2018 CHAMPCAR MEMBER BOARD MEETING
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2018 ChampCar Member Board Meeting
Welcome! • What does ChampCar offer? • We are here to give people a simple path to start road racing. Real racing, wheel to wheel on Americas greatest road courses. But it has to be a hobby that is attainable for the average person. By offering racing in an endurance format, teams can be utilized and the cost can be shared between 2 or more drivers. Our rule book is unique and while sometimes controversial, it exists to keep a cap on the amount of money and speed required to race with us.
Welcome! • Who is ChampCar’s target market? • While we have seen all types of drivers race with us from completely new to veteran pro racers, our target member is the person who has never raced before. We believe that experience is the best teacher and that you will get all the experience you will need in one of our endurance events. Experienced and veteran drivers are always welcome, but we market to the novice racer.
Welcome!
• Who makes ChampCar work?
• Despite what you may think, doing all
of….this, takes a lot of time, skill and
passion. To do it well, takes far more than
one person could offer. As such we have
assembled a strong team of passionate
members with unique skill sets to make this
machine work. While I hand selected the
first few board members, all board
members will be elected by you, the
members, from now on. Choose wisely. To
cover events from coast to coast, we require
a large complement of well trained staff
that do this as a side job from the real work
they use to feed their families. However,
currently we have three full time employees
that call this club their full time job - Dana
Morrison, Bill Strong and myself. We are
always looking for new talent and if that
interests you, come volunteer with us at a
race. I prefer to hire from established
volunteers.
ChumpCar >>> ChampCar
Marketing Efforts • New name and Logo • Introduced on Thanksgiving day 2017, our new name and look was instituted to replace the tongue in cheek appearance of our old name. While some members were endeared to the old name, the new name has been a huge positive for the club with more people talking about us to their friends and neighbors as well as sponsors calling.
Marketing Efforts • ChampCar.live • 2017 saw the expansion and growth of our live broadcasting operation. In addition to Bill Strong, Paul Veltum and Doc Waldrop were added full time and guest commentator Tiffany Alexander joins in when she can. We have a large inventory of cameras, mounts, batteries, computers, software and server space with which to work. Our viewership has increased to levels I wouldn’t have imagined and the show can be found on pit road of our own events as teams use it for their strategy planning. Future plans are to expand our videos offerings to beyond race coverage and team interviews.
Marketing Efforts • NBC /drive • This YouTube Channel has run two events with us so far. Barber in 2016 and VIR24 in 2017. The show was a great marketing tool for us that cost us nothing.
Marketing Efforts • Discovery Channel • After years of proposals by all sorts of video companies, RST Productions actually made a TV show about one of our events. While it aired at 5am on a Sunday, Discovery was very impressed with the numbers it pulled for its time slot. They asked for a first season of episodes which RST is planning to film out West the 2nd half of this year for airing in 2019.
Marketing Efforts • ChampCar.Sim Series • Recognizing that several of their racers were using iRacing.com to hone their racecraft, we organized the ChampCar Sim Series on the popular on-line simulator to contest the many tracks that ChampCar actually competes on. Held on Thursday nights, the league features 13 practice rounds culminating in a Championship round for the Eastern and Pacific divisions. The overall winner of the Championship in each division will receive a free entry into an actual CCES race of their choosing. So far over 200 racers have joined the league since late 2017.
2017 Financials
2017 Financials
• Event attendance:
– Still largely
driven by the
bucket list
tracks.
– Many sell
outs on the
East coast,
low attendance
out West. West attendance appears to be on the rise
however.2017 Financials • Highs: • Road Atlanta, Daytona, WGI, VIR24, Gingerman, PIRC and AMP
2017 Financials • Lows: • Sonoma, COTA, NCM, Autobahn and Buttonwillow
2017 Financials • Weather: • Sebring – Hurricane • Barber – Blizzard • Laguna – Wildfires • Road America - Blizzard
2018 Goals • Stable & Repeatable Dates • We want all change based club functions to be on a consistent annual date. This allows for club leadership to plan for our responsibilities better and allows club membership to know when changes, if any, are to be expected.
