Re: Putnam Park

Matthew - I just got home from Gateway International and am catching up on 
the E-mail backlog.  Funny thing, I just had a conversation with and Indy region 
member today about Putnam.  Phil Green's response about turn 10 is correct.  
SCCA wanted it changed.  The owner said 'nothing doing' and we're out a good 
track.  The whole problem gets bigger though regarding who is "in charge" at 
the track when we (SCCA) race there.  I had a lengthy discussion with the track 
owner's son a couple years ago at the PIR show.  He went into great detail 
about an incident at 10 and how the track personnel wanted to red flag the race, 
take care of the car on its lid and resume.  SCCA officials (stewards?) said 
no and kept the race going with only a local yellow.  The track owner, who I 
believe is a former SCCA member, has no lost love for the club so I think this 
was the final straw.  There have been names mentioned from the Indy region that 
supposedly have thrown some additional fuel on this fire.  I have no 
verification of this.  If the track owner dies or if certain Indy Region members get 
on their knees and grovel (a lot) we may have a chance to race there again some 
day.

Now the part I find most ironic, comical, unfortunate, sad, ...(fill in the 
blank).  As stated in someone else's reply pro teams use Putnam alot (at least 
historically).  When I had my discussion with the owner's son we were looking 
at the track map.  I commented it seemed different than when I was there.  He 
said it was.  Turn 10 was reconfigured.  The CART teams needed the corner made 
a little safer.  The change was what SCCA officials had asked for earlier.

I could go on and on with this but I won't.  One thing can be said about SCCA 
safety.  In times past if the SCCA pulled its approval from a track there was 
a good chance pro teams would not use the facility.  I for one am glad we 
have some of the safety regs that other clubs forego.