Majors at Nelson Ledges canceled

Gene Kern has posted the following on Facebook:

"The decision to cancel was based upon the divisional at Watkins Glen on the same weekend and the likelihood of a very poor turnout due to the anticipated cost of the event...the TT that would have been run lost drivers to WGI. Corner Marshalls (all volunteer positions) have been a problem since the late 90s. Having just finished 5 years as treasurer of Steel Cities, I am sure 50 cars fields do not cover all of the costs of an event at Nelson Ledges."
 
Greg Amy said:
Gene Kern has posted the following on Facebook:

"The decision to cancel was based upon the divisional at Watkins Glen on the same weekend and the likelihood of a very poor turnout due to the anticipated cost of the event...the TT that would have been run lost drivers to WGI. Corner Marshalls (all volunteer positions) have been a problem since the late 90s. Having just finished 5 years as treasurer of Steel Cities, I am sure 50 cars fields do not cover all of the costs of an event at Nelson Ledges."
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I read that as "Steel Cities did not want to put the event on and take a risk on hosting an event at a new-to-them facility." Let's hope that NEO or MVR can get a national there in 2027 - the track could really use it to continue its revival.

Maybe someone should start a petition with drivers saying "95+% of attending" (ie. barring conflict with date or last minute unforeseen stuff), "50% of attending", etc. I bet there would be 150+ cars there if a national event was held there again. ESPECIALLY if it was a dual conf event with NEDIV and GLD.
 
Jason Stine said:
I read that as "Steel Cities did not want to put the event on and take a risk on hosting an event at a new-to-them facility." Let's hope that NEO or MVR can get a national there in 2027 - the track could really use it to continue its revival.

Maybe someone should start a petition with drivers saying "95+% of attending" (ie. barring conflict with date or last minute unforeseen stuff), "50% of attending", etc. I bet there would be 150+ cars there if a national event was held there again. ESPECIALLY if it was a dual conf event with NEDIV and GLD.
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For at least the past two years there have only been two dual conference HST events, VIR and Hallett. No non HST Majors have been dual conference events. The history of dual conference/division events not under the direct control of SCCA, Inc., is short and not particularly encouraging. The one and only dual division Nationals was held at Nelson Ledges with decidedly less than satisfactory results. While much has changed since that event, much hasn't and there is no reason to think the issues encountered with that event have been resolved. Those issues may not have been directly visible to competitors, but from an organizational perspective they were real and seemingly intractable. That event was held over four days. Shortening it to two or even three days would exacerbate those issues. They can be resolved, but it would require a level of cooperation that has only been achieved through Topeka's direct involvement in event organization.
 
Everytime I go to Nelson's it is nicer and nicer. Track is in great shape. Paved a number of the dirt/gravel roads.

It is a fun track.

Very disappointed Nelson was canceled this year.
Bring it back and I will definetly be there in 2027

Have talked to a number of other folks who were disappointed and would have attended.
 
While the sun is begining to set on my racing career I can't help but observe that the number of tracks that we use to
go to now greatly exceeds the number we now attend.
The majors season ended on July4th and just demonstrates how racing in the northeast seems to be on life support.
Take a look at the anemic prod participant level at many of the races and draw your own conclusions.
I'm glad I started back in the 1990's and can only hope that the SCCA can return to those "good ole days".

Tom B.
 
Most of our activities and pricing is driven by the tracks themselves. Lime Rock wasn't charging some $80k for a Friday/Saturday event (estimated) back in the 90s.

But on the other hand, while we had Bryar before, we didn't have Thompson or Palmer in the 90s (with the latter rumored to be charging damned close to LRP...)

Add in NHMS and NER is blessed with four race tracks to choose from. And from central New England we still have access to numerous other tracks within a day's drive (off hand, Watkins Glen, Summit Point, Nelson, Mid-Ohio; plus new-since-the-90s NJMP Thunderbolt and Lightning, and VIR. And even though SCCA doesn't race there any more ( miss those days) we still have Mosport where you can get on track.

Yeah, we lost Bridgehampton and PittRace (the latter being a relative newcomer anyway with its upgrade from the unloved BeaveRun). But other than the tracks bending us over on costs (we're not the only game in town anymore) I think we're doing pretty OK...
 
Unpopular opinion... there needs to be more July-Aug nationals in NEDIV. More than half of the division doesn't dig out from winter until May... used to be events run right up until Labor Day and still gave people plenty of time to qualify, register and prep for the Runoffs. Starting in WV in March and VIR the first weekend of April isn't an option for a lot of people in New England.
 
Jason Stine said:
Unpopular opinion... there needs to be more July-Aug nationals [sic] in NEDIV.
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We used to do exactly that...and competitors complained about racing in the heat of July and August.

So the regions (NER and SJR) moved their Majors and...now competitors complain about not racing in July and August?

Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it...
 
Greg Amy said:
We used to do exactly that...and competitors complained about racing in the heat of July and August.

So the regions (NER and SJR) moved their Majors and...now competitors complain about not racing in July and August?

Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it...
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Better than in the snow! I get it for tracks like VIR and Summit... but for tracks in New England and even Jersey, mid to late May-early Oct is the window.
 
I agree, which takes us back to the fact that tracks are now controlling the schedules. It's probably pretty darned easy to get a date (even a cheaper one) at Summit in April and NJMP and Thompson in July/August. But if the weather dampens (or sweats out) entries, then the regions can't afford to host the events.

I really hate that our racing program gets compacted into, basically, traveling the country from February to June and then we pick it up in late August through October. But that's what our racers have voted for with their feet (and wallets).

See y'all in Alabama this coming August weekend...bring lots of water (temps high 90s and dewpoints low 70s...keep an eye on your buddies).
 
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