2018 Goals • Event Attendance
2018 Goals • Show Presence • Reaching new members is a requirement of our non-profit status. Our marketing strategy has always been to find and recruit new people to the world of racing. Those who have never been on a racetrack in their life. This makes the racing “pie” larger as opposed to trying to lure existing racers to our club. To meet this goal we have been active in the show scene this year, the largest being the Long Beach Grand Prix. Traffic was unbelievably high there with our crew talking until their voice hurt and giving away all the material we had!
2018 Goals • Digitize Tech • Tech is currently an all paper process. Beginning this year we will begin designing our system of operating tech digitally through the use of tablets and scanners. Tech will also be integrated with our current registration system for an even faster and simpler registration system.
2018 Goals • Self Sustaining Club • Operations Manual. After nearly 18 months of typing and revising, ChampCar has finally published the comprehensive guide of how to do what we do. This is a vital step to ensure the club can continue successfully without a specific person to run it.
Petitions • 46 petitions submitted by 15 different members. • 65 emails submitted commenting on the petitions. • The board was in favor of some petitions and voted NO, while didn’t like others and voted YES. • Safety, enforcement and impact to the club were all considered. • “Thanks for letting us add our two cents to make this league better, cleaner, safer, more transparent and equal for most. You can’t please everyone, and do not try, but we all agree some rules needed cleaned up.”
Petitions • Black flag for not keeping up with the pace car • Board vote – NO • Not for the BCCR, falls under Event Director discretion • “If this petition passed, issuing a “fixed” penalty for a specific violation, it takes any flexibility away from the Race Director, and also makes enforcement much more difficult (and opens the door for the RD to mess up by accident, causing drama). The RD should be allowed to issue penalties as he/she sees fit, in order to keep this series nimble and profitable.” • For - 17 Against - 9
Petitions • Defining adjustable shocks • Board vote – NO • If they were adjustable once, the benefit has been realized. • Adjustable shocks will be 25 points each in 2019 rather than 75 points each. • “Anytime the definition of what is free or open to 2X is expanded, it becomes an expected or necessary cost to maintain competitive. Allowing welded adjustable shocks allows for an expensive testing and setup process to "dial-in" a setup before welding the adjustment. There is nothing to prevent a shelf full of adjusted and welded shocks from being swapped between races, essentially bringing adjustable shocks to the field. I urge you to NOT allow any sort of adjustable shock, welded or otherwise.” • For – 3 Against - 18
Petitions • Allow large (2.5) gallon surge tanks instead of fuel cells • Board vote – NO • For – 7 Against - 22
Petitions • Limit fuel octane to 93 • Board vote – NO • Board of directors supports this rule, but currently there is no reliable and affordable solution to test octane at the track. Not making a new rule that we can’t enforce. • “This petition will require significant effort and cost to enforce. ChampCar will either have to purchase expensive fuel testing equipment, or submit teams to “subjective” fuel testing requirements.” • For – 25 Against - 6
Petitions • Revise verbiage of seat back brace in BCCR • Board vote – YES • For – 11 Against - 2
Petitions • Disallow Lithium Ion batteries • Board vote – YES • LifePO4 batteries are still allowed (the most common type for cars) • “I strongly agree with this. I work for the DoD as a Subject Matter Expert and have been doing research on LiFePO4 for a few years now, working on Army qualification for ground and airborne vehicles and weapons platforms, and can attest to the performance and safety of LiFePO4 batteries. While still fairly expensive, this is the battery we have been running for approximately 3 years now, with no issues, and it is very safe – I would even go so far as to require LiFePO4 batteries in all cars – even changing from Lead Acid or Gels.” • For – 8 Against - 11
Petitions • Allow free reliability modifications • Board vote – NO • “Has the fact that ChampCar races are endurances races been totally forgotten? Anything which improves reliability allows a car to be driven harder & faster. Thus it is a performance benefit if a car can now go faster for the race duration than it would without these improvements. These requests are a bunch of horse poop and when added to the excessive number of modifications now permitted, are driving ChampCar far from the low cost endurance racing roots. Using the logic being offered in these proposals, I should be requesting free gearbox internals for the SAAB 900 we used to race as those would break...hogwash! We STRONGLY oppose all of these proposals to allow oil cooler, accusumps, aluminum radiators etc. etc. without points as there is no such thing as a reliability improvement which isn't also a performance benefit when it comes to endurance racing.” • For – 10 Against - 15
