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Originally Posted by Gerard C
Me too not a subscriber but how to qualify a pro driver? Only those doing that for a living? Or can we add the numerous drivers who have been participating at every event for a long time? The Peter Auto system sounds good in this aspect imo.
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I would say the definition made by some is too weak, the trouble of historic motor sport is that there are different levels of pro drivers, like in modern but very different.
There are the retired pro or let's say drivers that at a point in their career earned and income or just simply raced at a level which even if not earning them a living would qualify them as such, say a driver that did FF1600, F2 or F3 in the second tier of the grid and without a so-called works drive or one of these "gentleman" that could buy their way in endurance racing back in the 1970s, 1980s and even 1990s. I call these the BRONZES.
There are the historic pros or the guys that have made a name in historic motor sport, earned a reputation and displayed skills which could have brought them to higher levels if they have had the budget to go into the modern sport let's say and no need to give the names here, there are plenty today whom also went to Le Mans or so thanks to their skills and help of another gentleman driver. They drive, they coach and make a partial or full living of this through historic and I call these the SILVERS.
And last and upper tier are the guys still active or partially active in modern motor sport and whom made a full name there. They haven't been active in the last 5 years but they are of a younger generation, have the fitness unknown to most in historics and abilities that goes with it, these are to me the GOLDS. They are clear pros and have always been, race driving is their base business and it cannot be ignored.
The point is that whatever way you want to classify the drivers, you will never make all of them happy but there has to be clear parameters. About 5 years ago we designed a full system for such classification in historics and it is far from easy to be clear, open and factual when it comes to talent and income. And it would have taken a lot to promoters to actually have the guts to enforce it when it comes to customers.