After being involved in the periphery with this year's awards, it’s apparent to me that now may be a good time to review the process. Some observations:

1.      The awards consist of objective and subjective awards. Objective awards are granted on the basis of the most points in a class. Subjective awards are based on a nominations and selection process.
2.      The current points-based objective awards are skewed against CW drivers. There were 110 drivers that ran in at least one CW race this year, 27 in OW, and 3 in SR. Odds of winning are just a wee bit better in SR than in either of the other two classes, especially CW. The mechanism used for awarding points within these groups also skews the outcome based on number in the group class. It seems SCCBC awards have become almost meaningless, and we now treat the CACC class-based awards as the real awards for the club. Is this the best system that we as a club can come up with to recognize the accomplishments of our own drivers?
3.      The subjective awards  (volunteer, hard luck, sportsman, etc) need to be reviewed for relevance. Some awards have “sponsors” (eg, Valvoline) that have been out for over 20-30 years. Is there value in a “best appearing crew” award? What is the President’s award and how does it differ from the Randall and Forster awards? All these and more questions should be addressed.
4.      Selection of winners for the subjective awards is done through a non-transparent process. There is no solicitation for nominations from the membership and selection is done by some top secret formula. When I asked how one specific recipient was chosen over another known candidate, I was told more or less to mind my own business. Not constructive.

My opinion is that a small committee should be struck to review the current practice and make recommendations for changes, if any. I’d be glad to step forward and help. Appreciate any comments you all might have.

Thanks,
Doug

Roger that, Roger. Just trying to do my bit to advance the club and the sport, hopefully without stepping on too many toes in the process.

Thanks for the feedback, Al. There's likely a better system that a committee can come up with for the membership to vote on. If not, we still have the old system!

The system we use has been in place for decades. It never hurts to do a review to see if there is a better system. I would suggest bringing up the topic at the next general club meeting in January. In the meantime you can put on your thinking caps and see if you can come up with a system that would be fair and acceptable to the majority of racers in the club.
P.S. the reason that the club does not give out class specific awards was that the club used to host basically a 50/50 mix of CASC and ICSCC races that had vastly different class structures. So it would have been impossible to try to merge points from the different race weekends. The club also used to host rallies and hillclimbs which I believe had a different set of class structure. I think points earned for these events also counted towards the championship.

Thanks for the historical perspective, Ray. Looks like it's time for a review, given all the changes that transpired since the points system was developed.

racestec wrote on Dec 1^st, 2014 at 10:04am:

Doug,
I have often thought of the same questions in regards to the points system and awards. I normally think yet another committee is just a redundant waste of time, but in this case it may be a good solution. You have my support.
Tim Rosche

Sure.

You have a PM.

Larry Bell