Willie, with all due respect -- I think that more ECTA folks than you realize go to Bonneville and know the routine. And we know that Bville and El Mirage are different from one another in many ways, too. I read your post and thought for a couple of minutes and came up with 8 or ten Maxton regulars that have Bonneville 200 MPH Club hats, and then took an EWAG - that maybe a quarter, maybe a third of Maxton's regulars are also Bonneville regulars.
There's absolutely no question that the ECTA is meant to be a "stepping stone" to Bonneville. The ECTA rule book has morphed quite a bit in the recent past -- and now is pretty much the same as the SCTA rulebook. This is on purpose -- so that Bonneville racers can go to Maxton and expect to be able to race without having to make a bunch of changes on their vehicles. I've had the pleasure of inspecting bikes at both venues -- and (at least in the past) the ECTA inspection requirements were MORE rigorous than that at Bonneville, partly owing to the big difference in the two venues. Not that one is better than the other -- but rather that some things aren't as important in Bonneville as they are at Maxton, and also vice-versa.
And we do have a required rookie orientation at Maxton, just like that at Bonneville. No orientation, no runs.
But don't let us have you thinking we're a bunch of newbies, through and through. Wander down the pit area at SpeedWeek and find the ECTA's area. No, we don't have a separate location set aside for us, but it's not uncommon for the ECTA racers to congregate in one area, just like many of the SCTA club members pit near one another. Come see us!
You're right about jumping classes -- we've all talked about that, and about why it is allowed and why it used to be allowed in a different manner. No arguments there.