RE NEWS – MARCH 2025
Sonoma Regional 1&2
We ran our first race of 2025 at Sonoma Raceway.
First and foremost, it was a 100% dry event. A few entrants canceled and missed out on a great weekend. Cool temps and a dry track doesn’t get better than that! And to top off our good luck it started raining 30 minutes after the last race on Sunday!
We had originally had it as a three day with the Friday being a test day. Then Sonoma needed Friday for another customer, so we lost Friday and Sonoma put on an open test day on Thursday. To support SFR, Sonoma allowed Thursday testers to stay Thursday night and Friday in the lot above the track. At the end of the day there was some teeth gnashing on Friday afternoon, but everyone got in and settled.
This was a important weekend from a Region point of view as we were trying some new ideas. I’d like to recap what we tried and how things worked out:
Follow by sessions:
From a driver track time point of view, it went great. The total track time for a two-day event was more than we have had in the past few years. Operationally it was a busy event with little time to reset between sessions. The Workers and Operational folks did a great job getting the track cleared for the next sessions. Bottom line is it worked and we’re going to continue the follow by scheduling.
Starting with the next race at Thunderhill we will produce a “estimated session schedule” which will be on MSR and will be available at Race Admin Registration.
Using MSR Texting to support calling to grid:
What did not work as well as we would like was the process of using MSR texting process to call for grid. We think it’s still a good idea and here’s what we are going to do for the next event at Thunderhill:
- We will still have announce call for the sessions
- All Drivers need to be sure they have opted in for the text notifications. Not to worry, we will not text you anything other than the calls to Grid.
- We will use a consistent protocol of a text will go out stating “Group X leaving Grid”. The only other text you will receive will be telling you of something out of the ordinary.
- We have not yet figured out how to include non-participants (shops, crew) but we’re working on that.
Full pulls for trophies/flags/pictures:
On Sunday we tested doing full pulls after each Race2 , handed out checkered flags and trophies, took pictures with a podium. It seemed to be fun and enjoyable from our point of view. Need feedback if you agree or not. Thank you to impound for accommodating a full pull and still getting their work done.
New trophies:
They were a supper hit. We handed out more than we have in a long time. Thaks goes to Bill Booth for the design and getting them produced. Cost wise they are they same as we’ve been paying for a better product.
B-Sedan Group:
The B-Sedan drivers were a hoot! It was great fun watching what vintage cars are, that were well prepared and had some hard fought races. We want them to come race with us again!
Using MyLaps Speedhive:
I would class this as a failure. We had it running the whole time in T&S but it was hard to get on the app and not at all user friendly. Toward the end of Sunday some people got it going but I did not think it was what we’re looking for. We are going to push hard to get Race Monitor going at the Thunderhill race in April. That way we have choices.
Sonoma SFR financials:
The financial side of the Sonoma event was not good. The fear of rain lost us enough entries that we will not breakeven (which was our goal). We’re putting the numbers together and we’ll give you the financials as soon as we have a firm number.
Please think about the Qualiity of your entry on MSR:
The overall quality of the entry information put into MSR by drivers was less than great. We had many transponders and cars numbers that did not match. Please do your best to enter accurate data into MSR. We just don’t have the head count to try and unravel the data during a session and produce a quality timing product.
Paddock load in:
Thanks to the volunteers that stiped the paddock and stood out in the cold and rain to help route everyone. Thanks to all the Thursday Sonoma testers for clearing out of the paddock, The load into the paddock Friday afternoon went pretty well. It was cold, windy, and wet. Thanks to all of you who were kind to each other. For the couple that were less than kind, come on, the world is not going to stop over who goes first, second, or last, and please remember we’re all volunteers.
Overall the event went very good. As a Region we are doing our best to try new ideas and keep Road Racing as a viable hobby for all of us to continue to enjoy. Thanks for everyone’s efforts and patience as we go down some new roads.
See you at the track,
Mike Smith