the end of SPEED world challenge?
06-22-2009, 03:42 AM
#1
Melting Slicks
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the end of SPEED world challenge?
field size is getting very small very quickly.
ps. the coin toss grid invert rule is idiotic.
ps. the coin toss grid invert rule is idiotic.
Last edited by mousecatcher; 06-22-2009 at 03:54 AM.
06-22-2009, 06:46 AM
#2
Race Director
Although I agree with your comments on the coin flip, I think the number of competitors is simply a sign of the times. SCCA should have no trouble keeping the series afloat until the people have more disposable income. However, just as Trans Am was sold off and eventually liquidated, nothing is certain these days.
The coverage and the racing itself have been less than entertaining this season.
The coverage and the racing itself have been less than entertaining this season.
06-22-2009, 06:46 AM
#3
I haven't been able to even find it on TV all year.
06-22-2009, 06:52 AM
#4
Safety Car
TransAm is alive (if not well, but what racing is in this economy?). You may even recognize some of the names as past competitors/champions. http://www.sccatrans-am.com/ 
06-22-2009, 06:59 AM
#5
Race Director
Trans Am is coming back, but it's not even close to the Trans Am that died in 04'. I'm hopeful it will come back in it's full glory. I prefer production cars to tube-frame, but the Trans Am of the mid-90's was something to behold!
06-22-2009, 07:13 AM
#6
Team Owner
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I have watched the Speed World Challenge, and 'less the entertaining' would be a high light.
It was quit poor for the GT cars. The touring car races were good. But still needs a full hour for each race.
It was quit poor for the GT cars. The touring car races were good. But still needs a full hour for each race.
06-22-2009, 08:07 AM
#7
Burning Brakes
Are you guys having to set your alarm clocks for 3:00 AM to catch these races?
06-22-2009, 08:43 AM
#9
Racer
Here's the viewing schedule as I saw it last:
7/7/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C GT & TC, Mosport
7/22/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Watkins Glen
8/18/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Autobahn Country Club
9/1/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Mid Ohio
9/11/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Road America
10/20/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Road Atlanta
11/3/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Laguna Seca
(the #53 is the channel colum for my provider)
I tried to keep an open mind on the coverage but after seeing two shows must admit I'm dissapointed in trying to cram two races, interviews, tech spots, music and picture lead ins and lead outs, picture highlights of the race, and updates from the previous races all in one hour.
And ask all the announcers to stop yelling when the least little thing happens. Then again, I've been around racing as a crew member, race chairman, courner worker, grid worker and general fan for over thiry years so I don't need them to generate interest for me. They are the pros in that bussiness so I should cut them some slack.
7/7/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C GT & TC, Mosport
7/22/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Watkins Glen
8/18/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Autobahn Country Club
9/1/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Mid Ohio
9/11/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Road America
10/20/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Road Atlanta
11/3/09 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 53 W/C Laguna Seca
(the #53 is the channel colum for my provider)
I tried to keep an open mind on the coverage but after seeing two shows must admit I'm dissapointed in trying to cram two races, interviews, tech spots, music and picture lead ins and lead outs, picture highlights of the race, and updates from the previous races all in one hour.
And ask all the announcers to stop yelling when the least little thing happens. Then again, I've been around racing as a crew member, race chairman, courner worker, grid worker and general fan for over thiry years so I don't need them to generate interest for me. They are the pros in that bussiness so I should cut them some slack.
06-22-2009, 10:55 AM
#10
Former Vendor
Technologically, the series is way over engineered. ABS? Sequentials? TC? Its just as easy to build a GT2 car, infact, easier because there isnt any ABS to calibrate!!
THATs why field counts are down in that series. Its nolonger a cost effective series to run in. The average guy in club racing cant bring a car and run to have fun. When there were 35-40 cars in a GT field in the late 90s early 2000s, the 20 of the 40 were local guys who ran their home tracks for fun!!
How many of you would run a speed GT race if the entry fee was cheap, and you could run wheel to wheel with other guys?
THATs why field counts are down in that series. Its nolonger a cost effective series to run in. The average guy in club racing cant bring a car and run to have fun. When there were 35-40 cars in a GT field in the late 90s early 2000s, the 20 of the 40 were local guys who ran their home tracks for fun!!
How many of you would run a speed GT race if the entry fee was cheap, and you could run wheel to wheel with other guys?
06-22-2009, 11:08 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
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Technologically, the series is way over engineered. ABS? Sequentials? TC? Its just as easy to build a GT2 car, infact, easier because there isnt any ABS to calibrate!!
THATs why field counts are down in that series. Its nolonger a cost effective series to run in. The average guy in club racing cant bring a car and run to have fun. When there were 35-40 cars in a GT field in the late 90s early 2000s, the 20 of the 40 were local guys who ran their home tracks for fun!!
How many of you would run a speed GT race if the entry fee was cheap, and you could run wheel to wheel with other guys?
