And by all means, SCCA needs another class!
For every new class, you should have to get rid of two old closet queens. Can we say good bye Formula Vee and Formula F, once and for all...
And by all means, SCCA needs another class!
For every new class, you should have to get rid of two old closet queens. Can we say good bye Formula Vee and Formula F, once and for all...
For every new class, you should have to get rid of two old closet queens. Can we say good bye Formula Vee and Formula F, once and for all...
Really? Check the entry numbers before holding court.
2018 Majors/Super Tour entries https://www.crbscca....hp?theYear=2018
2018 Regional entries https://www.scca.com/pages/regional
For every new class, you should have to get rid of two old closet queens. Can we say good bye Formula Vee and Formula F, once and for all...
I agree class consolidation needs to happen. More should be combined. In the case of FV though, SCCA kinda screwed that up with tires and rules that made the cars more expensive to race. Here is today's qualifying session for the Formula Vee Challenge series at Summit Point which runs under more restrictive rules and 200TW tires. 28 Vees in the field.
http://www.race-moni...Session/6782204
Similar numbers to what I crunched - good quality build with data and 2 sets extra wheels/tires is in the $45k range
This is how racing is like using drugs - on the call, they pitched it as if you were looking at $5k for a donor, $12k in parts + cage, seat, and wheels <$25K. And fast guys will spend $45K. Need to kick this habit.
Earlier this year at VIR, the fastest time I turned in qualifying in my full STL MX-5 was a 2:09.05, and in the races I had best times of 2:09.4 and 2:09.7. Remember the HST was in much cooler conditions running on Hoosier A7's.
That day we ran 2:16.9 in SM which is inline with my experience of my STL car being around 5-1/2% faster than my SM at tracks with more than one 5th gear straight.
Carbonnel's time this past weekend in the Spec MX-5 was run in VERY hot conditions, 95F and 75% rel Humidity. I believe he was on Toyo RR's but cannot confirm. Also no idea of trim
And there was sealer down in a few turns that definitely improved grip
That being said, it looks like this car should be able to run very near the front of STL
This is assuming SCCA classifies the Spec MX-5 in STL at the proposed weight for this new class of 2500lbs. (Carbonnel was running VIR at 2500 lbs.) The current Spec MX-5 ruleset is already listed as an alternate vehicle in STL at 2600lbs. I've seen all the ballast in Danny's STL car and there's nothing ST"Lite" about it. If they follow STL displacement rules it would run at 2700+ lbs. I dislike the idea of taking any car and putting 200-300 lbs of ballast in it. It would be competitive with the ND cars in T3 at 2500lbs but I'm guessing Mazda doesn't want their "new" cars to loose to their "old" cars.
Most customers I have talked to are hesitant to build or convert a car without knowing where or how it is going to fit into club racing. Why spend 10k to convert an existing car, or 45k to build a new one when you can just keep running T4 without all the added uncertainty and cost. Where was all the support for the NC chassis when the prep shops gave it a go 5 years ago in T4?
I like the package with the exception of the same things Jim was complaining about. This car would fit cost wise right between a Spec Miata and a Global Cup Car. It's cheaper to fix than an ND car and offers almost all of the performance. Requiring brake pads, bulkhead plates, etc... is just Mazda Motorsports trying to bring in more revenue. They want to go single source on everything like they have done with the Global cars.
(Carbonnel was running VIR at 2500 lbs.) The current Spec MX-5 ruleset is already listed as an alternate vehicle in STL at 2600lbs. I've seen all the ballast in Danny's STL car and there's nothing ST"Lite" about it.
Thanks for this data point Ben - now understand why that car was so fast. Yes, I am carrying a LOT of weight in STL with my NC build. Did not realize that the Spec MX-5 car was running so "light".
Explains how a car with, say 185HP @2500lbs can compete with another making 205HP @2793lbs
Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean Machinery | OPM Autosports | Rossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes |
2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ
1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year
So, I'd like to get a car and be somewhat future-proofed. I sold my 1.6 in San Francisco before returning to the ATL Region. I'm still trying to decide what to do from a motorsports perspective for next year. Thoughts on whether an NB SM or a Spec MX5 would be the better long term bet? Build the Spec MX5 and run it in STL until Spec MX-5 is a viable class?
SM will be the more popular class for the next 5-10 years imo. If you want competition, there is only SM and SRF right now.So, I'd like to get a car and be somewhat future-proofed. I sold my 1.6 in San Francisco before returning to the ATL Region. I'm still trying to decide what to do from a motorsports perspective for next year. Thoughts on whether an NB SM or a Spec MX5 would be the better long term bet? Build the Spec MX5 and run it in STL until Spec MX-5 is a viable class?
East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
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SM will be the more popular class for the next 5-10 years imo. If you want competition, there is only SM and SRF right now.
Chances of having your next car in 6 years plus unlikely..
Kept the last one for 13 years! Shouldn't have done that, but didn't race it consistently till the last couple of years. Hoping to change that....
As always, good advice - thanks Jim.
This is assuming SCCA classifies the Spec MX-5 in STL at the proposed weight for this new class of 2500lbs. (Carbonnel was running VIR at 2500 lbs.)
From the latest GCR update, it appears as if the new Spec MX-5 is now legal in STL at 2500 lbs - have a feeling that it could be a competitive car in STL
Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean Machinery | OPM Autosports | Rossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes |
2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ
1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year
I started looking or a 2009 MX-5 which starts with the correct engine parts, diff, trans etc..I looked in 5 neighboring States...Good luck, that is a unicorn and is 12K...45K build, good luck, I think that's generous....
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