jim.gandy
04-22-2008, 02:11 PM
Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day, so I'm hoping to start a thread to allow discussion of our region's relationship to current environmental and energy issues.
I don't think it can be denied changes are taking place that may impact what we do. Whether "global warming" and other eco-issues are real or not is not for me to say. Public perception of these issues is enough to affect our sports.
Higher gas prices seem to be here to stay. Many of our older members recall gas shortages, and they may come again. "Carbon footprint" is a term that didn't exist a few years ago. CAFE fuel-economy laws are changing, and the new regs could result in a shift in the kinds of vehicles offered to the public (the public from which we seek new members). And so on...
What do you think Reno Region should do? Should we continue as we are, and make changes when we need to do so in order to be allowed to continue to enjoy our sport? Or should we "be out in front," doing things that we think might help our public image and/or actually play a positive role in dealing with perceived problems?
What kinds of things could we consider? Here's a few ideas, just to get the ball rolling...
Finger Lakes Region has had good success with an annual "alternative-powerplant" car rally. It's open to hybrids, electrics, bio-diesels, solar power, all those kinds of things. They've had everything from factory prototypes to shade-tree jobs like an old diesel Rabbit with a tank of french-fry oil mounted on the roof. The event gets great publicity.
Long ago, Reno Region held an event that was part autocross, part Fuel Economy Run. You got points for the autocross and points for high mileage on a run out to Fallon and back, I believe. We're in a position to be able to put on an event that combines autocross, lapping a race track, and driving real-world roads that are not only challenging but photogenic.
When the best car in G Stock is the supercharged Mini, and the best car in H Stock is something like a Civic Si, there are a whole lot of cars on the road that don't have prayer of doing well at our Solo events. Should we consider adding regional-only classes for lower-performance cars like Kia Rios, Chevy Aveos, base-engine VW Rabbits and Subaru Imprezas? Not to mention the new, smaller cars that are coming soon, like the Ford Fiesta.
How about a Solo class devoted exclusively to hybrids like the Toyota Prius? Or to all alternative-powerplant cars, maybe with a PAX-like indexing system?
I know this topic may raise a few hackles, but I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts.
I don't think it can be denied changes are taking place that may impact what we do. Whether "global warming" and other eco-issues are real or not is not for me to say. Public perception of these issues is enough to affect our sports.
Higher gas prices seem to be here to stay. Many of our older members recall gas shortages, and they may come again. "Carbon footprint" is a term that didn't exist a few years ago. CAFE fuel-economy laws are changing, and the new regs could result in a shift in the kinds of vehicles offered to the public (the public from which we seek new members). And so on...
What do you think Reno Region should do? Should we continue as we are, and make changes when we need to do so in order to be allowed to continue to enjoy our sport? Or should we "be out in front," doing things that we think might help our public image and/or actually play a positive role in dealing with perceived problems?
What kinds of things could we consider? Here's a few ideas, just to get the ball rolling...
Finger Lakes Region has had good success with an annual "alternative-powerplant" car rally. It's open to hybrids, electrics, bio-diesels, solar power, all those kinds of things. They've had everything from factory prototypes to shade-tree jobs like an old diesel Rabbit with a tank of french-fry oil mounted on the roof. The event gets great publicity.
Long ago, Reno Region held an event that was part autocross, part Fuel Economy Run. You got points for the autocross and points for high mileage on a run out to Fallon and back, I believe. We're in a position to be able to put on an event that combines autocross, lapping a race track, and driving real-world roads that are not only challenging but photogenic.
When the best car in G Stock is the supercharged Mini, and the best car in H Stock is something like a Civic Si, there are a whole lot of cars on the road that don't have prayer of doing well at our Solo events. Should we consider adding regional-only classes for lower-performance cars like Kia Rios, Chevy Aveos, base-engine VW Rabbits and Subaru Imprezas? Not to mention the new, smaller cars that are coming soon, like the Ford Fiesta.
How about a Solo class devoted exclusively to hybrids like the Toyota Prius? Or to all alternative-powerplant cars, maybe with a PAX-like indexing system?
I know this topic may raise a few hackles, but I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts.