115 replies to this topic

[Caveman-kwebb99]

I dont care for the ugly ones!  

 

lore ¹  (lôr, lr)

n.

1. Accumulated facts, traditions, or beliefs about a particular subject. See Synonyms at knowledge.

2. Knowledge acquired through education or experience.

3. Archaic Material taught or learned.

 

[jeopardyracing]

Record turnouts at Runoffs. Biggest class in my region is typically the SSM, which is the oldest model. Tons of used, built cars on the market with low prices. I'm a little baffled by the debate and what the 'problem' is. If these models ever get scarce we can address it then. 

[Mark McCallister]

Letter submitted.  What a dumb idea.  SM5 is/can/should be a great next step up the ladder for top programs.  +1 what Sean said above.

[dfuser]

Worst idea ever!

[LarryKing]

I'm thinking for equal or less $$$ than a new SM build I could race a man's car.

 

https://www.facebook.com/SpecMustang

 

And I think I have the perfect class for those tired old 99s

 

http://goaheadtaketh...nd-preparation/

[Johnny D]

A lot a good comments.

Have the best class currently but looking into the future, for how long...

SM5 has the potential

1.6 great for grass roots. Little tired for Majors. Daytona ??

99 corked, but could unleashed

NC

 

Time to rebalancing their portfolio?

I could see SM all NA, NB in SM5, maybe not yet, but in the future.

Unless your waiting for 1.6's to die out.

J~

[JMorris]

wow.
 
SM
1. #13196 (Club Racing Board ) The Future of Spec Miata
The CRB is discussing the future of Spec Miata. The current average age of Spec Miatas competing in the SCCA is 17+ years
with most 1.6 cars being 25 years old. The CRB is discussing the possible introduction of the 2006 and newer MX5 into the class.
If this would be appropriate, when and how should we introduce this car into the class?
Please send all comments through the
CRB letter system at crbscca.com
 
Also big ups to hoover for wanting to get a miata into T1.  That would be wild to watch.

What a terrible idea. The parity seems to be closer than ever with few complaining except the 2-3 regulars who do nothing but complain. So why do we upset the entire apple cart? Drago was this your idea?

The best thing you guys did was to freeze the parity rules for three years! If you were smart, you would give us back the 47mm plate and freeze the rules for another three years.

J~

[Danny Steyn]

 last choice 01-05, I would hate to have to build a cheater car like someone who is North conference co champion just to race in the class, but I do have the donor sitting on my parkinglot already!!!!

 

Caveman, hope the smiley face pertains to the whole sentence, and not just to the second part of the sentence.......... Sarcasm and inside jokes are often misunderstood

[LarryKing]

See what I  mean. If the class was one generation (NC) there would be no need for pusher cars, COTYs, constant grey area development. Seal it from Mazda. No need to build a new car each year to keep up with the latest flavor.

[jeopardyracing]

2nd for bringing back the 47mm.

 

I am a little confused by the appeal of 'uncorking' the 99. I've ready plenty of other threads commenting that it's easier and cheaper to build a competitive 99 than a 1.6 in SM in part because the restrictor negates the benefit of many of the intake optimizations 1.6's need to be competitive. Assuming those posts were accurate, when I read that what rang in my head is 'restrictor plates help ward off spending wars.' Cheaper & easier = good. Restrictor plates are fantastic. Who cares if the car goes a couple of a few mph faster down a straight? If we really cared about outright hp we wouldn't be in this class.  

 

At the national level it seems to me that SM has de facto moved on to the 99 as the standard anyway, so the national class has effectively already gotten a fleet 'upgrade' that should last years. The NA cars remain in regional competition along with some '99s. Great mix, fine scenario. We have SM5 for those who want something new. I think things are great just as they are. Except I do want that 47mm back lol. 

[jeopardyracing]

We don't need a whole new class to get seals. If that's the objective just tighten up what we already have and seal like we do regionally in SSM. If there really are problems with parity / spending in SM then I don't see what an additional chassis has to do with it. 

[LarryKing]

 

At the national level it seems to me that SM has de facto moved on to the 99 as the standard anyway,

 

And in a couple years the de facto will be the 2006+. Don't kid yourselves brothers, it's happening.

 

Can't we all just move on?

