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Agree, Rick.

But first some back-story.

The first years of the 4-Flight S-2 Cup; Portlands Rose Cup was on the schedule. Before the race(s) the hat was passed, and for $100 a driver was in. I think one year we had 12 or so S-2s. After the race we had a podium-pose moment, with The Trophy and the 4-Flight hats, and the whole deal was on the net a week or so later (thanks to Jeff Littrell). There was decent post race coverage, and pictures, and maybe some of us felt like heroes. If my recall is correct, that lasted 2 or 3 years.

The last 4-Flight Race in Portland was in 2005. Ferg, Littrell, Arnold, Pettibone (Im probably leaving someone out) made the trip. However 10 minutes before the start it rained hard. Despite the fact that we were able to get Group 2/B featured as the Festival Trophy Race, few drivers wanted to come back. Understand that SOCAL drivers such as Moran, Keating, Holcomb, Lovensen, Ota, Littrell and others had already run at Portland, so for some of them another tow to Portland was probably a low priority.

To get to how recent 4-Flight schedules came to be, youd have to read the old "4-Flight Schedule" threads. The one Im thinking about was maybe 3 years ago.

For many of the SOCAL drivers, the tow up to PIR was too much. Another factor that helped solidify this sentiment was the fact that for the most part, the NW drivers stayed home (myself included). Portland was decisively nixed.

Given that Portland is at the far end of the tow zone; and that race dates at BWRP, Fontana, WSIR, not to mention Sears and Laguna, were being discussed; it was easy for me to see where the majority of the drivers were coming from. Why tow up to the NW, gamble on the weather, and race at a relatively uninspiring, albeit adequate racetrack, when Laguna, Sears and Thunderhill are closer and offer the same, if not better, on-track experience than Portland? As a driver who wasnt----in the foreseeable future---going to tow past Thunderhill, I butted out of the discussion. So did the other NW drivers.

Another factor that might influence 4-Flight grids, is the change in venue of the Runoffs. The fact that Heartland Park is a day closer and is more easily learned than MO---I think---has some West Coast drivers reassessing their budgets. Personally, if I had the $$ to spend on either the Runoffs or
4-Flight (I dont), Id do the Runoffs.


So where does that leave 4-Flight now? Assuming it stays alive; my feeling is that if half of the NW drivers committed to run a fair share (TBD) of Cal races; that Portlands Rose Cup and maybe even the Seattle Double Nat might get some serious consideration when it comes time to figure out a schedule for 08. Someone else can throw up the 4-Flight North /4-Flight South trial balloon.

Finally, heres a shameless plug for PIR----4-Flight or no. In September work begins to repave PIR; and word is that its also going to get longer AND wider.


JB