I won't really go into it but will just say that I agree with AJ and Mike. I would guess you haven't been running with SCCA very long because once you get to know people (just like at CDC) they're really a lot of fun. There are always going to be SRSBZNS autocrossers that aren't having fun unless they're winning but they exist at all auto-x clubs. Because the SCCA has such a huge group of people involved you get all kinds of people coming out. The core group of SCCA guys may not seem very approachable but they're mostly really nice guys. It's like many things in that the people that do it all the time are all very close friends because they see each other all the time. Auto-x has a very large transient group of people involved in it who come to maybe one or two events a year. I'm sorry but if I only see you twice a year I'm just not going to remember your name or probably even recognize you. If you run with them regularly (like Caitlin and I have over the past year) people quickly start to recognize you and say "hi" and chat with you. I've met a bunch of nice people at SCCA and local events are always fun and national level events even more so.Nathan Atkins wrote:Heh, right so we can gawk at how "serious" they are. Kind of puts me in mind of the crazed little league father who says things like "hey that kid's birthday is prior to September 30th! He should be in the 8-10 age group! This is outrageous!" As all the other parents look on with a raised eyebrow and think "are you for real? Get a grip and just try to have fun man!"
If they want to run with CDC of course we'll all welcome them, but knowing how badly they stomped all over the casual autocrossers that most of us are is something they can figure out for themselves.
In regards to sticking to the rules... If you run at the pointy end of auto-x you have to follow the rules. If you get nailed at a big event for not following the rulebook to the letter I have absolutely 100% zero sympathy for you. If that parent's kid is competing for the Little League world championship (yes there is such a thing) then they better be in the correct age group. The rulebook is posted online for everyone to see and you can write letters to ask for clarification. There is no excuse for cheating. Local SCCA events are much more relaxed and if you were running a class-illegal modification (not an obvious one) than people probably wouldn't notice/care unless you were winning. But if you're winning chances are you auto-x a lot. And if you auto-x a lot chances are you're friends with all the people in the class you're running against. And if you're beating your friends because you're cheating than you're just being a dick.