Building a car to the limit of the rules isn't "gaming", it's usually called "winning" 
Building a car to the limit of the rules isn't "gaming", it's usually called "winning"
Keith Tanner wrote: Building a car to the limit of the rules isn't "gaming", it's usually called "winning"
I thought for racing building a car to the limits of the rules resulted in a mid pack finish. Building something that's cheaty as hell, but isn't discovered, is called winning.
This past week Bill Howell of the ASCS (and member here) announced that he will not run road course events this year. I copied & pasted below what he posted on a couple Pro Touring forums. So now the PT guys who want to run road course events are more likely to attend the USCA events while the ASCS will continue their auto X and other activities.
New direction for me in 2014
It is after much thought that I make this post. I have tried to touch on this in a recent post about plans for 2014. I have talked with partners, vendors, supporters and participants about this and why I am doing this post/email. I have been involved from a very personal level in the development of this nitch we call Protouring. I have lead the charge, drove the train and cheerlead all I know to do. I did it in the beginning for the fun, at some point, it did become a part time business. Never designed to be my day job, but did help with me being able to afford my new found, very expensive hobby.
That is the ground work. We went from cruises, to drag racing to autocrossing and finally moved into full fledged, all out Road Coarse Racing. Call it what you like, but when you strap into a car with a 5 point harness, pull onto a track, run it as hard as you feel your are talented to do, be that understood or perceived, whether or not it has a tag, insurance or proper racing equipment, YOU ARE RACING! Now, as the sport grew, and as more and more came on board, joined the ranks, built more cars, faster cars and even now special purpose built cars, there is one thing that needed to happen that didn't. I blame myself for that, regardless if you were running in my events or elsewhere. I am writing this right now to say that as far as I, Bill Howell is concerned....NO MAS!
This hobby is growing now exponentially, cars are getting stupid fast, every year we read or witness more and more horsepower, more and more speed, with no or very little attention to driver talent or enough safety equipment. Guys, Girls, participants, vendors and promoters. This is a TRAINWRECK just looking for a place to happen. I am no longer willing to be the or one of the conductors. Now that we have cars with more horsepower than NASCAR being driven by people that have very little training or track time it is just a matter of time before the so far minor incidents turn into something far worse. This year I can name at least 5 separate times that sheet metal was bent this year. Only one of those involved injuries. The clock is ticking guys, I have to bring it to the surface. It has been the white elephant in the room for a while, I am just the one that is pointing at it and saying lets fix it before it eats us.
Three reasons I am screaming this.
From a personal standpoint I could not live with myself knowing I was responsible in anyway for one of my friends being injured or killed.
From a business point of view, no amount of money, fame or recognition is worth the pain a bad accident would do for the business.
As a very good friend told me just yesterday, most personal injury attorneys can not even spell liability wavier. To them it doesn't exist. I can sign anything to release the promoter, the vendors and others from my stupidity. However, if I die due to my self destructive actions, all Melinda needs is a good attorney and one hint of negligence on anyone's part and it is all over.
All that said, lets move on to 2014.
As a participant and one with the need for speed, yes, I will very privately attend some events as a private person, running my private car, and have a blast.
As Bill Howell the promoter, until I am comfortable that I have CMA with all my current concerns and issues, don't expect to see my name attached to any event that I KNOW is unsafe. This will probably mean as a company, I will not be involved in many or any Road Coarse Events. As a company I will change my focus on what I consider Fun and Safe. This doesn't mean I am going anywhere, it simply means look for a different direction. Autocrossing has it's areas of concern also, but as a promoter there are things I can do to insure the most you can do is get some cone rash on your quarter panels.
Does this mean no Road Coarse anymore. Absolutely not. However, it will mean lead follow laps for people that can not prove to me they and their car are ready to be turned loose. This still won't cure all problems, but know that the rules, requirements and qualifications are going to be stiff. Will this hurt my business plan? It may in the short term but I feel the long term results will be both understood by most and appreciated by all.
The first and immediate fall out from this and has already been agreed by the principles of ASCS is unfortunately with the closing of El Toro, we will not have a RTTC this spring. I hate it, I know people have already planned for this event. We have invested a lot of time and money to make it happen but in the end, we feel this is the right call. I will promise now though that there will be something in California this summer. Announcement coming soon.
There are plenty venues if you have the need for speed and I wish everyone well, I just can not any longer avoid that elephant that has been staring at me for over a year now.
I ask that everyone share this infomation and lets get the word out.
It's a very legitimate concern. As the organizer of a few track events, I know it well.
The good thing is that there are some well-established rulebooks and driver training ladders. For example, not just anyone can wander into the GRM UTCC and take to the track. Safety gear really isn't hard, even on a "street car". It might mean some compromises to the look, but it's more of a change in focus.
Now that the safety aspect has been brought up (and it is a legitimate one, for sure), let's take another look at the suggestion that stickier tires be allowed.
The stickier the tire, the higher the speeds...the more energy that has to be dissipated when Something Bad happens. And that energy delta is exponential, not linear. So a little more speed means a LOT more energy.
Todays' real street tires are quite good. You don't need stickies to go fast and have fun.
Second point: all tires are a compromise. Sticky tires are optimized to deliver higher grip...but within a smaller window of temperature, with less wet weather ability, shorter life, and less puncture resistance.
If you want your event to relate to real street use, you at least need as a minimum to pass DOT regs. Anything less has puncture resistance that is simply laughable for normal highway use. Cars pitting for cut tires is very common in road races...imagine what happens driving on slicks on real world highways/streets. The odds of failure go way up.
