RE: Roll Cage rules ?

["Neal Tovsen" <nealtovsen@yahoo.com>]

> Hmm, i guess i am new to this so I didnt read that close. I
> was comparing
> BSP & CSP. BUT figured that being allowed basically unlimited
> drivetrain
> modifications, unlimited braking modifications, and suspension
> modifications limited only by stock attachment points would
> allow someone
> to make a mighty fast automobile! suitability out of the box
> notwithstanding. I guess picture what a team with factory
> support (read
> deep pockets) could do with the SM rules, & think what in bsp
> or csp could
> top that, given the same driver.

IMHO, a fast autocross car on DOT tires (i.e. Stock, SP, and SM) is
influenced by four things, generally in this order:

1) Driver
2) Vehicle weight
3) Suspension design/balance
4) Horsepower

Driver is #1 by a LOT. Horsepower is #4 by a LOT (mostly because of the
tires). #2 and #3 are somewhat interchangable.

Again, this logic is my opinion and open to debate, but I'll stand by it and
the results support it.

If you use this logic, it is clear why SM might never beat the times of
A/B/CSP. Small two-seater cars (like the CRX) or cars with amazing handling
characteristics (like Porsche and Lotus) will always go fast regardless of
the horsepower factor. When you consider that SM vechicles are essentially
limited to SP suspension rules and the same DOT tires, it becomes clear that
unlimited horsepower in a Mustang/Supra/DSM/VW/etc will still probably not
make it faster than a Lotus or Porsche with SP horsepower. The SM rules rely
on this theory pretty heavily, which is why you can see such a diverse list
of cars that will be competitive in SM. Any car is SM-legal except for
two-seaters and anything from Porsche!

If you want to see the SP times get knocked down, wait for SM2 to be a full
class. Then you'll see cars with killer suspension/balance AND unlimited HP!
SM2 is for all the non-SM-legal cars like Porsche, Lotus, Z-cars, RX-7's,
Corvettes, Miatas, etc...

Neal


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