Were you at last years Town Hall?? Where a couple Mazda drivers
and others from AP (FP, actually) that were running in EM in protest,
and others (besides my wife and myself) that did not even enter the
1998 Nationals, went to the Town Hall that day anyway to talk to the
SEB/PAC about the AP/FP issues ????
It seems they may have taken a recording there and played it over
again this year. Of course, I wasn't there for this one, but it sounds as
if a lot of the same dialogue took place. Last year, they were going to
implement some of the rule changes (fuel injection relaxation for one -
it happened - not as broad scoped as outlined in the meeting - - but it
did happen, at least) in 1999 with the rest to take place in Y2K. (That
part hasn't happened, according to recent Fastrak's).
Did they say whether this AP/FP split was to take place in Y2K or in
2001? There was a Fastrak article in both this months and in July's issues
that outlined the gray/black market, exotics, and kit car rules in AP for
2000 (there was a hint the AP/FP issues were still alive for 2001 rule-
making, however).
It was also in the July issue that they made a statement about not changing
rules in AP because the winners for the past couple years had moved to
another class - so no adjustrment was necessary. Remember that one? I
choked on my coffee when I read that - - and then I wrote a letter to this
forum, copying every SEB and PAC member, and a copy to the SCCA.
I asked what (1) kept the previous winners from returning to AP ?(2)
prevented one from buying their existing cars and entering in AP?, or (3)
cloning the winning cars? BTW, I received no response from SEB, PAC
or the SCCA to that e-mail. (Surprise!!!). Just flak from Team.Net.
I wonder which direction they will go next, what new tack will be put out
when it appears in writing? Just as last year, they both (SEB/PAC)
verbalized well from what you say. But it will be interesting to see what
actually appears in print.
At least now, once again, there is a little hope for the old FP guys - we
have been fighting for competition survival since the 1995 merger of these
2 classes.
G
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Holt <tholt@ccsi.com>
To: George Ryan <quad4fiero@webzone.net>;
Team. Net <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 1999 8:26 AM
Subject: AP for 2000, was: AP as viewed from fourth place
> Thanks George,
> If the SEB gets it's way, you WILL have FP back next year. At the
> sparsely attended Tuesday town hall meeting (sparse because the meeting
> began at 4:30 like advertised but during the middle of 5th heat), the SEB
> and PAC (in the form of Jim McKamey) unveiled their plan for AP/FP. All of
> this will be published in Fasttrack either next month or the following
> month, so disregard my version as the beer soaked memories of someone
> having
> too much fun in Topeka.
> As I remember it, FP ccomes back in it's pre-95(94?) version. AP
> becomes
> it's pre 95 self again with the addition of some Cobra kit cars (with Ford
> engines) many of the post 93 turbo cars (or whenever SCCA quit classifying
> turbo cars in Prepared) and it becomes a catchall for the cars that want
> to
> go beyond the current prepared rules but short of DM & EM . The listings
> would be something along the lines of vehicles <5.1 liters must weigh 2000
> or 2050 with 12" wheels. Vehicles over 5.1 liters must weigh (I forgot)
> 2500? with a 50# hit for 12" wheels. The class would also allow free fuel
> injection. The "old" AP cars would carry their current weights into the
> class and be adjusted as necessary to make them competitive.
> So, for example, one of the target customers of this class would be
> Barry Schonberg. He didn't show up this year reportedly because he was
> running at Road Atlanta next month and didn't want to have to completely
> reconfigure his car. He must currently weigh about 2700#, if he ran AP2K
> (I
> just made that up... catchy huh?) he could drop 700 lbs and add 50 if he
> wanted to run 12s and then be at about his GT2 weight for roadracing and
> still be Solo legal
> I could install a full Motec FI setup on my Datsun and put on 12"
> wheels and drop 50 lbs to 2050 for AP or leave everything alone and run
> FP
> at 2100.
> Again this is as I remember things and I'm sure I am leaving BIG
> chunks
> out. The SEB hopes to get this implemented for next year but it will be
> tough if it meets with any resistance.
> If anybody else can help clarify this please do...
>
> Tom
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