In a message dated 7/11/00 7:46:27 AM Central Daylight Time,
Andrew_Bettencourt@kingston.com writes:
<< While I can understand SOME of your points, you have to go back to that
time to understand the cars and the classings. What you have in class 8 is
the *OLD*
GS. The same GS that was within .003 of the PAX with ES (.791 vs. .794). ES
and GS ran the same times at the National level...and if you really think that
ES is a good fit for the ST, then putting it in with OLD GS cars is basically
the same thing. >>
I have looked at the results from many events, and I have been running here
in Chicago for over 12 years, so I have seen many cars come and go. I used
the Probe MX6 as examples, and there are several others that don't fit
either. The Prelude has also been pointed out as a car that may stay in the
"new" GStock now called Class 8, since it was not listed as moving to the
"new" DStock.
Many of these past wining cars are no longer raced and developed because they
got moved up in class or had much faster cars moved in with them so they no
longer dominate. If the cars were challenged but competitive they would still
be developed further. No one was using $1500 per corner shocks on the Probes.
Tires have also come a long way since those cars were pushed to the limits.
I know, the specs on paper don't mean everything. That is why the Celica I
have started in HS, and the Talon I used to have started in BS. That is where
they loked like they fit on paper. After a couple years they got re-classed
where they seemed to fit better by their performance. I like having a close
fight with 6 other cars even at local events, we have Hondas, Toyotas, and
the occasional Neon, and it is always close and no clear winner. Why screw
this up? Sure, at the Peru tour, thewre were 8 Celicas in 1-8th and a lone
Honda in 9th (new in the car, it will get faster), but that was still a
variety of cars, 2 95 ST's, 5 00 GT's, and a 95 GT all running within 1.5
seconds both days. Top 4 within 2/10ths. With a different one leading each
day. So why mess with this??
I am being pushed to drive better than I ever have, and it is all because I
have a car I know can perform, and I am not discouraged with car envy. So far
I have invested about the same as buying a new stock Neon with no prep, so it
is not a loss as long as I get a couple years to run it with a hope of
getting in the trophies.
Gary M.
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