>This year, you switched from BFG to Hoosier tires like Bob did.
Yes, and this year my car is 100 lbs lighter, has a lightweight
flywheel, new intake and exhaust, different springs and sway bar,
rebuilt JRZ's, and the car is corner weighted. But clearly the
Hoosier's provided the entire alleged 5-8% improvement I've made this
year. Do you guys secretely work for Hoosier? They must be loving this
stuff.
>In 1998 and 1999, you ran eight Utah events against Jerry Hodges, the 1999
>ProSolo SS champion. Your times (non-PAXed) averaged 93.79% of Jerry Hodges
>(throwing out one event where you were 18 seconds off his pace).
I don't remember *ever* being 18 seconds behind Jerry. I would say
there is a typo in the results, or you are mistaken. I just searched
the event results (I've done the points keeping for our region since
'98) and cannot find any event where I was 18 seconds behind Jerry.
>The other 7 events your times varied from 91.82% to 95.35% of Jerry's
>times.
Well let's see...1998 was my rookie season, and my car was barely out of
A Stock (springs and a chip). I also didn't know crap about performance
driving. Jerry is a great driver as has a well prepared SS car...no
shockers are springing forth so far.
>At the California ProSolos, running on Hoosiers, you BEAT Jerry at San
>Bernardino, and lost by .01 to him at Lemoore.
Yes, I am driving better this year and the car is better prepped. Also
according to the results Jerry isn't driving as well this year as he did
last year. He placed 5th and 4th in class this year, last year placed
1st and 1st, at the Pros. (Bonus Challenge points to who first points
out why this isn't valid ;)
Let's also compares apples to apples. Pro's are not the same format as
SoloII's. At the only Pro I attended in '99 I ran within 99.6% of
Jerry's times. This year I've run 101.4% and 99.98% Not quite the
disparity you'd like to show.
At the only SoloII event in which we've competed this year, I ran at
97.6% of Jerry's time, in a borrowed BSP car.
Finally let's look at my Pro times compared to Tunnell.
'98: 93.8%
'99: 100.4%
'00: 97.8% (avg)
Clearly that jump to Hoosier in '99 *really* helped me. Oh wait,
nevermind, Bob and I were still on BFG's in '99. Dang, can't peg it on
the tire factor. Wait, I've dropped back down in 2000. Must be that
jump to Hoosier. Drats we are both on Hoosiers. We'll it must be the
mighty M3 and all those secret changes Bob did when he found out he'd been
moved to ESP. Nevermind, Bob didn't make *any* changes over the winter.
(25th anniversay sticker package does *not* count ;) I guess that just
leaves the driver. And that is the reason why we play this game.
>In the Houston region, M3 driver Bob Dorchester took 3rd place (out of 8) in
>his first autocross. Since then, he's placed 4th, 2nd, 2nd, and 2nd, out of
>an average of 8.2 entrants.
And how strong is the regional competition? Let's look at my stint in
CSP last year. 1 3rd (I coned on my best run, grr), and 8 1sts.
Clearly the M3 is a overdog for CSP!!! Please Jeff, we are talking
about national calibre drivers in nationally prepared cars. (Nothing
personal against Mr. Dochester.)
Remember Jeff, in the immortal words of Mark Twain, "There are three
kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics." For every meaningless
statistic you bring up, an equally bogus counter example can be brought
forth.
>And regarding my *current* personal performance ... it has no bearing on
>whether the M3 should be in ESP.
Never said it did. I'm just saying that if you truly want to go faster
you should focus more on the driver and less on the car.
Tis all I have to say on the subject. I trust the SEB/BoD to do the
right thing, and will make my plans accordingly.
Todd
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