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Caveman, hope the smiley face pertains to the whole sentence, and not just to the second part of the sentence.......... Sarcasm and inside jokes are often misunderstood

 
Changed now sweety!  It was not scarcasm it was a friend thing...  He isn't cheating but it makes me feel a little better when I use the "C" word right after a race in which he beats me...  He built the best car for his driving style and he worked hard to improve all year, thats what we are all trying to do!!!!
 
I am just reluctant to build the overdog like He, You and others have done...  Maybe I will join the crowd to at some point
 
Thanks for the post

[Jim Drago]

See what I  mean. If the class was one generation (NC) there would be no need for pusher cars, COTYs, constant grey area development. Seal it from Mazda. No need to build a new car each year to keep up with the latest flavor.

You talk of constant gray area this and that, seal it up etc. The engine rules are spelled out so well now, it is all but impossible to pass what you imply is common place. For those that think sealing up is the answer. ( which is not mentioned anywhere in this what do you think BTW) Seals are being defeated now, have been been defeated many times in the past and will continue to be defeated in the future. They keep honest people honest, not much more. There will be many spec sealed engines that will be better than others. Some by natural selection, some by intentional means. That variance in both instances will be outside of the range that we enjoy now in SM.
I get it, your car is at perceived disadvantage, so we should throw the most successful class in the history of SCCA and NASA in the shitter so you can take your toys and go home, makes sense to me

Back to the topic.. The CRB is asking for input about bringing the MX5 into SM. It is not asking you to give input on how to start a new class on a blank sheet of paper. It is asking if, when and how should we bring the MX5 INTO SM. Little attention will be paid to letters outside those parameters.

[svvs]

Just curious, do the pro racing forums ever get this way?  I feel like we haven't even gotten started yet.

 

Rational me says natural selection will eventually bring this class toward '99's and SM5's becoming the new cars of the class.

 

Rational me also looks around at races and sees a LOT of pop up headlights at regionals.  I only went to one major last year, and there were....10 out of 32 give or take?  I think I finished somewhere between 13th and 15th after tech shed stuff.

 

We have a pop up headlight class here in the NE called SM2.....basically when SSM became unpopular (not in DC region), SM2 was devised to give the pop up headlight guys a place to double dip that was more miata like than ITA.

 

I can tell you that not all the pop up headlight guys run SM2 and SM in the same weekend.  Some only run SM.

 

My perceived thought is I made a lot of friends racing....I'd say 2/3 of them run '99's now.  If all of a sudden I don't get to race against them in SM anymore because now I'm CSM the racing just got to be a lot less fun.

 

-Vick

[38bfast]

Good points being brought up. I think we all know in time the new cars will be faded in. This does not have to be next year. It could be a 5 year plan or maybe longer. This is what I believe the SMAC is looking for input on. At what point would we feel the need to make it happen? So many classes have resisted change only to fade away. It would be very smart of us to look far into the future and come up with a game plan instead of reacting when it is too late. We have seen that happen way too often. Think long term and write some letters. Adding another class at the national level should be avoided as the BODs objective is less classes. A plan could be to phase them in below the curve of performance and slowly bring them up. Just a thought. We have a lot of very smart people out there that may come up with a very creative solution that will make everyone happy. Saying no never would be a bad plan IMHO.

Just for reference CSR / DSR / S2 have now been combined into P1 and P2. All cars are undergoing change to make it happen. All three classes resisted change and are now being lumped in together with a new rule set. Much better to be proactive than reactive.

[Johnny D]

So to sell this. (for those that haven't signed up on the idea).

 

Have some proposed packages, RP, weight, PS, data, laptime ??

J~

[FTodaro]

People who are vested in there cars are not just going to dump them so a few people will be happy with one platform. That would kill this class and even worse, the people who are slow now and blame it on the platform will still be slow, then what will the ague?

If the MX5 comes in there it would have to be phased in over a long time, during that transition you would have to find parity, which becomes harder with every new car you put in the mix.

This idea is still ahead of its time, there are no shortages of Miatas to build, so why fix what is not yet broken.

[Johnny D]

Just wondering if the vote passed, they'd look at each other and say oh crap or pull out the rule set.

 

Or Feb Fasttrack is all wrote up welcoming them to the class. i.e.(DSR)

 

Nothing like testing if it coming to town sooner or later.

J~

[Michael Novak]

No one has talked about the size and weight difference. I want to build and race one in the worst way, but I am not so sure I want to race my SM against one. Racing in similar weight and size cars is nice.

I think it's too early. Talking with Mazda to see how long they plan on supporting parts for the NB model will help also.