To: ProSolo Participants From: Howard Duncan, SCCA VP, Rally/Solo Subject: Mea Culpa, 2011 Class Points System Over the years I have not been shy about considering and trying a variety of things to enhance the ProSolo Series. However, while to the casual observer it may have appeared at times that these were quick and impulsive efforts or changes since they did not go through the more traditional member comment process, the reality is that I seek and take advice from a number of sources when considering one of my brainstorms (or someone else’s). Unfortunately in my recent consideration of changes to the ProSolo class points system that resulted in the class champions being determined by a “winner takes all” at the Finale event, I failed to seek out opinions from a key part of the ProSolo program; our commercial partners and contingency providers. I did not do this by either communicating with them directly or even indirectly through discussing it with the folks in the SCCA Communications and Marketing Department. I had erroneously assumed that they would be please with the sustained marketing exposure, matched with a slight decrease in their financial exposure from the new methodology of determining class champions. As it turns out, they are as intrigued by the series nature (points chase) of ProSolo as many of you are. From a business perspective of looking for unique ways to engage SCCA members, a “winner takes all” method merely replicates the traditional method used for the Solo National Championship and brings into question the need to be involved twice in the same type of program. From the comments I have received from many ProSolo regulars, it seems you agree with this. Therefore, by the end of the day on March 4th the ProSolo Series Rules posted at http://www.scca.com/contentpage.aspx?content=61 will be changed to reflect a class points system that I will summarize here: • The Zone Championships (Atlantic, Mid-America, Pacific) will continue as previously described in the Rules, including the points schedule (20-16-13-etc.), scoring (best 2 events of the first 3), and which events are assigned to each Zone Series. • The class points accumulated by a competitor in a Zone Championship (best 2 of 3) will be carried into the Finale event. • Zone Class Champions will be awarded 5 bonus points if they participate in the Finale event. • The class leader in each Heat of the Finale event will receive 10 bonus points. • The class points schedule for finishing position at the Finale event will be double the points schedule for Zone Championship events (40-32-26-etc.). • The Finale entry requirements (Section 20.10.A.2) will remain the same. Debating points systems is a little like debating which flavor of ice cream is best (unwinnable), so we would ask that you hold any comments on this particular system until it plays out. Then next fall let us know your thoughts and we will consider adjustments for 2012. In the meantime, we have worked through a number of scenarios with the system described above and the number of variables will insure a truly interesting and dramatic Finale to wrap up the 2011 ProSolo Class Championships. This has been a learning experience for me, even after all these years, and I apologize for any inconvenience or consternation this whole situation may have caused.