Even within the r-comp field there are two camps...on one hand you have Hoosier with their r-comps that have a disclaimer "Not for Highway use" stamped right on them. So while they can meet the fed min standards, Hoosier knows full well they are not really useful on the highway. So scratch them (and the similar Kumho V710, Hankook Z214, and Toyo RR).
Next, you get into the "streetable track day tires" like the Toyo RA1, Pilot Sport Cup, Nitto NT01, etc. Some of these tires actually come OE on certain cars (Porsche GT3, Mercedes AMG Black series, etc.). They are a legitimate "street" option and plenty of people drive them to/from the track. But from a rulesmaker standpoint, they are extremely hard to define short of an "allowed" list. The downside of most of these is that they suck in cooler temps. Positively dangerous until they come up to temp. Another downside is tread depth versus chunking. Some of these (ex RA1) will chunk in the dry at depths needed to be safe in the wet.
So then we get into what the industry now calls the Extreme Performance Summer Tire group. That is the real sweet spot. They typically work well in a wide variety of temps, have tread designs and depth that will work in the wet, yet still deliver track performance that is not that far off the "streetable track day tires". Maybe 1-2 seconds a lap difference, depending on your local track/car. And with few exceptions, these are 200tw tires.
Interestingly, tires beyond these...starting with the "Max Performance Summer" group are actually worse at track stuff, as they have too much void in the tread design and they will typically have chunking problems unless shaved.
200tw is the right number. Many sanctioning bodies have embraced it, and the tiremakers with motorsports interests have done so as well.
Rules are out and there is a 200 TW limit. AND the tires must be less than 3 years old at the time of the event. While I'm not thrilled about the 200 limit I think it's a great idea to keep folks from running old tires. http://ultimatestreetcarassociation.com/USCARules_v7-1.pdf
USCA Rules said: Gasoline, diesel fuel or electricity is the only fuel/power source to be used in vehicles entered in USCA events. Nitrous oxide or octane boosters are allowed, however, alcohol and nitro methane are strictly prohibited. USCA officials must approve any alternative fuel source before entry.
Wut? no E85 Provision? what about E15? Derp.
USCA Rules said: The USCA defines professional drivers as: A “professional driver” has competed at a high level of racing or time trial competition, for compensation that is a significant or primary source of income.
Does that rule out Keith driving his own car? (I mean; techically the Targa was a work sponsored/partial funded event, right?)
Definitely not. I was sponsored by Flyin' Miata to some extent (along with other companies), but the primary sponsor was my bank account. During the race, I was on vacation. At no point was my driving a significant or primary source of income - just the opposite. You'd have to squint very hard to make me look like a professional driver.
I'd say if no one has cut you a fat salary check to drive then you aren't "professional" I'd think gentleman drivers wouldn't necessarily count.
$500 entry fee?!? Are you people nuts?
Javelin wrote: $500 entry fee?!? Are you people nuts?
One Lap fees are $2500
http://www.onelapofamerica.com/about/
These are not events for the common man.
OptimaJim wrote: That's five out of our six winners and I'm not sure any of them spent more than $100,000 to build their cars,
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, either. At any income level, you'll find someone who has more money than you who has better toys and competes in events you cannot afford to enter. I definitely won't be watching this series or coverage of it, though.....it has been priced out of my attention span.
(and no, I'm not being hypocritical. I don't follow professional motorsports, either.....if I'm not driving, and nobody I know is driving, I'm not watching.)
Ever priced out what it costs to rent Laguna Seca for the day? I don't find $500 implausible, especially when you consider that this series isn't being run as a charity.
My thoughts exactly. 500 doesn't seem that bad
In reply to Keith Tanner:
Have you priced out Portland International lately? I can do a Saturday HPDE for $175, drag race Saturday night for $40, and autocross on Sunday for $35. $500 for what's basically an HPDE, an AX, and a show and shine is pretty extravagant, no matter the host.
I've not priced Portland, no. It might be one of the less expensive events. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Sebring, Daytona, Road America - I know the first is quite expensive to rent. I can't imagine the others are too cheap either.
If you don't like the pricing, don't run. Or set up your own rival series. The choice of tracks is going to be a big factor in some people deciding to take part. I'd love to compete at Laguna Seca, not so much at Buttonwillow.
Keith Tanner wrote: I've not priced Portland, no. It might be one of the less expensive events. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Sebring, Daytona, Road America - I know the first is quite expensive to rent. I can't imagine the others are too cheap either. If you don't like the pricing, don't run. Or set up your own rival series. The choice of tracks is going to be a big factor in some people deciding to take part. I'd love to compete at Laguna Seca, not so much at Buttonwillow.
This here. Its all about the tracks. In fact, if you read the USCA blurbs, they specifically talk about running at legendary tracks and all of that.
I've penciled in the Texas Motor Speedway event (which means missing the spring edition of the Texas Mile, dammit). TMS is hard to get on unless running wheel-to-wheel. Not that it is a fabulous road course (it isn't), but it's on the bucket list for this Texan.
In a similar vein, I am paying some really stupid money for three days at COTA in January. But it isn't much more than the total cost including travel of going to some other epic track like Barber, Road America, Daytona, Mid-Ohio, etc. Living in Austin makes this one "affordable".
On the flip side, I can run at Texas World Speedway (the old, old NASCAR track in College Station) for $150 on open lapping days. Its a really good road course, with several nice configs.
You'll need to log in to post.
