INEX/600 Racing should consider holding the national events over a weekend when school is not in session.
Early October is just bad timing, school has just started in most areas of the country, leaving some parents and racers down on expendable entertainment dollars due to school clothes and extra-curricular activities at school (i.e. sports, band, PTA/PTO fundraisers etc.) Also by early October, the grades are pretty much known for the fall semester and parents do use racing as a motivator. I know many families who stop racing to particpate in other school activities, or to start saving for the holiday season. We all know the Christmas Holiday Shopping season seems to start earlier each year!
My suggestion to 600 is to hold the Nationals over spring semester break (late March/early April). Most racers are ready to start the season with fresh cars, have an eagerness to get back behind the wheel and may be a bit more conservative so as not to destroy thier equipment or anyone else's through bonehead racing early on in the season. Also the parents haven't used their vacation time yet (if they still have jobs in todays economic situation) and the Christmas bills are hopefully taken care of.
As for location, I have been fortunate in being able to travel the country and race many different tracks on dirt, asphalt and road courses. This includes both asphalt and dirt nationals last October. One thing I know for sure is there are some super facilities throughout the midwest, places like Colorado National Speedway for asphalt. The RMLRA organization would be fantastic hosts!
As for dirt, Kansas City has gone back to dirt and too would be centrally located to everyone. The road course World Championship should be held close to port so the foreign entrants wouldn't have too much of a hassle getting their stuff in and out of the country. Hallett may work, or the SCCA facility near Houston Texas. Not to mention Infineon in California.
With all that being said, we as racers need to keep in mind that 600 Racing is a business too, and it is dependent on a customer base with limited budgets and shrinking incomes. They do need our support in order for them to remain in business. I don't think there is anyone pumping tens of thousands of dollars into 600 Racing just so they can watch us race, they, like us want a return on our investment. 600 has the same overhead as any other business with the major concern of making the payroll and paying the bills!
All levels of racing (tracks and racers) are feeling the backlash from the current economic situation. Many tracks are closing, or running big name/draw special events only in an effort to bolster the dwindling fan attendence. Late in the season events compete with all levels of high school and college football. Many venues can't give tickets away in an attempt to fill the seats. A lot of our fans are also feeling the pinch and don't care to spend extra money on Friday or Saturday nights when they can sit home and watch the Camping World Trucks on Friday night, the Nationwide race on saturday night and the Sprint Cup cars on Sunday afternoon.
Enough said, I'll get off the soapbox!
