Since I am having second thoughts about running in ESP next year, I decided to look at the results from our region’s autocrosses this past season and compare the following 3 classes: AS, ESP and SM. I pulled results from the last 8 autocrosses of the year and compared my results in AS to the other 2 classes in order to see “where I would have placed had I run in….”

FYI, the setup I used for most of the season was the following:
- Stock Advans
- Autocross alignment
- Catback exhaust (AMS)

In addition to examining the averages from the last 8 events, I have looked at the last 4 events as, I believe, I have improved my performance towards the end of the season and this should (hopefully) be a better proxy for the future results.

Despite my relatively light setup, the EVO is quite competitive in all 3 classes. The results in AS and ESP are almost identical. The hypothetical SM results also look pretty good. Although, I might have been worse-off in terms of the absolute score (my average place in the last 4 events would have been 4th, vs. 3rd in AS or ESP), when you consider the number of participants in each class, the SM results are “better” in relative terms.

The other benefits of running in SM next year are:
- More mods allowed (cams, boost controller, etc.)
- Greater number of participants, meaning more competition, meaning more fun
- Avoid the possibility of having to switch classes mid-season (if EVO gets dropped from ESP)

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks. Filip

 

The move from ESP is likely if the Evo dominates the class. There is another thread circulating in here plus one you might want to read in SCCA Forums.

http://www.sccaforums.com/cgi-bin/ul...9;t=000233;p=1

I think it should be a wait and see how the Evo/STi does, but some of the ESP traditionals don't want that to happen.

Good luck whatever you decide and if you care, my vote is for SM or AS.

Jason

 

I think that you probably already know my thinking on this, but for the rest of the audience...

A stock Evo (with Hoosiers at FedEx events) is enough car to be competitive locally in any of the three classes.

An Evo prepped to the limits of the rules could almost certainly dominate locally in ESP or in SM. And of course, Evos did a pretty good job locally in AS this year, winning every points event at FedEx Field and a majority (5 out of 8) of the points events at Rosecroft.

I would love to see more Evos run locally in Street Modified next year. I personally think that a well-prepped Evo could be a monster Street Mod machine.

I also like the idea of having competitive Evos run locally in AS, ESP, and SM. It would really be cool for us Evo owners to see Evos sweep the top spots in AS, ESP, and SM.

 

That is the problem with the Evo. It is a good car out of the box without much drama. I think that is what the uproar is Nationally with it in ESP. I don't have an answer to the classing dilemma, but it demands a little thought on the part of the SEB which will most likely move it to preserve the ponycars. On paper, it looks right, but paper racing never works out like the real thing. One Nats doesn't show everything-but it did show potential with more development.

Jason

 

The car will run competitively in A-stock, ESP or SM.

Just depends on what you class you want to run and at what level you are looking to achieve. (IE: Dollars spent).

I've decided to run A-stock with the car. I have built a nationally competitive rx-7 for CSP and have fun with it, but you can really start spending money with the EVO.

As well, if your plans are to run locally, the car should be fast enough in any of the class. The ESP fit is for the guys that wanted the cold air intake and lowered cars (IE springs & coil-overs). Also with esp we need to keep an eye on Topeka and see what comes of it.

I just wish that more people autocrossed. I think alot of EVO owners are missing the true potential of the car.

 

I managed to win the local SCCA ESP championship this year. So I am kinda biased toward that class. There are enough mods allowed in the class to have the Evo kicking butt, without the competition that a truly SM qualified car could render. if someone builds a car to the limits of the SM rules, it would be damn hard to compete in an Evo that is still a daily driver.

 

I'm waiting to find out so I can buy some R-comps for next year. I was in AS and ESP this past year with a stock car and didn't do too bad. AS there was no one else running in the local region. I took 1st place in one event in ESP and I know I can do better with the R-comps but I don't want to getting a different size wheel and tire if thier just gonna bump the evo out of ESP. I haven't been buying anything for it until they say where the evo will end up.

 

That's a lot of analysis there, you taking lessons from that Winch guy?

 

u kidding? That's just some basic data thrown in a spreadsheet. I thought about doing some more analysis on these, but got bored

Who's this winch guy anyway?

 

He's Jeff Winchell, one of the ESP guys who wants the Evo and STi out of ESP. Read about it here, if you've got an hour or two to spare:

http://www.sccaforums.com/cgi-bin/ul...9;t=000233;p=1

 

Thanks Jack

 

I was being a bit sarcastic.

The reason I said it is that it seems every post I've seen him make on the SCCA forums always has crazy analysis done in it. It's like he has every Solo II statistic known to man and has analyzed it every possible way. I bet he could tell you your SAT or GMAT scores from your past AutoX results.

 

LOL. I feel sorry for whooever has to live with this guy

 

I don't understand why there ar Evo drivers in that thread giving the pony cars more fuel. I've seen a few that are talking up the Evo's potential. WHay would you do that unless you want to race BSP?

 

I don't know... honesty, and a desire to convince everybody that their car is an amazing machine?

It's a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation for Evo owners. If you succeed in keeping the car in ESP and you actually win, you're a "bottom feeder"... If the car gets bumped to BSP, you've spent time and money prepping your car to SP rules, only to find that you're now up against Corvettes and M3s instead of Camaros and Mustangs.

That's one primary reason I'm running Street Mod next year. No debate over where the car is classed, and I'm pretty much free to run cams, boost control, full brake upgrades beyond what's allowed in SP. And if I can actually be nationally competitive in SM, I will have a car which will kick some serious butt...