OK, my opinion on the whole classification/reorg deal:
1) I like the idea of a clear and logical progression from a bone-stock car
to a full-on, slick-shod race car, where all the modifications permitted in
a junior class carry forward to the senior class.
I think we do this in 4 steps:
A) Car as delivered from OEM. Allow any DOT-approved tire on OEM size
wheel. Minimal modifications designed primarily to support normal
maintainence as the car ages. As performance is largely determined by the
OEM design, this needs a lot of classes to ensure performance parity -
let's say 9.
B) As in A, but allow a set of bolt-on modifications designed primarily to
address performance issues (as opposed to maintainence) Half-step between A
and C. Modification for performance reasons means that shortcoming of
poorly -designed cars can be addressed, but limited nature of modifications
limits the effectiveness of this, so this needs less classes than A but
more than C - let's say 6.
C) As in B, but allow nearly open driveline, suspension, brakes. Retain OEM
"road going" equipment (lights, wipers etc) OEM chassis, and OEM interior.
Radical modifications means that performance is primarily limited by tires,
size, and weight (once cars are fully prepped) so need less classes here -
say 3.
D) As in C, but allow slicks, the stripping of interiors, the removal of
"road going" equipment, and wholesale chassis modification. Expense
involved with slicks and high level of preparation required limits number
of potential participants, so only 1 or 2 classes needed.
So then, let's call A "Stock", B "Street Prepared", C "Street Modified",
and D "Modified"
Or if you want to be a little more radical, how about "Stock", "Prepared",
"Modified", and "Super Modified"
2) Now we need a place for race cars that are, at least notionally, built
from scratch. Given that the GCR is the rules set that governs the most
likely source for these cars, that implies that these cars are tied,
however loosely, to the GCR. That means that the GCR can be seen as the
"formula" governing the classification of these cars.
So then, let's call this category the "Formula" category, and start mapping
the GCR-based Modified and Formula cars into it:
But before we start, we do have one oddball - a class for purpose-built,
pure autocross cars built to a formula WE designed, not the road race guys.
Given that this should be the fastest class, let's call this "Formula 1"
So, AM maps to "F1"
Then we have BM, which is GCR Atlantics, Super Vees, etc - downforce cars.
We're mixing a couple of different GCR classes here, so we need a
Solo-specific name. This should be the second fastest class, so we call it
"F2"
So BM maps to "F2"
CM is stupid easy - "Formula Ford"
DM and EM are probably absorbed into "Super Modified" somehow..
FM is Vees and F500s - it's another consolidated open-wheel class, so let's
call it "F3"
Now we go into the former prepared.
Combine AP and BP into "Formula GT"
CP becomes "Formula Grand National"
DP, EP, and FP are all GCR Production classes (right?), so let's go:
DP becomes "Formula Production 1"
EP becomes "Formula Production 2"
FP becomes "Formula Production 3"
So when all is said and done, we wind up with:
AS, BS, CS, DS, ES, FS, GS, SS for Stock
AP, BP, CP, DP, EP, FP for Prepared (ex Street Prepared)
AM, BM, CM for Modified (ex Street Modified)
ASM, BSM for Super Modified (ex DM, EM but revamped somewhat to be more
like "Street Mod with slicks and stripped chassis")
F1, F2, F3, FF, FGT, FGN, FP1, FP2, FP3 for all the GCR-based cars.
Now doesn't that make sense?
DG
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