach. It's really, I firmly believe, an ultimate test of man & machine, and the whole point is that it is NOT some tightly controlled, laboratory format. The purity cannot possibly remain in the events they are describing. If they want to hold them, more power to them, but they should not taint the word "rally" thusly.

(anybody holding a trademark on the word rally?)

Dave Cotie wrote on 12/16/4 at 12:30:05:


Although he did mention some good spectator viewing areas, he did mention the commercialism feel of it and the 'controlling'/restrictions.

Dave Cotie wrote on 12/16/4 at 12:30:05:


They got the to regionals too?  Nooooo!

Dave Cotie wrote on 12/16/4 at 12:30:05:


Of course it is.  It's terrible what happened, but God forbid anybody be responsible for their own actions.  Until we lose this 'someone must pay' attitude, insurance will continue to pay out then raise coverage costs and restrictions.  Sorry, I tend to jump topic to topic when I'm passionate about something!

luv2drift wrote on 12/16/4 at 17:05:02:


Of course the regionals have been affected, they are run under CARS Safety plans too. You're not going to find VIP areas and such, but the spectator point restrictions and safety requirements are the same.

Unfortunately that is not the legal climate in North America. I am all for personal responsibility, but that is just not reality and the average Joe doesn't really want it that way. Car accidents - they are not accidents, most of them are as predictable as the sun rising and falling. No one has openly discussed the accidents in the U.S., so we have not had the opportunity to learn from them. This is probably as a result of lawsuits. We don't know if the spectators were in a bad spot, or the car landed funny or what and probably will never know.

We are "controlling" because we have to be.

As for the "commercialism", some like it. Like Alan said, the VIP stuff has sold out 2 years in a row, and well before the rally too.

If you're buddy wants to avoid some of this, get a HAM License and volunteer. You won't believe some of the out of the way spots you will get to!   Sometimes you're lucky if you get to eat (only if you bring your own lunch).