RCJoh-@attglobal.net

I was just catching up on all the posts related to junior racing and the

costs thereof. It seems pretty clear to me that entry fees aren't the

best place to focus if cost control is one of the goals. But here's a

solution that's been developed and used quite successfully for may years

to control equipment costs for a variety of classes in motorsports:



It's called a "claiming rule". How it works is that a class determined

to require cost control has a fee schedule worked out for the average

cost of major components of the vehicle. In bicycle racing it would

apply to parts such as the frame, wheels, shifters, crankset, etc. By

entering a race in a class with a claiming rule the racer is free to

race whatever they choose. But, if any other entrant to the same race

believes a competitor has exceeded the equipment level of the class they

may make a "claim" to buy the component for the cost as determined in

the claiming rule. The result is that it is exceptionally rare for

anyone to exceed the baseline of established equipment costs. This

levels the competition and is an easy way limit the up front costs of

competition. One of the beautiful things about a claiming rule is that

it is virtually self enforcing, no technical inspections or lengthy

debates are required. If competitor A thinks they got beat by

competitor B because they had a trick wheel set, then for the claiming

rule price they can have that wheel set for the next race. Competitor A

just goes and buys a replacement with the claiming money. And if a

competitor thinks they are going to buy an equipment advantage then they

risk losing that expensive equipment at every event. In practice just

the possibility of the equipment being claimed is effective at making

sure that everyone competes on similar equipment within the same budget.



Claiming rules are also very effective at controlling "cheater" or

"ringer" parts. Years ago a claiming rule in AMA motorcycle racing

burned Team Honda for a hand built set of magnesium carburetors

estimated to have cost them tens of thousands of dollars to develop and

build. They were claimed for $500, which was the OEM cost for stock

carburetors they were supposed to be using in that class. They never

tried that particular trick again...



So, that's one of my thoughts on how the costs of entry level

competition could be effectively controlled. I'd be happy to assist

with developing the language if there is an interest in proposing such a

rule.



Rick