I hope that this post reaches all of the ESP, CSP and BSP competitors that have
jumped to conclusions (right or wrong) about the M3 move to ESP from CSP.
I originally thought that the M3 would be a good fit for ESP. Down big on power
but had the handling to bring the playing field back to level. Let's look at a
few past comments:
'M3 is an AS car and should be in the same SP class as the 911's.' Just because
you are a National Champion doesn't mean you know what goes into classing cars.
The 911's have a serious advantage over the M3 in that the update/backdate
possibilities make the cars twice as fast as they came from the factory. The M3
does not have that advantage. And the ASP drivers that are expected to do well
in Topeka...where are they in these results? We MUST remember to compare apples
to apples.
CSP did lose to ESP at Peru. It also lost to SS. Take a quick look at San
Bernadino and Lemoore, CSP beat ESP convincingly. When I won the Pro in Peru
last year in P2, it was only because the course was long enough for the RX-7 to
get to full power. As we all know, most Pro courses are much smaller and
tighter than NT courses. I got my lunch eaten (and so did Bob T) at all the
other Pro's that were of 'regular' size. This IMHO was/is due to the nature of
the current crop of CSP cars: super light (1800lbs) and decent power. The
reason Bob (and SS) beat CSP this year was because the course allowed it...and
not many do.
Let's also remember who we are dealing with here. Mr. Tunnell lives and
breathes these BMW's. He tore everyone up in the 1995 season in DS in a 318is -
against the now 'unbeatable' DOHC Neon ACR. Take a look at the trends. One of
the other trends I see all across the country is POORLY set-up SP cars. Spring
rates are the most critical component IMHO. They can make you a hero or a zero.
Pro Parts / Tri Point has been building Nationals-winning SP cars for years. It
looks to me like they KNOW what the hell they are doing. in a BIG way. When I
build a SP car, I will be tapping into that pool of knowledge, you can bet your
life on it.
I agree 100% that a HANDLING car will beat a POWERFUL car in Solo2. I have
always thought that when someone comes to Topeka in a FS/ESP pony car that
actually handled, they would take the Gold.
All this being said, I think the results are bearing out that it may be a BSP
car after all. The IRS says put it with like cars in BSP, the power deficit
points more toward ESP. I think that we have a little more observations to make
but the pendulum is swinging toward BSP IMHO.
AB
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