Dennis Grant laid out the scenario for supp classes getting approval
under national rules. While I agree that it was important for SM to walk
through these steps, for SM2 to have to go through the same rigorous
process seems excessive. Here's why. SM2 is an extension of the SM
concept. SM is, in effect, a whole new category of Solo II cars. There
were lots of concerns about such a wide-open class gaining national
status too soon, given the high-tech-dollar projections for long-term
success in the class. SM has already proven the viability of the
category. Now that we have seen the interest at Topeka (and I do see the
interest, and participation, here at home, too) why prolong the process
just because that is the way it has always been done.
"Bottomfeeding" has always been an element at Nationals. Look at AP
ladies the last 2 years. I remember years ago, Roger Johnson taking his
SS Corvette to ASP at some national level events with much success. I
don't see how this detracts from the success of a class/category.
Instead, over analyzing who is participating and conjecturing as to why
they are competing in a class isn't even accurate and detracts and
minimizes any argument for a class to get national status.
Take SM2 in 2002. A casual look at the results would lead SM2 opponents
to conjecture that James Gunn-Wilkinson chose to compete in Gary
Thomason's ASP winning Corvette as an example of "Bottomfeeding."
Gunn-Wilkinson winning the class thus looks suspect. However, if these
same critics bothered to go talk to James, they'd find that he has an SM2
spec Porsche he's building that wasn't ready for competition in time for
nationals. The fact he was able to get Thomason to let him drive his car
in SM2 is an example of the finest sportsmanship we see all the time at
nationals. My point is to be careful how you view the data and have an
open mind.
Ben Thatcher
http://ApexBenefits.biz
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