Stand Alone Series

The precedent for offering a prize for the AM division already exists. Both of the other leagues offer a prize for AM series.

I think your argument only strengthens mine. At the end of the day even a bowling league offers the opportunity to make back a little of what you invested at the end for everyone, not just the best people in the league. They do this through handicapping and recording averages to base the handicap upon.

One might argue that having a prize would encourage cheating, which is a valid argument, however as with pretty much any sport of contest of skill people can, will and do cheat.

I started off last season with a race at NPWDRL. Came in third. Then I found out about another league offering up a prize for the AM series and started racing there instead. I would rather have been racing at NPWDRL, but with no motivation of winning a prize, I elected to continue through the end of the series at the other league.

While I did not end up winning either of the divisions that I participated in, I still got back a little at the end and while it came nowhere near what I had invested to get there, it was something.

Let’s face it, Pro or AM, this is just a hobby for all of us, so should my or anyone else’s lack of experience or tools prevent us from getting back a little at the end? The only motivation as it stands right now to continue to send in each month for BASX AM is moving up to the next level to get my ass handed to me.

Over the years I have raced at multiple leagues. My incentive for racing has never been to get something back from racing. It was to make some friends, learn to build a fast car, and have fun. I've won 2 races at APR, 2 at PDDR and the only thing I got was a virtual badge in my profile on their discussion boards.

NPWDRL has very good sponsors who donate many items to be given out to racers. You also can win a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place flat wood trophy if finals are held in the class you race. There is lots of incentive right there.

You all have given me some food for thought. It’s truthfully not all about the reward, cash or otherwise. A series with an end winner is more interesting and more of a challenge than winning a single race. I get that you get that in the pro league classes, but even being competitive in the pro league doesn’t seem like an attainable short term goal. Perhaps a looong term goal. Appreciate all the feedback.

I think once you win a pro level race against the top racers, your view will change.  Mr. B. can recount his wins and I'm sure he is very proud of them. 
Eastman has won at multiple leagues.  I'm curious what win he is most proud of?  I'm betting it is the time he won the MOTM BASX Pro Finals. 
I'm confident that all of us racers can recount our first win with great pride.

It took me over a year of constant building and testing before I was able to win my first pro level race. There were 67 cars in that National Street Stock race.  To come out on top with the likes of Kinser, QT, JBD, Skippy, Opah, Bullet, Lightning Boy, Hogan, Pony, WK, Bracket, Maglev, B-Regal, TRE, TJ and a host of others in the field, was a great thrill.  

Invest the time and effort it takes to be competitive, and you'll have your own story to tell.  Or, choose to be a big fish in a small pond where everyone gets a prize...

My point of view is that the AM class is a safe place for the new racers to learn the needed building skills before moving up to the pro division.  It's a stepping stone, not a destination. 

Good luck in 2021 where ever you decide to race. 

I have always been in this hobby to get faster times and have fun with the guys I’m racing against, and to learn from them. I was in AM for the longest time, and never won, but I learned new things and built more cars. I still have speed to be had and at times I have trouble finding it, but seeing my cars on Joel’s track always gives me excitement, heck, just shipping my cars gets me excited!!!

T-Bone