@ Steve and some of the others, I am glad I could provide you with some entertainment. I know I will not be successful at changing your decision. For clarity I looked up the SCCA National rules on the passenger topic and number of runs. Some of the folks may not understand what I consider to be the foundation of the sport.
2015 SCCA® National Solo® Rules:
SCCA wrote:
D. .....The only passengers who may be allowed during competitions runs in National Solo® events are non competitors whose role is to fulfill the state-mandated requirements for a driver who has a restricted driver’s license requiring a passenger....
6.7 VISUAL OR ORAL INSTRUCTION
No visual or oral instruction shall be given to a driver during his timed runs except in an emergency situation.
7.3 MINIMUM OF THREE RUNS
Each driver shall be allowed at least three (3) official timed runs per course, subject to severe circumstances beyond the control of the event organizers. Reduction in the number of runs offered at the National Championships may be done only with the concurrence of the Chief Steward, Event Chair, SEB Chair, and the Solo® Department. Only the fastest official run per course will be scored.
^^^This is the starting point that some locals call "more strict." SCCA's intent is listed above. Most people's interpretation of Solo: No passengers when racing. No instruction when racing. Only one run (of at least 3) counts (the one with the lowest time). SCCA does not allow instructors in the car with students for immediate feedback during any timed runs (not the first, second and so on). The SCCA rules are easy to enforce, easy to understand and clear.
The proposed rule change is targeted at the foundation of the sport.
True the local groups can make changes to a point. We made a change years ago to allow instructors for novice drivers in the name of safety and it has a side benefit of providing new drivers with a more positive experience. If we drift off from the listed above SCCA rules (from no passengers and no instruction when racing to ---> can have as much instruction and as many passengers as they want when racing) for all competitors I think we need to publish the new rules in a location where members can view them.
Event masters need to be able to resolve conflicts between competitors at events.
The safety of novices driving novice passengers needs to be looked at.
More drivers requesting better instructors in the first run group needs to be looked at.
Grid delays as drivers wait for instructors needs to be looked at.
The proposed change shifts the foundation of the local competition intent and activities. The proposed change intent is to provide an additional opportunity to take instruction (in addition the now 16 runs available with X runs and all day practice on Saturday with no changes to the rules). The other intent is to allow friends and family to ride as passengers in addition to the 16 runs now available.
I believe (I know that the club does not typically support this) consideration for Fair instruction (a level playing field for competitors) needs to be looked at because sportsmanship is likely to be questioned. If we change the rule as proposed it becomes a time bomb for conflicts and a burden to instructors. The new rules would support what would traditionally be considered un-sportsmanship actions. Do we tell competitors that feel others have an unfair team instructor advantage to suck it up because we are having more fun? More likely we will tell them to find a better team from the unlimited supply of available instructors pushing the issue on to them making it clear that Solo in LA is team racing. I feel it is irresponsible to make rules when you don't expect races to use them to an advantage.
Is choosing an instructor the same as choosing the brand of tire? (Some say it is) I say no because the tire brand is more available to the majority of drivers in many of the classes and instructors are not. You purchase tires but I don't think you should purchase other drivers. Some instructors may run in the 6th group when others may run in the first. A driver running for points is not allowed to instruct until they have completed all timed runs.
Some say the weight of the instructor will slow down the car so it is not an advantage. One run with an instructor out of 4 runs is not a weight disadvantage when only one run counts. If it is no advantage to have live instruction at all then why make a rule change? Evolution School has made it a point to provide in car instruction because the real time instruction improves drivers. That is why some are pushing for the rule change (every run is school). I believe (and many others do as well) that you should try to learn every time you drive/ race but I think School is not the same as racing or learning on your own. School is best done in a different setting (Practice, EVO or a club School, T.O. or X-runs). If instruction is provided in X-runs the student has the chance to see the improvement that instruction provides after they gave it real try without instruction. When racing, drivers need to focus. Taking instruction requires multitasking. Racing for points with instruction can make racing more frustrating for some. This is different--->Having an instructor/team mate point out to a second or third driver (when racing in a class for points) how to take the bumps, how fast to take the sweepers and point out brake zones to optimize a given car's performance on the same course that the instructor/ team mate drove in the same day. Video does not provide the same thing however if it did than why change the rule? Most team mates have the chance to practice on Saturday and have driving instruction in the most optimum environment and then the Sunday instruction becomes less about skill and more about optimizing a given car's performance for the team mates.
Changing foundation rules in the middle of a series and reversing the rule change is not normal in most types of competition especially when unfair advantage is at question by some or all.