Agreed that big, diverse, competitive classes are the way to go. But making that happen by putting all of the old cars at an immediate disadvantage isn't going to encourage participation in the short-run.

And I know you keep going back to one or two specific drivers, but we're talking about cars and rules here, not individual drivers. The 285-width issue and the 350Z/C5 Vette were brought up as concerns before BP and Lane Borg entered the picture.

Logically, it just doesn't balance out. The results to day support that decision. That gaps between the AWD and RWD cars have not been small enough to write off as solely due to BP's driving skills. Nor can you dismiss any of the nationals-level STU drivers in AWD vehicles as mid-level or mediocre drivers. Nor can you dismiss all the events and sites and surfaces that don't support your argument, because we already have plenty of data and numbers to show that the tire difference is a serious issue.

Hopefully we can get something sorted out in the next few years, but it's not exactly encouraging for attendance in general at this point.

 

There is a huge difference between STX as it sits and STU as it sits... course dependency. The popular cars in STX: twins, E36s, and RX8s, with a few other cars in the mix but not the way that those three cars are. Those cars are three spots on a continuum of weight and power, and the ones with probably the best power to weight - the twins - are quickly becoming the most popular car. But they are all FR cars in the 2600-2800 lb range with ~200 whp, with the same sized wheels and tires.

Meanwhile, STU... sweeperfest, buggies might as well stay home. Lots of digs... 2WD cars are going to have issues. And it is something that bigger tires for the AWD cars helps to mitigate. On 265s, the buggies would sweep a little better, but accelerate a little worse, making dissimilar cars comparatively more similar.

BTW Rick, thanks for the data point.. never occurred to me BP would be on RS3v1s.

 

At the risk of breaking up the classing discussion, two other questions:

1) Anyone try the RS3v2 yet? Per someone I talked to, pretty much everyone that bolted them on at Nats went .5 faster over V1s. I personally am patiently waiting for the Z2 star specs because Dunlop has not let me down yet, but definitely curious about the cheaper and less temperature-specific RS3s.

2) What's the highest number of ProSolo starts any of you have gotten out of a clutch? I'm at 95 currently. I figure its days are numbered, and I'm on house money at this point.. just curious

 

The zii star specs were released a few weeks ago. Sizing is still not great though with 255 still being the widest for a 17".

So if the tire allowance is altered for awd cars and somehow ends up being >255 which it most likely won't, 18" wheels will also be necessary...Something else to think about unless tire manufactures are cognizant of this at the same time and adjust sizing accordingly.

 

At the expense of the boost buggy of course, which the class was mostly comprised of back in the day. Something about tire limitations and sports cars being introduced into the class drove them all away, for some reason, lol. It was a real shame, as the WRX is/was an extremely popular car with the kids.


Now you only see a handful in DS, and a couple in ESP (oh wait, ESP is changing, never mind).


Such a shame, but I'm sure the governing bodies learned from that and nothing like that could ever happen again. But, maybe since STX turned into a pretty fun diverse class, despite alienating it's largest group of competitors, the net-gain/outcome was ok?


My two cents, after having thought about this for about a decade; SCCA = SPORTS CAR club of America. Which is fine I guess, but, well.. not for some of us.

 

not on the evo, but i'm on rs3v2's, very very happy with them. that said, it's on a mini and i'm not generating very much heat. friend of mine is on z2ss, he loves them as well. for the price though, rs3v2s are hard to beat

 

Nothing in the new Fastrack about any STU AWD tire allowance, but the expected announcement of "anticipated departures" from the STAC.

 

Any STU AWD tire allowance was just speculation and would only be put into place for the 2016 season, AFAIK.

 

I wonder how many people wrote letters form here? I didn't do mine yet, but I have it on my list. Along with reclassing C5s out of BS

 

Agreed. The Corvette C5 has to go out of BS. That is an AS car, IMHO.

 

apparently it's up for review, so write your letters.

http://www.solomatters.com/street_ca...moves_for_2015

 

We'll see what happens.. guessing we won't get anything in the next Fastrack, but hopefully it will at least get responded to in 2014.

 

Here is one more!

 

I sold my IX and got out of STU. I have a pile of parts for sale... Text me if you have a need for STU parts. RPF1's, 5100 AST's, etc... 970-371-4468. I am still trying to get enough posts to post to classifieds. I am going back to time trialing in my M3...

 

Hey STU dudes. Does anyone here compete with an 03, or have any experience in one? I'm curious about how much the open front diff hurts the car in an autocross setting. I have a dedicated car for autocross, but for when that breaks I'd like to have some fun in my evo in STU.

Oh and hello to the NER evo guys, I recognize some names in this thread