AFM intermadiate class: Yay or Nay?

[CockyRooster]

I am of the opinion that AFM needs an Intermediate, or 'Sportsman' class. We lose a lot of memberships and race participation after the novice year and early rounds because the proverbial carrot (trophy and title) on the stick seems to be a bagillion miles off out of reach.

The most common lament I hear from other riders when asked about attending tracks other than Infinion, or finishing out a season is "I'm not going because I'm not in any sort of points anyways."

An Intermediate class would also make it easier to gain sponsorship at the lower levels because sponsors love pictures on the wall that says Class Champion! Or even a third overall in points looks better than a finishing of 15th for the season. Sponsorships like to win too, and at the amateur level the help is everywhere; chiropractors/doctors, auto body shops, tire shops, bicycle shops, etc. They often help more out of friendship and customer loyalty, but they like to win too.

So how do we determine eligibility for each class?

Me thinks that once a riders obtains an AMA pro license then they should be moved to the front of the grid and scored separately in their own class. This will give the elite group a clear track of their own, and with the larger collection of entry fees (not losing racers after the novice year) a higher purse could be paid out to the winners. Six more sportsman entries in a class could support a $300 winnings for tires to the winner of the pro class. No need for a separate wave - just grid the pros at the front and let the riffraff battle it out behind them. Just score them separately as done now between the novices and experts with an extra 'S' added in for 'Sporstman'. The new class could actually help support those with the dedication and gumption to go pro with higher payouts.

Organizing out a class structure has been fruitful for the clubman and AFFeme classes, so we just need one more for the middle group of participants.


Pros:
1) Improved retention of riders after the Novice year.
2) More potential sponsorships.
3) Untangle the grids so the pros have a clear shot at the track.
4) Additional revenue could support higher payouts to the pros.
5) More money for AFM.


Cons:
1) My current race strategy of just letting everyone else stay home so that I could place well will no longer work.


After racing motocross as a kid I came to AFM to foray into the road racing bit, and was surprised that there was no steps in the classes. I read the rule book and signed up for the production classes figuring that I would leave the fast classes like Formula Pacific to the fast guys, but was surprised that those same fast guys also run in every single race possible. I still gave it my best shot.

The chasm between novice and top 5, or even the top ten, is huge, and after collecting a few Top Novice trophies in 2001 I gathered some resources, sold the dog, hocked the silverware, and gave it my best effort to obtain my immediate goal - a championship of some sort. But after 4 years of riding mid-pack I took a look at what it was going to take to go for the gusto, and just said screw it and went back-packing around the world for less money. Many of the riders that I was competing against said the same thing.

Thoughts?

 

[afmotorsports]

I think it's a great idea. We had to battle 6-7 years ago to introduce the Clubman classes and in the first couple of years they wouldn't even allow Clubman to be championship classes or have contingency payouts , but I'm pretty sure most new racers really like those classes now. I think GoGo mentioned a similar class structure back east so having an "Intermediate" class should be a positive step for the AFM, helping retain more racers in the club. btw, SupermotoUSA's class structure is Beginer, Novice, Intermediate and Pro - it's pretty cool to see riders progress through the ranks and they stay a lot more interested in the sport than if they just got their a$$ kicked by the pro-level riders weeked after weekend.

The only thing you might need to put a little more thought into is the criteria for "Intermediate" or "Sportsman" or whatever you want to call it - if a current AMA license is the only deciding factor, then Dan Kyle might enter his pro-level rider(s?) right after they kick the snot out of the F40 class...

 

[CockyRooster]

You can call it a bridesmaid class and make us use pink number plates for all I care,lol.

I think the intermediate class should be for peeps that haven't obtained a pro license - ever. The experience and schooling obtained on one weekend of pro racing is tremendous, and a rights of passage, so to speak. Those that have paid the price should be rewarded with not having to deal with the quagmire of amateurs on the grid.

Dave could still whoop ass in the F40 class, but there should be a blue ribbon for the also rans as well if AFM wants to keep people interested.

 

[Med23]

More money for organization...check

More sponsorship potential for mid-pack guys...check

More excitement/enthusiasm with average race results even after novice year...check

BUT...there has to be another side to this. I am interested in hearing what those who oppose this idea have to say.

 

[klx-rider]

I'm not a racer but I've thought about trying it in a year or two. As the classes stand now, I would most likely quit after clubman because I wouldn't stand a chance in being competitive as an Expert. The idea of running an intermediate class might convince me to keep racing.

I don't think I'm alone in my thoughts on trying racing and bailing after clubman. Running an intermediate class may convince people like me to stay a while longer and help fund the club. I think it's a great idea.

