I think they are trying to promote autocross because a lot of drivers make the transistion to club racing. With the economy still in a slump, membership decreasing, it's a cheaper way to get in and play or not give up on the race car until things get better for the individual.
Then you have PDX available to give them the taste of what could be there next step.
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if you can only race me in a straight line then whats the point 
...91 SMF SCCA
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by http://www.flickr.com/people/8341770@N07/, on Flickr
I see people out there spending money on the car to improve it … If you spend half that effort just working on your driving skills, making you and the car work together as a team, then you’ll go faster – period. To make the car go a second faster on the track takes a lot more energy and money than making yourself drive it one second faster.
– the late Tom Thrash SCCA Solo E Production