I'd have to agree with Ron on this.
The other day on this list I estimated the cost for a SM2 killer 911 / 914-6
400hp motor in a 2000 pound car. That figure was 8 times higher than what I
spent on a serious ASP rebuild.
Since then some of our fellow listers have suggested privately the first
estimate was too LOW.
Would SM2 be fun, oh my yes. Would it require 6 figure budget, oh my yes.
The irony would be all the rich guys moving SM and those of lesser means in
SP
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-autox@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-autox@autox.team.net]On
Behalf Of Ron Chapman
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 4:54 PM
To: autox@autox.team.net
Subject: SP/SM and costs
Some of the posts on this issue show a belief that SM is an affordable
class. My opinion is that it may be so only as long as remains smog legal
and isn't a national class.
Sure, some of the SM mods give a lot of bang for the buck and are popular
mods on street cars (subframe connectors, camshafts). But, since it isn't a
national class, the truly inventive and serious national competitors aren't
building anything for it yet.. But if and when they do, be ready for some
serious, high dollar machinery.
Like SP, SM will be a class that is easy to land in and very expensive to
build a car for. I wasn't around for it (and feel free to correct me if I'm
wrong), but I believe the genesis for SP was also the desire for an
affordable modified class. But, two areas of the rules caused a huge
escalation of the costs- the lack of limitations on fuel delivery and
ignition and the update/backdate rules. Electramotives are expensive, kids.
And so is buying hatchbacks, doors, etc in order to replace competely
functional ones with lighter ones from a different year. Open the door for
all the other goodies (forced injection, engine swaps, etc.) and the costs
balloon.
In terms of SM participation, I have the impression that a lot of it comes
from pony car guys who have subframe connectors. I don't know why the SEB
hasn't allowed this in SP, but they should. That would solve any problems
that might exist with ESP entries. But, no, let's not go there. Instead,
let's anticipate the day when when those heavy, live rear axle cars are
gridding next to some light, turbocharged, electramotived, custom Koni'd car
on 13 x 9 inch Keizers and I believe you'll see an exodus of ponycars. I
had a few giggles when I noticed that the winning SM car at the recent
California national events was a certain very well-driven German car which
caused much costernation in the ESP ranks last year.
I have nothing against SM or adding classes if the participation is there.
But, absent a spec formula, any idea of creating an "affordable" class which
allows considerable modifications to stock cars is doomed if it is a) a
national class, and/or b) drops smog legality.
A class can be created for affordable stock class cars. We have at least
four of them- C,D,E, and F stock. But if you want to modify the car and be
able to play nationally, get our your checkbook, your Visa card, mortgage
the house, and cash in the college fund, because that's what its gonna take.
Ron
84 CRX CSP (yes, its a money pit and I'm not fast enough (yet))
99 Miata BS
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