Petitions • Time penalties for pit road infractions • Board vote – NO • This falls to the discretion of the Event Director • “I feel like the current staff does a good job at giving out penalties for pit lane infractions, the biggest one going too fast down pit lane. Also I have seen where fuel stops are stopped due to not having a fire bottle person or someone is working on the car while fueling.” • For – 12 Against - 7
Petitions • Allow JDM (and EDM) engines in cars • Board vote – YES • JDM engines have been allowed by tech for a few years now. Engine must be same displacement and within 3% of the USDM specs. • “I like this rule. For Miata’s for example, JDM engines are often less money and have lower miles than their US counterparts. This goes back to making coming to the track, or in many cases BACK to the track less expensive.” • For – 9 Against - 8
Petitions • Clarification to the 75 point credit on automatic trans cars • Board vote – NO • For – 9 Against - 7
Petitions • Engine swaps that lower HP for 50 points • Board vote – YES • Math error in formula yields high swap number from losing power. Flat 50 point fee for reduced power swaps. • For – 10 Against - 7
Petitions • Rebuilt cars qualified for Championship • Board vote – YES • Must be same platform and parts from last logbook entry. Tech must approve before being allowed. • “Will has a point but this should only apply if the car was totaled on track in ChampCar competition with evidence of the totaling to avoid elaborate bait & switch tactics.” • For – 12 Against - 6
Petitions • Define engine HP, like weights, for swap purposes • Board vote – NO • Too many options • For – 9 Against - 6
Petitions • Supplemental 3 gallon fuel cells for cars with less than 12 gallons OEM • Board vote – NO • “We are in this series because it is the most cost effective way to race wheel to wheel on track. We chose our car after careful consideration of purchase price, reliability, parts availability and most importantly, fuel mileage. Every team has the same option. If they choose a car that has a small gas tank or a V-8 with poor mileage, so be it. I am opposed to any modifications to the current tank size rules because it could tip the scales toward faster, higher HP, poorer mileage cars and instantly relegate those of us who chose carefully to also rans.” • For – 3 Against - 20
Petitions • Litmus test for deciding if a modification adds value • Board vote – NO • Board agrees with the thought process and tech will use it to guide their decisions, but it is not a rule. • For – 3 Against - 9
Petitions • Allow swaps or engine mods, but not both • Board vote – NO • “Bottom line, points for allowable performance modifications should be budgeted and paid for equitably across all platforms. Engine swaps and modifications are paid for in points fairly and legally, this is not an illegal loophole. The current rules allow aging cars to remain competitive and rewards teams that are willing to apply hard work and engineering to achieve an advantage.” • For – 17 Against - 7
Petitions • Always start a race pace car • Board vote – NO • Operations Manual item, not for BCCR. Event Director maintains discretion. • “I don’t think there should be a rule for this; this should be decided at the event by the Race Director.” • For – 9 Against - 6
Petitions • All race starts double file • Board vote – NO • Operations Manual item, not for BCCR. Event Director maintains discretion. • “This is too risky for a league that allows first time w2w racers. There is consistency, as this never happens.” • For – 6 Against - 12
Petitions • Race starts set by random pit stall selection • Board vote – NO • Operations Manual item, not for BCCR. Event Director maintains discretion. We are already doing this anyway. • For – 18 Against - 0
Petitions • Driver test for maximum egress time • Board vote – NO • Great idea, not going to make it an official BCCR process. Tech and Event Director maintain the right to require anyone to demonstrate the ability to get out in a timely fashion. • For – 4 Against - 15
Petitions • Accusumps free • Board vote – NO • “No more free stuff. There is too much free stuff as it is.” • For – 14 Against - 18
Petitions • Engine oil coolers free • Board vote – NO • “Reliability still is a measure of endurance racing. If you are pushing your car and need additional parts to keep it reliable then there should be points involved.” • For – 13 Against - 18
Petitions • Aluminum radiators free • Board vote – NO • Reducing to 10 points for 2019 • “Current radiator rule is pretty good, but 20pts seems a bit excessive for something that doesn't increase power. I understand some aftermarket radiators are much cheaper than OE replacement ones on rarer cars. I suggest non-OE radiator (any material) 10pts.
