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I've watched this and similar threads with interest and some amusement. I'm a 1.6 racer and I have run for the last seven seasons in the WDCR SSM class. Prior to that I ran the car in various EMRA time trial and race series. All told, I've probably got 10,000 miles and 10+ track and race seasons on the car (I've owned it for 18 years now), and according to my notes I typically run the car about 9 weekends per year plus test and practice days. According to this thread, I'm not your "typical 1.6 racer" because I bring the car out so often. I like to run the car competively, and have spent the money, time, and effort needed to do so. I find this thread interesting because I’m considering broadening my racing horizons beyond SM/SSM next season.
As somebody noted above, DC’s SSM class is a huge success. The competition is intense – I’d put the leaders in our class (Wible, Bates, Price, et al) up against the best that National, err, Majors SM has to offer. It’s not a class largely made up of hacks and people too cheap to run a major effort. Don’t believe me – go to the WDCR website and look at the results for yourselves. However, I do not think that success can be replicated on a national level because of the amount of control we as a region can maintain locally. Part of the reason I chose WDCR SSM (even though it’s a 240 mile/five hour tow each way) is because it came close to what I thought the original intent of SM was supposed to be – you remember, those long gone from the GCR words about “a low cost entry level class.†I’m not here to debate that because that ship has long sailed. However, there must be something about that statement that still resonates – the turnout for WDCR SSM remains huge, with 30+ car fields even in the last few seasons of economic unrest being the norm, not the exception.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m considering racing elsewhere next year. Why? Not because of the lack of competition – WDCR SSM has that in spades. In fact, that’s the very thing I’m looking for in whatever class I end up in. A perfect storm of events at the end of the 2014 season (blowed up motor, some body damage) and a desire to competitively run some different tracks beyond the MARRS series have me considering what the best use of my racing funds are. Do I repair, or start fresh? As I said, that’s why I find this thread so interesting.
I could spend them by building my trusty old 1.6 again as a SM car, or build it as either a 1.6 or 1.8 ITA car, or even build it as some sort of STU thingy. I am even considering a NB SM build. (Note to Mike Collins and Chris Windsor, don’t waste the email, no, I’m not interested in SM5, but thanks.) Each of these options have their merits. However, I’ve already decided not to build the old car back up. Why don’t I build the 1.6? As I said, primarily because I want to competitively race at other tracks besides Summit – no knock against the track or the people who race there as they are all awesome. The reason? Because the damned car is 25 freakin’ years old! Parts for these things are no longer exactly falling out of the tress. It’s vintage eligible at this point – and don’t think the SVRA isn’t worried about a bunch of us showing up to play – and time and technology has marched on. From NA to NB to NC and so forth, technology has advanced. Technology is a key ingredient in racing folks, and you can’t stop it from advancing. Suspensions, materials, engine management, it all constantly evolves.
Once upon a time, way back in 2004, this was supposed to be an entry level class. But even then, nothing, and I mean NOTHING in the GCR guarantees competitiveness. The 1.6 isn’t that tool, and one can bitch about “parity†from now until the next blue moon, but it’s meaningless. This isn’t an entry level class any longer, and if you want to run and be competitive, you have to have the right tools. Otherwise, be honest with yourself and reconsider your racing goals.
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