448 replies to this topic

[Andrew Charbonneau]

I would love to test drive give me anything or give me death. (john paul jr) all i want to is drive.

like a banchee with no care and like train on a rail, i must feel free , Free of all chains which hold me down.

free like a bird flying nowhere but higher. you must understand that the rush of the wind and the sounds of the track will always set you free. free spirit is like free will you make the choice to go faster and you make the choice to slow down.
for the reason to have fun.

do not forget this is for fun we will all be remebering parity when your maker says its time to go when he asks you did you have fun ,say hell yes you bastard when is the next ride.

andrew charbonneau biatches

[Chains]

For what's it worth I agree with the overall direction, it's still close racing and field sizes are growing. It may need a tweak here and there, but it's not known with certainty just yet.

I think the current rule set and the idea of a National Championship with a possiblity of winning in something other than a 99 is just what the class needs at this point. Most builders are not developing the early 1.8 or the 1.6 cars any longer with all the new cars being ordered are 99-00 models.

IMO this will push the early car owners to more Nasa events increasing the size of their fields, (we have already seen larger fields in Nasa FL than at any other time), some 99 owners may opt to hold out till they see a rule change. In the end NASA will be happy with the larger car counts, still having a 50-60 car Championship @ MO, after all SM is a class made up of alot of friends. We all have seen it, where one friend goes, another will follow, and another and so on. I know I crossed off 2 SARRC SCCA events, to make room for NASA this year, I'll have a few friends with me, missing the same SCCA events. Mission accomplished by the powers to be at NASA.

Yet the offer will still stand, if NASA really wants to see parity, 2 top level cars, a 1.6 and a 99 and if they want a 1.8 that has 2 track records (PBIR and Sebring Short) and the 09 SIC Championship I may be able to convince the owner to fess it up for a weekend. That would be all 3 cars, all top level....open invitation, I'm sure the Largest Class in SCCA and NASA might be interested in the test results, and most of all the outcome??

[Andrew Charbonneau]

[Steve D]

Yet the offer will still stand, if NASA really wants to see parity, 2 top level cars, a 1.6 and a 99 and if they want a 1.8 that has 2 track records (PBIR and Sebring Short) and the 09 SIC Championship I may be able to convince the owner to fess it up for a weekend. That would be all 3 cars, all top level....open invitation, I'm sure the Largest Class in SCCA and NASA might be interested in the test results, and most of all the outcome??

Cliff -

This is a very generous offer. I don't have any knowledge of an official NASA response to your offer, but since it has gone without a direct response I'll offer my understanding of the situation.

Neither NASA or SCCA has the budget to do lengthy parity testing - whether as a stand-alone event or as part of a race weekend. Even if one or both sanctioning bodies were able to do that at one track, people would correctly criticize those results as being applicable to only that one track. Multi-track testing is clearly outside the budget.

Rightly or wrongly, the NASA 'testing' method is to assume people will show up at the races with their best equipment and best driving. Collect data on a variety of cars, variety of drivers, variety of tracks, throw it in a blender and...

As imperfect as that method may be, it is the best we have at this point. Anyone who is interested in helping with the testing, please register for as many NASA races as possible so we have a good representative sample of results with a mix of cars, drivers and tracks.

Thanks to you and all folks on here for your passion for the sport and desire to make the racing closer!

[Jim Drago]

Steve,
Are you running against Obama in the next election? You have my vote

[Alex Bolanos]

Yet the offer will still stand, if NASA really wants to see parity, 2 top level cars, a 1.6 and a 99 and if they want a 1.8 that has 2 track records (PBIR and Sebring Short) and the 09 SIC Championship I may be able to convince the owner to fess it up for a weekend.

No convincing needed, I'll bring the 'ol 1.8 out of cryofreeze hibernation to the next NASA FL event. We'll see if stella still has her groove....

[davearm]

Just a FYI from this past weekend's NASA Mid Atlantic event at VIR.

http://www.mylaps.co...4034&perclass=1

Molaver in a 99
Cooke in a 1.6

[Steve D]

Steve,
Are you running against Obama in the next election? You have my vote

Jim -
Not running, but I will gladly accept a brown paper bag for my election fund. I have working with Congress on a special free trade zone that will encourage economic development across Southwestern Tennessee. The wording says something about requiring an "East Street" location, Italian-American ownership, automotive recycling... But it is a broad-based effort to lift the entire Memphis community.

