Rule Change #9A, B, and C: Super Class Updates

[Dtangard]

While there has been a lot of focus on the Touring Classes, which typically host most the majority of competitors, the Super Classes have gone largely untouched since they launched for the 2014 season. Now 5 years old, there are a few changes that could improve these classes:
- Adjust Power-to-Weight cutoffs to encourage tighter competition
- Add Super E (SE) to accommodate low power-to-weight cars and provide an alternative route besides Touring
- Make the alternative power calculator 10-15% more lenient to encourage more competitors to use this path and keep it open as a viable procedural alternative in the absence of a dyno
- Remove leftover adjustments for different dyno types

Rule Change #9A: Super Class Updates, Delete outdated Dyno Correction Adjustment
First, there is some language regarding dyno adjustments that were left over after Dynojet became the standard COMSCC dyno last year. With the rest of the updates, it’s time to delete this adjustment.
Currently: RWD or FWD cars using a dynojet or dynapack dyno should reduce their power figure by 9%, and for AWD cars by 7%
Proposal 9A: Delete language
Note that the removal of this language will have the effect of essentially penalizing Super Class competitors either 9% or 7%. While most competitors are not at the top of their current classes today in terms of maximized weight/power ratio, keep this in mind when evaluating updated Super Class cutoffs and the addition of a Super E class below.
Rule Change #9B: Super Class Updates, Weight/Power Class Cutoffs & Super E
Currently, Super Class power-to-weight cutoffs are
- Super Unlimited: Open Wheel Formula Cars below 6.5 lbs comp weight/corrected power ratio
- Super A: Non-formula cars below 9.0, any vehicle between 6.5 and 9.0
- Super B: Any vehicle between 9.0 and 12.25
- Super C: Any vehicle between 12.25 and 16.0
- Super D: Any vehicle above 16.0
Proposal 9B:
- Super Unlimited: Open Wheel Formula Cars below 6lbs comp weight/corrected power ratio
- Super A: Non-formula cars below 10, any vehicle between 6 and 9
- Super B: Any vehicle between 10 and 13.5
- Super C: Any vehicle between 13.5 and 16.5
- Super D: Any vehicle between 16 and 19
- Super E: Any vehicle above 19
Overall, power/weight cutoffs would be getting more stringent. Essentially, Super A would grow to accommodate a slightly wider array of cars (for example, Jake’s BMW would be in Super A with the idea being that his car should be in the top class, not the second to top class, for non-formula cars). Jake certainly won’t like this, but there’s just no one else at the top to run with (and Jake might be running a Miata full-time anyway) so from a competitive perspective it doesn’t make sense to have two classes that are at least as fast as that car. By contrast, Super B/C/D would all get slightly tighter in power-to-weight spread as well as slower due to the removal of the dyno discount and increasing of the B and C cutoffs. E would be added for lower HP cars, and a nationally-competitive Spec Miata would fit towards the top (about 75lb shy of the cutoff with a fully-built motor). I believe these cutoffs could produce tighter competition, but to be sure this would proposal would essentially be a reset for people on the fringes/extreme limit of their current class.
For reference, here is where a few very common builds would end up in the new classing.
HP Torque Weight Ratio Class
SM 125 117 2400 19.6 Super E (was in D)
ITA 145 130 2360 16.8 Super D (stays in D)
e36 M3 230 225 3000 13.1 Super B (needs 80lb of ballast to stay in Super C)
Turbo Miata 204 190 2550 12.8 Super B (was in C)
BMW monster 330 250 2800 9.2 Super A (was in B)
Built vette 450 450 3300 7.3 Super A (stays in A)

In addition, NASA has a couple power-to-weight classes, that play out like this:
NASA Super Touring: 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 14.0, 18.0
NASA GTS (with DOT tire/with non-DOT tire): 6.6/7.2, 8.5/9.0, 11.0/12.0, 14.5/16, 18.5/20
Rule Change #9C: Super Class Updates, Alternative Power Calculation
The alternative power calculation is a simple formula that is used in the case where a competitor does not have a dyno sheet, but would like to compete in a Super Class. Since its inception I have not known of anyone to take advantage of the calculation, and only know of one competitor (driving a turbo diesel spec racer thing) for which it was worth doing at all. In encouraging participation it’s important to mitigate the effects of the dyno requirement by allowing another path to competition that isn’t overly onerous.
Currently, The following formula may be used in lieu of providing actual power figures for a Super class vehicle, regardless of which value is higher: Power = Displacement multiplier x Valves/Cylinder Multiplier x RPM Multiplier x Forced Induction Multiplier
- Displacement Multiplier: 80/1 Liter
- Valves/Cylinder Multiplier: 2 valves/cylinder is 0.85, 4 valves/cylinder is 1.0, rotary is 1.0
RPM Multiplier: ((Max RPM – 6000) / 6000) + 1
- Forced Induction Multiplier: 1.75

Proposal 9C: Change the Displacement Multiplier to 70/1 liter
This represents a 12.5% reduction, but is still high enough that a serious build would be required to drastically exceed the calculator…roughly in-line with the potential of a built s2000 motor, one of the more efficient engines in terms of displacement to power. For example, a 2.0L engine with a 9,000rpm redline would be estimated as having 210 “power”, which assumes 2/3rd horsepower and 1/3 torque.