[Ron Earp]

Dan,

There are places like that to race right now. Take your pick – SCCA, NASA, BMW Club, Porsche Club, and so on. While the latter two are marquee specific, the first two have places to race exo-skeleton race cars, vintage race cars, and “modern” race cars. All are for amateurs and are affordable - the the extent that ANY racing will be affordable.

The SCCA and NASA don’t have pay outs, only little trophys. We don’t have huge sponsors, and, you won’t be famous outside the paddock of the SCCA or NASA race unless you do something spectacularly stupid and make the evening news.

Racing takes a lot of effort by the organizing body and the participants. Dates have to be set up, track rentals figured out (know how much VIR costs for a weekend? About $60,000), cars teched, workers found (don't think those corner works come with the track rental do you), insurance procured, emergency services rented, and most importantly - safety regulations with cages and so forth must be implemented. If you are suggesting that folks "run what they brung" on a race track with no safety equipment and "race" then I don't think you'll find anyone that will insure you. Not sure you'll find many people wanting to race with your organization either.

With the SCCA and NASA already filling the need with respect to organization, safety, technical inspections, and so on what is the goal of the ARL?

If you want "race packages" at affordable prices then check out SCCA's Spec Racer Ford and Spec Miata classes. Buy a car for about $8k to $17k, race your heart out. If you want a run what you bring class (as long as it has cages and so forth) check out NASAs Performance Touring classes - the class has modifiers for horsepower, modifications, and so on - the sky is the limit. Or NASAs KC1-KC5 classes especially for kit cars. Try NASAs FFR Cobra Challenge if you want a bit of spec racing with a vintae feel, Gorden Levy here could help you out with that. Feel real ballsy - step into the SCCA's Super Production Over, SPO class, and drive whatever you like as long as it meets the safety regs. Best bring some serious heat for SPO though.

With more racing than I can possibly do all within about four hours of me I'm not sure where the ARL would fit. Seriously - with NASA and the SCCA I could race just about every weekend from Feb through Nov in whatever classes I wished - and that includes cars like the SLR (got to have a cage and meet rule specs). From mild to wild, it is out there if you want to do it.

The view from inside a spec Miata racing with other Miatas is pretty much the same view as from inside a F1 car racing with other F1 cars - it is a racecar, you're racing, and the game is on. I think once you get a taste of real racing it won't much matter what you are driving (to an extent), I know it doesn't to me, I just like to "get my race on!".