[Mike Collins]

Just a FYI from this past weekend's NASA Mid Atlantic event at VIR.

http://www.mylaps.co...4034&perclass=1

Molaver in a 99
Cooke in a 1.6

Not relevant. Neither car or driver is at or near the level of car or driver that Alex represented.

[davearm]

Not relevant. Neither car or driver is at or near the level of car or driver that Alex represented.

Not relevant to who, the average regional driver? (who make up the vast majority of both NASA and SCCA Spec Miata population). Never said anthing about level of prep, would have to ask the drivers about that before passing judgment. Just showing that at the NASA regional level, there is some level of parity. Obviously another small sample, but demonstrates that on a regional level they are working towards a competitive balance.

Just my 2 cents, and observations (from way behind both of these cars).

[dmathias]

Not relevant. Neither car or driver is at or near the level of car or driver that Alex represented.

I could have taken bets on predicting that reply.

How about all of us "irrelevants" just stay home or find other hobbies. Then all of the hotshots can have plenty of space on the track with the 10 car groups.

[john mueller]

Not relevant. Neither car or driver is at or near the level of car or driver that Alex represented.

See, this was my (personal) point EXACTLY. Mike, I like you and respect you but this is not a healthy vision for keeping (or growing) the class to be as good as it can be. Painting X% of the cars/drivers "not relevant" is also no way to measure quality. My guess is Molaver & Cooke had a great time and can't wait till the next event, which is THE WHOLE POINT. This is all for sport & fun!!! We (NASA & SMAC) need to keep it as fair as it can be, but damn it this should be fun above all else! Only 0.0005% of SM drivers even have a remote shot at making driving their career, the rest of us (IMO) just want to keep it honest, close, & fun.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

See, this was my (personal) point EXACTLY. Mike, I like you and respect you but this is just not a healthy vision for keeping (or growing) the class as good as it can be. Painting 90% of the cars/drivers "not relevant" is also no way to measure quality. My guess is Molaver & Cooke had a great time and can't wait till the next event, which is THE WHOLE POINT. This is for fun!!! Lets keep it as fair as we can but damn it this is for fun!! Only 0.0005% of SM drivers have a shot at making driving their career, the rest of us (IMO) just want to keep it honest, close, & fun.

John, they do this in school to its called grading on a CURVE! That way nobody flunks out of school!

[john mueller]

John, they do this in school to its called grading on a CURVE! That way nobody flunks out of school!

Not a relevant argument

So, only those who "set the curve" are relevant? I live in the bottom half of any cure there could ever possibly be... So, I don't see your point.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Not a relevant argument

So, only those who "set the curve" are relevant? I live in the bottom half of any cure there could ever possibly be... So, I don't see your point.

Welfare is a great system to!!!!!!!! REWARD MEDIOCRATY!!!!!!!!! Look where that got General Motors!!!!!!! I benefited by many curves in my day I just WAS NOT proud of it!

Those same guys you are trying to slow down now just need to go buy a 97 and the prioblem starts all over again.

[Rob Burgoon]

I love how some of you guys try to shoehorn politics into every other racing thread.

Here is what I hear:

http://video.google....12795155043011#

[Steve D]

Not relevant. Neither car or driver is at or near the level of car or driver that Alex represented.

I wonder how your "not relevant" comment is taken by the 8 drivers who were 3+ seconds off the pace set by Molaver and Cooke.

Yes, I believe NASA is searching for the best parity for the greatest number of participants. No, I don't think they are focused on parity for the top half of 1%. Time will tell whether that is the right decision.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Robin Hood was a great politition no wait he was a thief !!!! His platform rob from the Rich and give to the Poor! I think some in Spec Miata are in his lineage!

The Grinch stole Christmas to! was that a political statement!

Welfair is a system, I dont care what party you are from, if you need wellfair you should not be racing!

Just so you know I am a Republican there I said it and I have lots of terrific friends who or Dem's so what does that have to do with SM?

[john mueller]

Just so you know I am a Republican there I said it and I have lots of terrific friends who or Dem's so what does that have to do with SM?

I am too bro and still don't see your point, and it's cool if I don't. Regardless, I think Steve has the right idea.

I wonder how your "not relevant" comment is taken by the 8 drivers who were 3+ seconds off the pace set by Molaver and Cooke.

Yes, I believe NASA is searching for the best parity for the greatest number of participants. No, I don't think they are focused on parity for the top half of 1%. Time will tell whether that is the right decision.

[john mueller]

I love how some of you guys try to shoehorn politics into every other racing thread.

Here is what I hear:

http://video.google....12795155043011#

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Rob, seriously, dude you need to stop sniffing glue.