My understanding is that before a track can hold a National SCCA Event, it must be inspected to make sure it meets the minimum standards of ability to put on the event, such as sufficient paddock space for cars and their haulers, etc. This is done to all new tracks. In addition, the tracks must go through regular inspections as well. This includes track inspection,hot grid, grid, paddock, turn in areas, etc.
When MPH held their regional event a year ago, several deficiencies were noted, and the track was given several things that needed corrected in order to hold SCCA races there. They were told that they will have to hold antheer regional race to see if the deficiencies were corrected, and then they may be able to get approval for a National race. Just having the track fix some problems would not demonstrate the volunteer situation is handled. Hence the requirement to hold another regional first.
I do know that two topics was the paddock was way too small to accomodate the amount of car haulers that typically show up for a national race, adn their was a shortage of volunteer workers (I heard rumors they had to hire people off the street to work, but not sure if that was true, it was a rumor). I think I heard there was not enough grid or hot gird area as well for staging all of the cars a National race would possibly attract, but not sure if this is accurate or not.
Demostrating that they can attract the neccessary workers to hold an event is critical to the safety of an event. But the key point is that there are a bunch of requirements during the track inspection procedures that would identify some of the areas that might still need fixed.
_________________
Racer Dan
DMVR Regional Executive, Des Moines Valley Race Group Member, Director MIDIV