 

[Quinton]

Certainly there is a large chasm between being competitive in Clubman and being competitive in Sunday races, and certainly we lose many riders to apathy and that hill just being too daunting. I'll take the contrarian's stance for kicks.

Timing - unless we simply make this a "virtual" class with no actual separate races, we would have to sacrifice practice time to fit it in. If it's virtual only, then how much of an impact would it actually make? If it's not virtual only, then we risk starting to look like WERA where you only get maybe two practice sessions on a race day (for like $120 BTW - totally not worth it)

Complexity - My fans that come to watch have no idea what the different classes are about no matter how much I try to explain. Probably this just adds to that issue.

Dilution - If we make it like highschool where "everyone's a winner!" we might water down the prestige of AFM in the community more broadly. Currently AFM is nationally known and respected, precisely because we have some past and future pro's that grid up with us

Definition - Clubman now being a championship series some guys can run it for two years and this already is going to help fill the void between "totally new" and "Sunday-competitive" Either way if you define it by excluding the top (have AMA license) or the bottom (6 Sunday's complete = not Clubman; 12 Sunday's complete = not Sportsman) or whatever it's probably going to be a bit of a mess

Counterproductive - Toward sponsorship boosting, I think part of what is helping me start to get sponsors finally two years into my AFM career is precisely the prestige of the AFM overall because of it's caliber and finally starting to eek out an occasional top 10. If we confuse sponsors and dilute the prestige maybe "top five in the second middle class from the left side but only on leap years when you're standing on your head and squinting" doesn't help.

Just some counter points off the top of my head. Not sure I even believe all these arguments just trying to stir the pot and stoke the discussion.

 

[DrSwade]

It may be too much to handle on the logistics side but I think it could be a step in the right direction.

I expected to be at best this year, a mid pack racer. Partly owing to skill as well as machine.
This was the best, realistic goal.

In the AFM, when Novice and Experts compete in the same single race, the best a very fast Novice can hope for is the Top Novice trophy. All other novices just get nothing.
I know when I got my tiny little Top Novice trophy I was kinda stoked. The type of stoke that keeps you coming back.
In WERA the Novices and the Experts share the grid but compete for a complete array of trophies in each level.
The irony is that I see the top guys in the AFM don't even collect their trophies and the Novices stand next to JT waiting for the official results so they can claim their prize.
Trophies for all top three Experts and Novices in each race would only slightly increase costs (how much could those trophies really cost?) but greatly improve the pleasure factor for new racers.

Kind of on the subject. The way that the AFM does the yellow plate to Expert transition is not so kind to new racers. With a couple of guys that are very experienced running yellow plates this year, all year, because they didn't complete the season last year, most new racers can just forget about getting any trophies their first year.


After two weekends with WERA and four podiums, WERA sent me a letter stating that I was now an expert unless I protested.
Perhaps we need to incorporate something similar for those guys who have raced three years on a yellow plate?

 

[scotinexcile]

Defining the "Novice" status V "expert" would be the key point. At most when I race I am racing for 3rd place, in 650 prod, the rest are top 20 if I am lucky. It is only my 4th season racing and there was no Clubman championship when I was Clubman qualified.
Anything the club can do to encourage "repeat" customers is good in my book.

 

[Med23]

With a couple of guys that are very experienced running yellow plates this year...

...Perhaps we need to incorporate something similar for those guys who have raced three years on a yellow plate?

Wait, what!? There are guys who have raced for more than a year in the novice classes? That is kinda weird. I thought there is a like a 6 or 8 race maximum or something like that in the rulebook...no?

 

[MotoWhip101]

I can understand what you're saying and think an "Intermediate" class would be a cool idea for those in the middle, and keep them coming back to the races.

After intermediate then what? Are you back on the Expert grid finishing next to all the intermediates. I personally like the structure now, and it's a huge learning opportunity to race with the experts as a Novice. It doesn't allow you to settle as "the fastest novice" or "fastest intermediate" when the front of the grid is still 10 seconds faster. It gives the racer an exact measurement up to the expert class instead of speculation based on laptimes and there are no asterisks after the finishing position;

I.E. - 1st intermediate (17th overall) 1st Novice (29th overall)

At the end of the day you're still finishing in the same places it's just "dressed up" when reading it on paper.

Again just my 2 cents, and I like the idea of an intermediate class, but I think if someone wants to bridge the gap up to the experts from a novice it's a more internal process and depends on how driven each racer is to achieve their desired position. YMMV

 

[Corey]

I am one of those that have only 5 race weekends completed in 2010, and have just finished my 6th (Round 2), and plan on riding it out, not to steal trophies, but for the extra track time. If I was a front runner, I'd for sure move up to expert, and let the Yellow Swarm race it out, but at best I'd be a mid-packer by the end of this year. I look at it as giving more to the club, and getting in more racing.

