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There hasn't been a ChumpCar post for quite a while so here goes.
ChumpCar has done a major re-write on their rules for 2014-2016. They've done away with the AIV (Advertised Internet Valve) as a basis for assigning a value to your racecar. Instead they are using all the collected AIV data as well as finishing position data from previous years to assign a performance value to all eligible cars. The end result is: the cars that have done extremely well in past year i.e. BMW E30 and E36 will have a higher performance value than cars that did not finish as well. For example; many of the E30s now have a performance value of $500.00 and the E36 $550.00. This means the E30s cannot perform any mods and must run completely stock while the E36 will be penalized laps before the race begins. Here's a another example: the 90-93 Miata as a performance value of $325.00 while the 94 has a value of $400.00 which means the 90-93 Miata gets $175,00 of mods while the 94 gets $100.00. This doesn't sound like much money for mods but keep in mind the cost of the mods is documented in the rules and the cost is much lower than retail. For example: Non-OE sway bars are $50.00 for the front and $30.00 for the rear, a header is $50.00, Non-OE springs are $20.00 per corner. There are lots of other mods but that gives you the idea.
Anyway, I consider this a major improvement in the rules towards leveling the playing field. We ran our 90 Miata in the 24 Hours of VIR last August and did very well considering, the race was run on the Grand West course, we lost second gear during the first stint and lost a couple more laps for various reasons. We finished in 23rd out of 104 cars. The large majority of cars that finished ahead of us were E30 and E36 BMWs, there HP combined with the long straights just killed us. Still, the whole team was very satisfied with our performance.
One other anecdote: Our pit mates were in a 94 Miata, we were right with them in the standings around 24th as the sun when‘t down when they put their two World Challenge Pro drivers in the car. Jon Miller was one of them I don't recall the name of the other Pro. Anyway, they switched off all night, driving from 24th to 4th. These guys just don't slow down at all at night.
The 24 hour was our first ChumpCar event after doing two Lemons races the previous year. I have to say I much prefer ChumpCar over Lemons. ChumpCar is all about grass roots racing, the 24 hour was extremely well run and racing oriented. Lemons puts way to much emphasis on silly themes, much to the detriment of the racing. We've done our last Lemons race.
For next year we're building a 94 Miata to find some more HP. We're already registed for three races, all on shorter Miata friendly tracks. Hopefully between the rules changes and the shorter tracks we can take the fight to those cursed E30 and 36s.
Don't hesitate to post, there are a ton of other rules changes and Chumpy stuff to discuss.
Steve Hunt
Warriors for the Wounded #756
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