-----Original Message-----
From: richard nichols <rnichol1@san.rr.com>
(spliced together from a couple of messages)
>I'm simply making the point that, the way Stock class is set up, there is
so
>little that can be done to the car that there is little automotive
ingenuity
>involved in fielding a competitive car (just a whole lot of driving skill
>and the money to buy the latest, most competitive car).
>
>If autocrossing wants more competitors, the equipment rules need to be more
>inclusive. If a skillful driver can compete and win with a brand-new
Camaro
>that cost as much as $30k, then I ought to be able to field a comparable,
>older car and spend as much as $30k bringing it up to snuff. Instead
he/she
>can have a car with more money in the wheels and tires than I
>have in my whole car, but I can't put a $100 three-point strut brace in
mine.
The problem is, some cars age more gracefully than others. Some older
models (the
Camaro is a good example) remain competitive for some time, others fall out
after just a
year or two, and some never are competitive as delivered from the factory.
So we'd have to
determine the allowed modifications for make, model and generation (or
worse, each year)
which would maintain parity, but no more. Not impossible, but much, much
more work than
currently required.
>It's the LACK of this preparation that keeps them from being fully
>competitive with the newest cars, simply by virtue of technological
>evolution, and which encourages those who want to be fully competitive to
>buy new.
>
>Otherwise it's just a money game, which is fine for those who take this
>very, very seriously. But for encouraging more entry level players, what
>better classes than STOCK and STREET PREPARED to include them?!
I think Mari Clements' list puts that one to bed -- it's possible to do
quite well with an older car,
especially true at the regional level. As far as the rules needing to
accommodate
a wider array of modifications, this is exactly how Street Touring was born,
which seems to
be a more equitable solution than turning Stock into SP-Lite.
Jamie
'92 Prelude Si
Speed Demon Racing
http://www.mindspring.com/~jsculerati/sdr
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