January 3, 2001
To All Star Formula Mazda Racers:
2001 will be the eleventh year of the original Star Mazda Series, now referred to as the Star Mazda Series – West to avoid confusion with the other Star Mazda Series around the country. This bulletin will review the rules for the West Division Series, which are also used as the basis for many of the other Star Mazda Series, including the nine-race Pro Series on Speedvision. The schedules for the West and for the TV Series are attached. Also included is the entry form that can be used to enter the Western Division Series, the Pro Series, either of the Masters Series, or any combination thereof. One fee of $750.00 covers everything.
In previous years, the TV Series scored anyone who was entered in any Star Mazda Series that ran on a televised date. Starting the 2001 season, you must enter with our office and pay the $750.00 entry to be scored in the TV Championship. As always however, any legal Star Formula Mazda may run any Series race, as long as the driver holds the proper license, and the car complies with the rules. The 2001 Series Supplementary Regulations are being updated and will be published in final form soon. We will use the 2000 Sup Regs for the January Nationals.
For the West Series, drivers will be required to have an SCCA National license for all but the TV dates. The Pro (TV) races will require licenses from Professional Sports Car.
If you need application forms for Professional Sports Car credentials, you may request them from our office (818-909-5355), from Sports Car (727-533-0503), or download them from www.professionalsportscar.com. We suggest you do it now.
Red Line Oil has returned to sponsor the three-race Oval championship within the Western Series. Goodyear has won selection as the Star Mazda Series spec tire. Bosch will once again be the spark plug sponsor. It is very gratifying to have these relationships between the sponsors and the Series continue and grow from year to year.
The 2001 spec tires from Goodyear will have an improved construction. Since the new construction tires will not be available until late January ’01, refer to the table below for the correct Goodyear tire codes:
D R Y
January Only Starting Feb. ‘01
Compound
Front
20.0 x 7.0 – 13
D1026
D1333
R430
Rear
22.0 x 9.0 – 13
D1027
D1334
R430
Front
20.0 x 7.0 – 13
--
D1335
R620
Rear
22.0 x 9.0 – 13
--
D1336
R620
W E T
Throughout 2001
Starting March ‘01
Compound
Front
20.0 x 8.0 – 13
D1381
--
R080
Rear
22.0 x 10.0 – 13
D2641
--
R080
Front
20.0 x 8.0 – 13
--
D1340
R085
Rear
22.0 x 10.0 – 13
--
D1341
R085
The 430 compound will be the standard dry tire. Under special circumstances, the Series will designate the R620 compound, such as for right side on ovals and left side for the Memorial Day weekend at Willow Springs. Spec Goodyear rain tires may be used at any time, at the discretion of the driver.
Test days – there should be open testing generally available, the day before each ALMS race schedule starts. The Mesa Marin and Irwindale ovals are set up as two-day events only. All others will usually have testing available, through the tracks, for Thursday or Friday of race weekends. You are reminded private testing is prohibited at Series tracks, one week before each race.
In 2001, the top fifteen drivers will divide the year-end points fund. Points will be awarded to the top 35 finishers of each race. The 2001 schedule has been refined to include better dates and more track time, and to include major spectator events with the opportunity to be on TV. All qualifying sessions and race groups will be for Formula Mazda cars only. In most cases, 2001 races will be 40 minutes long. Last year, the total value of cash, hotel rooms, spark plugs, tires, wheels, etc., came to over $250,000 returned to Star Series West drivers. The size of the points fund is determined by the amount of participation. Therefore, more entries also add more prize money. FM fields for 2000 Star Series West dates averaged over 28 cars.
Professional races with American LeMans Series will be run with Professional Sports Car sanctions. Pro Sportscar licenses will be needed for these races. Our office has forms; if you need them, just call. SCCA National licenses will be required for all non-Pro races. Do not get taken by surprise!
An outline of the 2001 Star Mazda Series rules follows:
A. The top fifteen drivers will divide the year-end prize fund based on the points scored throughout the Series. The best ten results for each driver in the Series scheduled races will be counted.
B. The schedule attached will constitute the races qualifying for West Series points. If any listed races are canceled for any reason, substitute dates will be established whenever possible, to the best of our ability. Year-end awards will be presented after the conclusion of the last event, no matter how many races are run.
C. To qualify for championship points and year-end prizes, drivers must register with the Star Mazda Series and have paid up accounts with Star Race Cars. Cars will be prepared in accordance with SCCA published rules, Series Supplemental Regulations, and Star Mazda Series bulletins. Cars must start the race on the same tires used for qualifying, although Goodyear rain tires may be substituted at any time at the driver's discretion. To qualify for points and awards, cars must display the decals required by the Series, in addition to the decals required for SCCA Club or Professional Sports Car racing. Required decals must be in colors contrasting with the paint scheme on the car and be easily visible. The 2001 spec tires will be Goodyear (430 compound for most courses, 620 compound for special situations such as on oval tracks). See the table above for tire codes. The Star Mazda Series may add, clarify or change the rules as needed at any time as they apply to technical matters within the Series.
