Aye, I agree as well. If there is no statistically significant data to show
ANY CAR being an overdog in the class, don't change it. Examine the results
from the National Tour and Nationals itself. Take a sampling from the
regional events. And remember, a driver dominating a class may not be a
data point if he dominated his class last year.
To address the car set up issues, they seem to be very personal. How much
under/oversteer a driver is used to, for example. However, this can be
mitigated by communication. If there is a "winning setup" with which a
driver appears to demonstrate that a car is an overdog, publish it on
team.net and broadcast it around the community. Let other drivers of the
same car set up their cars in a similar fashion, and have at it. Many more
data points.
I am in my first season, and I don't claim to be an experienced autocrosser
or car expert. (I am not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV either) From
what I have heard from those who have raced many years is that the stock
classes usually vary from year to year in terms of competition. AS, for
what ever reason, is a fairly competitive class, with lots of competitive
cars to choose from. If there is a decrease in entries in AS that are not
s2000s, or s2000s start winning against a mixed field, then it is time to
revisit the issue. Here in Chicago AS, at our last event there were 2
s2000s and S4 that I saw. The S4 took the day.
R/
----- Original Message -----
From: David Hawkins <otgrouch@twosrus.com>
To: Mark Sirota <msirota@isc.upenn.edu>; Topper Jones <gbrt@rocketmail.com>
Cc: Gary Thomason <gtsolo2@home.net>; <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: Stock reclassification???? the answer (VERY LONG)
> >Though I haven't had the opportunity to drive an S2000 on course, I'm
> >inclined to agree with the SCAC on this one. Those devilishly
> >difficult cars have potential, if you can put together that great run.
> >Once some driver gets one fully tuned to their preferences and gets
> >used to the car, it'll be faster -- significantly faster -- than we
> >see today.
>
> I've driven one on course....it was still in the tuning stage and it liked
> to step out in the corners. I think it does have potential, but not that
it
> has significantly more potential than an M3 or MR2 Turbo. It has no
> torque and the wait for the VTEC cam to come online is very similar
> to what I have in the MR2 below 3K rpm (except you're waiting about
> 3500 more rpm in the S2K's case). The car was a hoot to drive....but
> did not show the potential that I saw in the M Roadster last month.
>
> If it runs away with the show all season, by all means throw it up a
class.
> That hasn't been happening, and I think this proposal is premature. It
> had one good run at an NT on Gary Thomason's home turf, which has
> been described as a decided advantage.
>
> David Hawkins
> 86 Mr2 CSP in pieces
> general ride whore while the car's torn down
>
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