Petitions • Limit fuel octane to 93 • Board vote – NO • Board of directors supports this rule, but currently there is no reliable and affordable solution to test octane at the track. Not making a new rule that we can’t enforce. • For – 16 Against - 3
Petitions • Change classing system from engine displacement to TVPI points • Board vote – need more member feedback • For – 8 Against - 11
Petitions • Non Championship teams are exempt from the Parc Ferme rules • Board vote – NO • Event Direction discretion, not for BCCR. • For – 3 Against - 8
Petitions • Race within a 24 race • Board vote – NO • Event Director discretion, not for BCCR. • “I think Troy has underestimated the logistical complexity of race management, existing software, etc. No.” • For – 4 Against - 14
Petitions • Standard minimum fuel tank size of 15 gallons • Board vote – NO • “Fuel capacity is one of the few remaining constrains on power. As a basic fundamental of physics, allowing additional fuel will allow teams to turn that energy into power, contributing to significant speed creep.” • For – 4 Against - 21
Petitions • Incident tracking system attached to member licenses • Board vote – NO • “Do not concur – I am of the opinion that the no- license required thing is a fairly important part of ChampCar. Mike spends several seconds on this attractive feature in the re-branding video that was released. If there is one thing in the rule book that is sacred then this is it. No licensing ever. It is a novice series with a novice mindset that has been and should always remain accessible to anyone with the desire to race.” • For – 0 Against - 15
Petitions • Disallow open funnel fueling • Board vote – YES • We see too many teams not take fuel seriously. • “agree – open funnel fueling is a disaster waiting to happen. When we are beside someone that is doing this, we just hold our breath (and another fire extinguisher).” • For – 12 Against - 8
Petitions • Require SFI roll bar padding near driver head • Board vote – YES • “Wholeheartedly agree should be added to rules, improves safety.” • For – 16 Against - 3
Petitions • Log books required at impound rather than tech sheets • Board vote – YES • “Agree. Log books are always with the car, and give the same data the tech sheet would.” • For – 14 Against - 5
Petitions • Cheating teams lose annual tech for year • Board vote – YES • For – 18 Against - 2
Petitions • Make all cooling add-ons free. • Board vote – NO • For – 10 Against - 17
Petitions • Add rear diffusers to BCCR at 10 points • Board vote – YES • “There needs to be clarification in the aero department and this fixes it.” • For – 16 Against - 2
Petitions • Turbos must come from a car on the VPI list • Board vote – NO • “Adding a turbo from an existing car or not makes no difference. eBay turbos are cheap.” • For – 13 Against - 9
Petitions • Brakes are OEM or 5 points per corner • Board vote – NO • “Penalizes certain cars with poor OEM brakes.” • For – 8 Against - 13
Petitions • Disallow splitters and wings • Board vote – NO • “I’m not a fan of banning aero and I think this will result in many teams leaving the series. Aero seems to be an easy tool for teams to improve their car at a reasonable cost.” • For – 7 Against - 17
Petitions • Allow 2 gallon auxiliary fuel cells with OEM tank • Board vote – NO • For – 4 Against - 19
Petitions • Create a Tech Committee to make all decisions regarding rules and values • Board vote – NO • Board agrees with some parts of this and will be appointing a committee to advise tech on issues. • For – 16 Against - 3
Petitions • Impound class winners along with top 5 cars • Board vote – YES • For – 15 Against - 3
Petitions • Increase the points value of a turbo add-on • Board vote – NO • “If the proposed Turbo rules changes are implemented many of the team’s car, efforts, and investment in their racing program will become obsolete, and may result in these teams going elsewhere to race, and that doesn’t seem fair, nor is this the intended spirit of ChampCar. Furthermore, ChampCar rule # 2.2.5. already covers the rare occasion where a car is clearly superior that states: “The Event Director reserves the right to transfer ANY competition vehicle from the 500 ChampCar classes to the Exception Class (EC) at ANY time………” • For – 10 Against - 7
Petitions • Allow dry break fueling systems • Board vote – NO • For – 4 Against - 12
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