D. Points will be awarded for the Series based on finishing order in each race, counting only Series competitors starting each event. The top 35 drivers shall be credited in order as follows: 1st - 44, 2nd - 40, 3rd - 37, 4th - 34, 5th - 32, 6th - 30, 7th - 29, 8th - 28, 9th - 27, 10th - 26, 11th - 25, 12th - 24, 13th - 23, 14th - 22, 15th - 21, 16th - 20, 17th - 19, 18th - 18, 19th - 17, 20th - 16, 21st - 15, 22nd - 14, 23rd - 13, 24th - 12, 25th - 11, 26th - 10, 27th - 9, 28th - 8, 29th - 7, 30th - 6, 31st - 5, 32nd - 4, 33rd - 3, 34th - 2, 35th - 1. A bonus point will be awarded for the fastest qualifying driver at each race. There will be a one-time registration fee of $750. Only Star Mazda cars will be eligible for scoring. Competitors must provide photos of the front and side views of their cars for registration records. Competitors must be properly entered in each championship race and obtain the credentials or licenses required by the sanctioning organization for that race. A Professional Sports Car license will be required for some races, an SCCA National license for all others.
E. Star Race Cars will support competitors at each championship event with spare parts and information as in the past. Competitors may be required to use paddock spaces designated for the series by agreement with race organizers.
F. Each competitor should have the 2001 SCCA General Competition Rules and Formula Car Specifications. Be sure you are familiar with current rules, including tech bulletins published in Fastrack and also those issued by the Series from time to time. Questions or problems should be raised with the Series staff at the earliest possible time, so that fairness can be maintained and championship positions can be earned by driving prowess on the track and not be subject to unnecessary legal/technical entanglements. NOTE: Private testing at a Star Series track one week prior to a championship event on that track is prohibited. Test days open to all Series competitors are permitted.
G. The Series will award at least one set of Goodyear tires, free of charge, to a driver or drivers determined by random drawing at each race. To be eligible to win the tires, the driver must be properly registered in the Star Mazda Series, entered in the championship for the race, and not have previously won a free set of tires in this year's program. One and one-half sets of tires will be awarded at races with 20 or more entries and two sets will be drawn for if the event is a televised race, or if the field exceeds 30 entries. If more than one set of tires is to be awarded, the first valid winner will get one set, the balance will go to the second valid name drawn.
H. Bosch will provide one set of free spark plugs to each registered Series competitor, which should be sufficient to take care of most competitors' needs. Additional spark plugs will be available for purchase from Star Race Cars, should you need more.
I. BBS will again award a free set of FM wheels to the Series "Rookie of the Year." Any driver who has not started three Star Mazda Series races prior to the 2001 Series will be considered a "rookie" for the purpose of this award.
J. Drivers over 45 years of age before the March 1, 2001, may enter the "Masters Class." This class will be scored separately in addition to the normal series scoring. Standings will be published from race to race and a year-end award will go to the "Masters Champion." Masters points are awarded: 1st - 20, 2nd - 16, 3rd - 14, 4th - 12, 5th - 11, 6th - 10, 7th - 9, 8th - 8, 9th - 7, 10th - 6, 11th - 5, 12th - 4, 13th - 3, 14th - 2, 15th - 1. The same scoring system will be used for this year’s Red Line Oil Oval Series Championship.
K. You are reminded that you must enter the listed races and have the appropriate credentials from the sanctioning body. This can be coordinated fairly easily through our office. We will try to help; if you are unsure, call us. Jack Brabban will return as Series Chief Steward. Suzanne Shinji and Jane Anderson will also be working with us again this year. We are very pleased to have their help coordinating all the at-the-track details. Todd Cook will continue the duties of Competition Director. Tony Rodrigues will do timing and scoring and assign permanent numbers. Our phone numbers are:
Gary Rodrigues (818) 909-5319
Tony Rodrigues (818) 909-5310
Star Race Cars (818) 909-5355
Star Mazda Series Fax (818) 909-5309
Jack Brabban (858) 560-1325
Suzanne Shinji (beeper) (714) 217-2820, (800) 767-7832 x 2196 (work)
Todd Cook (480) 967-7901
Jane Anderson (702) 399-3031
L. The Pro (TV) Series awards permanent car numbers 1 through 10 to the previous year's top ten drivers. In the event a top 10 driver from 2000 does not intend to return to the Series for 2001, the team that ran the top 10 drivers’ car may apply for the number. Contact Tony Rodrigues to coordinate your car number for 2001.
M. There will be a spec fuel required at all West Series and Pro (TV) Series races. The fuel for Year 2001 has been designated M.S.-933 by VP Racing Fuels. VP will also award $100 to the seventh place finisher at each Series race.
Any comments, suggestions, or preferences on any subject are welcome. Your survey responses were very helpful in shaping the 2001 program. Please feel free to give us the benefit of your input at any time.
Folders, videos, and marketing information are available to FM owners/drivers for sponsor presentations or press kits. Call Star Race Cars for prices and to order items for your use. A two-cassette set of all eight 2000 Best Western Championship races is also available.
Anything we can do to be more user friendly or valuable as an ally in your racing efforts, please let us know. We look forward to an ever improving 2001 season of racing. The 2001 schedule is enclosed. Please fill out the Series Registration and return it ASAP.
The "TV Series," will be made up of the nine races on Speedvision. These races will be scored together for additional prizes. TV Series points, and prizes are published separately. Contact the Star Mazda Series office for details.
Sincerely,
Valley Motor Center Racing, Inc.
dba Star Mazda Series
Gary E. Rodrigues,
President