In the August 2002 issue of SportsCar (page F-183) I think there is
a very alarming action by a Chief Steward that was fully supported
by the SOM. The Chief Steward at Laguna Seca on April 28th filed a
Request for Action against a production driver for failing to
provide sufficient racing room for a GT-1 car. The judgment briefly
states that the production car "did not alter his racing line to
accommodate a risky pass attempt … " The judgment does not
indicate the production driver did or took any action that might
have led to or caused the incident other than following the normal
preferred racing line through a turn.

From the commentary there is no way to know who was still in a
race. My experience is that with the exception of the Runoffs, most
races have a determined outcome after 2 or 3 laps and then only
changed by reliability or incident. Most likely scenario is that
the GT-1 race was "over" (who would win already determined) when the
GT-1 car attempted to pass the production car. If the GT-1 car did
honor the possibility that the production car was still in a race is
unknown. What is taught in every SCCA driver's school I attended
or participated in is that a driver should maintain the line.
However, an indication by the overtaken driver as to which side the
approaching/closing car should pass on should be given. For an
overtaken driver to surrender track position every time passed in a
turn goes beyond ridiculous. It appears the GT-1 driver simply ran
out of skill.

I think the real problem (for which there is minimal solution) is
the way the six race groups (more or less) are determined for a
Regional/National weekend. That results most times in only six
classes leading a race. As this scenario repeats itself over and
over racers of those classes develop a mind set. Saw this
demonstrated at Topeka recently where a SRF driver (who hit a GP
car) came over to the production racer and scolded him for not
braking sooner so the SRF could have the turn to himself. He told
the GP racer that he should respect the fact that the SRF are always
the race leaders. What is needed/desired is a race grouping where
the SRF are not going to be the race leader every race. We need a
variety of race groupings where more classes have opportunity to be
the race leader. This would help rid this elitist attitude. There
also seems related to this incident the division of those who work
hours on their car and those that don't.

Just don't think we need any renegade Chief Stewards and SOM who are
trying to rewrite the rules through this kind of bogus litigation.
There are way too many confusing issues in SCCA. Any attempt to
bring this to the forefront should be met with alarm and
resistance. Outrage describes my sentiment.