I like the idea of having more trophies based on the amount in class, and maybe 1st through 3rd for the Novices racing in Sunday Races. I think this would encourage more entries, and a battle within a battle. Maybe a year ending best Yellow Plater for each Sunday Class? This could include F40 and Formula Afemme.

Good points made here.

 

[#1Spies Fan]

As a new racer doing 2 rounds last year and clubman this year I can say that having a clubman championship did keep me interested since i started at the end of the season last year and still have a lot to learn. As far as making a middle class, i do not agree. The riders that take home top 3 trophies in expert had to work just as hard as you will to get there. Each race i get closer and closer to a top 3 in a Sunday Race and I feel that by the end of this year if not early next year i can get there. We are racers and racers like to compete...if all I wanted was a trophie then a quick fix is just sell them at the gate saying "way to go!"

Next to come will be Top guy in race born in July who runs Pirelli tires...I'd rather have 1 trophie at the end of my racing career that i had to bust my ass for than 56 trophies that mean nothing!

"BUT...there has to be another side to this. I am interested in hearing what those who oppose this idea have to say." - Does anyone feel the same or should I open up a trophie shop next to the track?

 

[CockyRooster]

MotoWhip - it would be a virtual difference, so you'd still be racing with pros if you're fast enough. At worst you'd be gridded with comparable racers that you can battle with where you learn more than watching someone's rear wheel disappear. Maybe one clear row on the grid to separate the pros for spectating purposes. That would be easier for family and friends watching to understand what's happening. It would be pretty exciting to watch a fast intermediate catch the pro group. Practices would stay the same as they are based on lap times.

It's really more of a marketing strategy to help retain and motivate upcoming racers and to help those racers justify spending the kid's college fund on tires while fighting for a podium instead 15th place.

Afm typically loses a bulk of the participants at the 3-4 year mark after the succes of the novice results wear off.

Spies Fan - the prestige of winning the big kahuna class would still be intact, if not even more so, with a few sophomores to kick around.

 

[DESMOFO]

I like it.. it would serve the needs of my ego (at least on the 600..). In Clubman, I had a shot at the front, now, fahgeddaboudit..! Will I try? Sure.. but the odds are somewhere between slim and fat-chance. If there was a real or virtual cutoff somewhere in the middle, would it bring more to the table? Sure. I kinda liked that 20th place prize for the 600SB last race, gave you something to shoot for. Have considered changing classes to something more controlled, or lighter in turnout. I can see how people may decide to hang it up if there are few, if any, positive or top results.

Logistics and politics aside, I think the AFM might financially gain from the idea too, as might sponsors through more exposure. A problem might be how it compares to other racing clubs; will it be viewed as just a class to let people win and collect race/membership fees and therefore a farce?

One thing is for sure.. I don't think it can be run as a set of separate races, it would be a combined field, looking a lot like today. Boy, that would make announcing the races really tough (and probably confusing for the crowd too..!).

 

[gyges_1]

The phrase "Pad the Den" comes to mind.

 

[ACA]

I'm glad to hear there are attempts to bridge the "chasm" as Quinton described. I too didn't complete enough races last year for white plates, but am glad because clubman racing is awesome and will keep doing it till kicked out (next year).

I think somebody touched on it above, but what about increasing the number of Sunday races till expert? This would allow more development time for yellow-platers (bridging the gap) without increased complexity or dilution, but at the expense of really new racers since the talent would be higher. Oh yeah, and the shame of the yellow plate...

I just checked some times, and top novices are typically 5 seconds off third place Sunday lap times. That's a ways to go, but not insurmountable.

 

[KazMan]

Ummmm...we could always separate everyone the old fashioned way. White plates = Expert, Black plate = Intermediate, Yellow plate = Novice...or something like that. Or you could have different color numbers, but that may be a bit difficult for people in the stands. Plate color has the most impact I think.

I will add in my later about pros v cons

 

[Ducky_Fresh]

No. Because when 6 people don't enter the "expert" grid so they can feel proud of their 1st place finish in "intermediate", the 6 fast guys get boned on their tire money.

Besides, if you got 15th you got 15th.

 

[Smitty769]

I'd rather be last in the "A" main than first in the "B" main

 

[HRCrider]

Why do we as a society constantly have to figure out a way so everybody gets a friking trophee My god man, step up and try your best, put forth a good effort and if you can't hang, get out or except that is the fastest your going to go, and live with it. I mean seriously is it all about a cheap plastic trophee??? as long as you give 100% and you tried your hardest, you had fun, thats all that should matter. Someday you may get that trophee, and it will mean that much more to you.