i just got a new track car

[horizenjob]

I "borrowed" those pictures from people's avatars on the locost forums.
http://locostusa.com/

For the longest time I thought the "trailer park boys" picture was the actual person. I asked one day and got a pointer to the tv series (Canadian). It's hilarious!

We need some type of side entertainment for the FP class to help maintain moral and boost participation. Maybe "Us / Them" tee shirts, awarded to the slowest participant in an FP time trial - because your still one of "us". Maybe a case of beer also. We can allow honorary membership to anyone that can identify a tube in their own car. Maybe a slogan "The Few, The Proud, The FU!".

Any more ideas?

[Stynger]

Any more ideas?

Yeah, but you wouldn't like them.

[breakaway500]

Ok..two classes of Formula, FF and FS. Formula fast...and.... Formula....not so fast..

[962porsche]

mark i have proposed that many times before . i was told that there are way to many classes now ! very few people runs in that class to split it . why don't we just give every one a trophy . if that 5 dollar trophy means that much i will give them one of mine . and on and on .

[chaos4NH]

mark i have proposed that many times before . i was told that there are way to many classes now ! very few people runs in that class to split it . why don't we just give every one a trophy . if that 5 dollar trophy means that much i will give them one of mine . and on and on .

5 dollar trophies? Hooo boy will you be in trouble!

[horizenjob]

Yeah, but you wouldn't like them.

Well, there seems to be a bit of an edge there. Don't know why I wouldn't like your ideas - I was looking for sort of a joke type thing here. Maybe I'm just too silly for you guys.

You know this mess started because, in my somewhat dim recollection, someone with a Caterham was classed in PA. It certainly wasn't the Corvette drivers beating me that complained. It is somewhat painful when your car is re-classed after 25 years into a place where you can't possibly win unless no one shows up.

Let's move the Locosts into FP. Rad may be bringing his this year and it will be running an Ecotec with over 300 HP. Is that going to be a PB car?

[nateh]

The Stewards have discussed classification of our car. The result is that we will be running in FP, because it is a sports racing car. The only sports racer not in FP is the SRF.

Radicals are sports racing cars, so they will be in FP if they show up.

[nateh]

Caterhams and Locosts are replicas of street cars, and are therefore excluded from the SCCA's definition of sports racer. Therefore a 4-cylinder Locost is in PC. A Caterham with a turbo 6 would be classed in PA.

[chaos4NH]

Amen

[962porsche]

O-Sam that ant right ! i'm just repeating what i was told .

[WillM]

I'm late to this party, but it isn't all my fault. Every time I thought I was done reading this thread, another page of new posts was added. I guess this isn't an extremely busy time of year at work for everyone, certainly is for me!

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on the new car Dave! VERY NICE!!

From where I'm sitting, it seems that the problem with FP is its name. "Formula Prepared" indicates that the class is solely intended for formula-type cars, and yet that is not the history or intent of the class. One of Nate's rule proposals, the part of which did not pass, was to rename Formula Prepared to something different. At the time I didn't understand the reasoning, and I would venture to guess the same was true for everyone at the meeting, but now I do. If our Prepared class it to be structured similar to all of our other classes, then FP is simply the next "step up" from PA. If FP were called Prepared Unlimited (PU, how ironic given this thread!), it would be easier to follow the logic of the class.

With that in mind, here's a thought on how to re-think the Prepared classes:

PC:
Allowed vehicles under current PC rules...

PB:
Allowed vehicles under current PB rules...PLUS:
Non-Production-based cars with 4-cyl (or less) naturally-aspirated engines.

PA:
Allowed vehicles under current PA rules...PLUS:
Non-Production-based cars with 4-cyl (or less) forced-induction engines.
Non-Production-based cars with 5-6 cyl forced-induction engines.

PU:
...Current FP rules...

Unfounded in logic? Good idea? Likes/dislikes?

...and for what it is worth, THANKS NATE! You volunteered to be our Chief Steward years ago, and have done a fantastic job. Unfortunately, when it comes to rules, we mostly hear from the unhappy crowd. The fact that we haven't heard much is a good thing! THANK YOU!!

[breakaway500]

When you say "non production based cars",what does that mean? Kit cars?

[chaos4NH]

Amen, I said Amen! Nate agrees his car is FP. David agreed, way back there some where, that his car is DSR for SCCA and becomes FP at COM. So, I say again amen!

[DanDarcy]

the "P" classes are getting more entrants than in previous years but the "F" class has been getting less. To change or modify the "F" class when we have one entrant. and to change the rules around at this time, is not a good idea. This thread started by Dave telling about his new car of which we are all jealous , and thinking he would be in PC. While the rules are never unanimously loved by all, they must be followed. The rules we have, while maybe not the best, must be followed. So lets follow our existing rules and work on improving and renaming them this coming fall (rule change season) . We seem to have much to do about nothing.

[nateh]

Dan, I agree we shouldn't change for this year. It would be nice to see if we can come up with something interesting for next fall, though - and that's more likely to happen if we don't wait until August to start talking about it.

Interesting idea, Will. Needs some analysis to see if would end up well, though. Which known cars would end up where, and with what expected lap times - that kind of thing.