This post comes from a guy (in case some don't already know
) with about 3 years experience in this part of the hobby, who drives what he thinks is a Vintage Muscle car, and has been very active in helping to create the CAM classes in the SCCA as well as participate in a few USCA qualifying events.
The SCCA and the USCA (my car is too new for Good Guys) have their work cut out for them coming up with ways to keep putting on quality events that create enough of a fun\dollar ratio to keep the registrations full. Their success so far shows they are up to the task. I really like that the SCCA and USCA are working together to create like kind classes for our types of cars to run in, I hope they also work together to work around each other's schedules to allow entrants to continue to attend events in both series easily.
Some of the most fun I've had as an entrant at these types of events were at events that I'm certain lost money and were considered unsuccessful, and some of least fun events I've participated in were probably considered successful by those that put it on. I'm not sure there is a good answer for this.
All I know is I am personally going to continue to pick and choose the events I attend based solely on the expected fun vs dollar cost ratio. This is why I declined the invitation that I earned to the 2015 OUSCI...I just couldn't see the fun\dollar ratio (for me personally) being anywhere near the point I have to have it to enjoy myself. Certainly there are many others out there that are able to put that ratio into their happy window. The rules, classes, point structure, ability to compete fairly and win all come secondary for this participant...they count...and are looked at when deciding where to go, but the fun factor will continue to be my priority. Distance to travel to an event is a major factor in this. The USCA seems to have forgotten the Midwest Region a little bit this year and I'm sure there are reasons for that...hopefully in future years they'll find ways to come back this way.
Regarding classes and rules, both the SCCA and USCA are tip toeing around a line that is very hard to discern (race car vs street car) and everyone seems to have their own opinion on where that line should be...when in fact that line is in a different spot for just about everyone of us. I can speak from experience that making the masses happy when dealing with that line while at the same time putting on events that are economically sustainable and fun for the entrants (and the spectators or possible future entrants) is a near impossible feat. Someone is bound to get butt hurt if they take it too seriously no matter where that line is.