Its the dinky little tracks and the number of people on track at the same that is the problem, not so much the length of time, however it does give you a greater chance of getting in a respectable time given the circumstances, and i think thats what people need.
'Super pole' is a stupid idea because it takes so damn long to do it and its boring as hell waiting around, as you were informed the last time you pointed it out!
The only way something like that could be done is have a 10min qual, and only allow people to leave the pits once and complete 1 flying lap only. When you leave the pits is your decision, crash or roll it and its tough luck. It'll mean the track is much quieter because you wont have 32 cars out there, you'll probably have 6-10 at a time.
Still, i prefer an open qual, if possible with a limit on the number of laps you can do, but thats not going to be possible to monitor without some sort of insim app counting how many you've done.
Personally i think 8min was stupid to begin with, 10min maybe, but it seems wrong that the pre-qualifiers get 15min to prove themselves but those that go through have only half that. Worst still is the 7min qual round @ SO4R, a track 2min long means you've got 4 flying laps tops, cars should be more spread out, but being a street track has the possibility of a crash ruining the lap.
The problem with the idea of cramming everyone into a small track and telling them to perform in 8min is that people get frustraited, and pissed off when your lap/race is ruined because of someone else, and the 'this is a fun series' wears thin when your pissed off with everyone the moment they come into view and possibly ruin a lap. The term fun seems to equate to 'benefits from others getting screwed' rather more than anything else, as that seems to be the flip-side of the cone, the possibility of others ****ing up so you could get a result better than your capable of actually acheiving on your own.
Whats better, a mixed field and a load of frustraited drivers because their chance of a respectable laps got screwed, or people being able given a reasonable chance to put in a lap they can consider as being respectable? Its only fun if you manage to get a decent chance at putting in a good lap, otherwise its just damn frustraiting and at that point fun isnt something you'd call the series.
Also, it seems to be forgotten that its not just the fast folk that get screwed by the slow guys, the slow folk get screwed on a regular basis when the faster car goes to overtake them. Typically both drivers get shafted, but i think half the time its the responsibility of each individual to get as good a run as possible (not at the expense of others), theres no point in fighting with another driver whos trying to overtake you if they're clearly faster than you, you dont have to pull over and let everyone through, but your not *racing* and ultimately racing with them will slow both people down until either the pass is made or one of you makes a mistake. If you find someone is slowing you down and has ruined a lap then unless your sure you can pass them cleanly then surely it makes more sense to make sure the next lap is clean rather than following them round the track lap after lap? Likewise if you make a mistake (even a minor one you cant improve on) try and be curtious to others rather than trying to carry on with a lap you cant improve, dont screw other peoples laps just cos yours is.
The 'fun factor' just seems a bit backwards sometimes.