I think if you look at the Solo II Nats Results from 4 years ago you'll
find about the same number and balance of "spec" classes.
It's a popular notion that spec classes should be dropped in favor of
diverse classes. However, please note that the spec classes are almost
always larger than the diverse classes. As people vote with their
wallets on what to drive, more seem to choose spec classes, and the
security of *knowing* they have the "right car", than are willing to go
out and pick from the deli tray a car that might be okay for the class.
So I disagree with your premise, I guess. I think that spec classes are
a large part of what drives our numbers up. Even with that said
however, we should always maintain a balance of spec and diverse classes
so that we can suit both preferences.
Also, I'd argue that given enough time in a static environment, all
classes will become spec classes. As people "learn" the hot car for the
class, eventually we reach a point where that car becomes "the" car.
This is the case with BS nee CS. When Miatas first hit CS they were
trophy fodder. At that time CS was pretty diverse, but had more 914's
in the trophies at Nats than any other model. (Weird, huh?) But as
time went on the Miata became better and better accepted until it became
the spec car for the class. It's only the inclusion of new models and
reclassifications that keep us from having 9 spec classes in stock. And
IMHO, that happy accident, the fact that we are always classifying new
cars and reclassifying old cars, is what keeps the numbers of spec and
diverse classes in balance.
--Byron
Scott Meyers wrote:
> Times have changed, even in four years. It seems that with the advent
> of the Spec car classes we now seem to be forming (SS, BS, DS, etc.)
> that if a potential swaybar change were to be done it should be to make
> some current uncompetitive cars a little more competitive. There should
> be a *reason* that would benefit the sport overall. Might be a better
> time to revisit this concept, and make sure you reach your target audience.
>
> In looking at the 'big picture', and really wanting to have "1000 in
> 2000" as well as future growth, we should avoid having classes with only
> one or two cars that are *the* cars to have a chance in heck of winning
> major events with. If the swaybar option would loosen the grip of those
> few cars and create more competition, that would be a good thing in my
> world - also a kinda skewded world, I admit :-)
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