THATs why field counts are down in that series. Its nolonger a cost effective series to run in. The average guy in club racing cant bring a car and run to have fun. When there were 35-40 cars in a GT field in the late 90s early 2000s, the 20 of the 40 were local guys who ran their home tracks for fun!!
How many of you would run a speed GT race if the entry fee was cheap, and you could run wheel to wheel with other guys?
06-22-2009, 11:52 AM
#13
Race Director
Lou is absolutely right........when I ran in 01-02, the series was perfect. Stock body (except for specific allowance, a nose with a splitter for instance), production drivetrain with normal hot rod upgrades etc. I built my car, and won a race, for under $60,000.
In 02-03, they started allowing full carbon bodies. Not only did they do this "behind the scenes" (ie they let some teams do it without putting that in writing), it immediately added $30k to the cost of a Corvette. Then in 04', Cadillac pushed the sequential transmissions through, adding another $30k to the mix.
Anyway, just in body and trans upgrades, the cost of a privateer building a Vette doubled. Add in custom drop spindles, engineered crush structures in the doors, wind tunnel testing etc, the cost goes up even more.
And in the end, they restrict all of the cars to the extent that......wait for it......the laps times really haven't improved much in the past 5 years.
Anyway, my Tivo keyword search of "GT" catches them, but my DirecTV DVR didn't, so I finally tracked down the series and record it as a season pass.
New Jersey was about as interesting as watching the grass grow.
In 02-03, they started allowing full carbon bodies. Not only did they do this "behind the scenes" (ie they let some teams do it without putting that in writing), it immediately added $30k to the cost of a Corvette. Then in 04', Cadillac pushed the sequential transmissions through, adding another $30k to the mix.
Anyway, just in body and trans upgrades, the cost of a privateer building a Vette doubled. Add in custom drop spindles, engineered crush structures in the doors, wind tunnel testing etc, the cost goes up even more.
And in the end, they restrict all of the cars to the extent that......wait for it......the laps times really haven't improved much in the past 5 years.
Anyway, my Tivo keyword search of "GT" catches them, but my DirecTV DVR didn't, so I finally tracked down the series and record it as a season pass.
New Jersey was about as interesting as watching the grass grow.
06-22-2009, 12:15 PM
#14
Racer
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I swear SCCA is AAHD and cant stay focused
"Trans Am" was a "World Challenge" in the late 60's early 70's, started with production cars, then went to tube frame and we all know the results there.
And today the World challnge cars are headed in the same direction which all started with the Caddy, with is set back engine, driver set back etc.. etc.. etc...
"Trans Am" was a "World Challenge" in the late 60's early 70's, started with production cars, then went to tube frame and we all know the results there.
And today the World challnge cars are headed in the same direction which all started with the Caddy, with is set back engine, driver set back etc.. etc.. etc...
06-22-2009, 12:43 PM
#16
Intermediate
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Location: Waterloo Ontario
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Have y'all heard about this:
http://www.world-challenge.com/forum...pic.php?t=1588
http://www.theracersgroup.com/mercedes.slr.gt/
http://www.world-challenge.com/forum...pic.php?t=1588
http://www.theracersgroup.com/mercedes.slr.gt/
06-22-2009, 01:03 PM
#18
Racer
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Duluth GA.
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Lou is absolutely right........when I ran in 01-02, the series was perfect. Stock body (except for specific allowance, a nose with a splitter for instance), production drivetrain with normal hot rod upgrades etc. I built my car, and won a race, for under $60,000.
In 02-03, they started allowing full carbon bodies. Not only did they do this "behind the scenes" (ie they let some teams do it without putting that in writing), it immediately added $30k to the cost of a Corvette. Then in 04', Cadillac pushed the sequential transmissions through, adding another $30k to the mix.
Anyway, just in body and trans upgrades, the cost of a privateer building a Vette doubled. Add in custom drop spindles, engineered crush structures in the doors, wind tunnel testing etc, the cost goes up even more.
And in the end, they restrict all of the cars to the extent that......wait for it......the laps times really haven't improved much in the past 5 years.
Anyway, my Tivo keyword search of "GT" catches them, but my DirecTV DVR didn't, so I finally tracked down the series and record it as a season pass.
New Jersey was about as interesting as watching the grass grow.
In 02-03, they started allowing full carbon bodies. Not only did they do this "behind the scenes" (ie they let some teams do it without putting that in writing), it immediately added $30k to the cost of a Corvette. Then in 04', Cadillac pushed the sequential transmissions through, adding another $30k to the mix.
Anyway, just in body and trans upgrades, the cost of a privateer building a Vette doubled. Add in custom drop spindles, engineered crush structures in the doors, wind tunnel testing etc, the cost goes up even more.
And in the end, they restrict all of the cars to the extent that......wait for it......the laps times really haven't improved much in the past 5 years.
Anyway, my Tivo keyword search of "GT" catches them, but my DirecTV DVR didn't, so I finally tracked down the series and record it as a season pass.
New Jersey was about as interesting as watching the grass grow.
06-22-2009, 03:32 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
