"C6 vettes only have 400 BHP so they also won't touch 400whp." Not sure I believe that SCCA can really "scrutineer" these cars effectively - any of them.
Yeah, I didn't want to weaken my argument with that. I race FA and it is very expensive. There are indeed high cost classes in SCCA. T1 is not supposed to be one of them. No disrespect towards Tucker, but everyone likes to win. And SCCA is where he can win. eh, I think they do a pretty good job at the national level. They are not afraid to take engines apart at the runoffs.
"T1 is not supposed to be one of them." I certainly agree that the 430C has no business in T1 - "T" as in touring, right? Would love to know how it ended up there. "I race FA and it is very expensive." Ah, but they are beautiful machines IMO. And it seems to me that FA is becoming more and more popular, at least in the eastern US.
Scott Tucker single-handedly made it happen. I think because of the demise of the Atlantic pro series, and 016's (faster and cheaper to operate) becoming available.
Since no one bit I'll just explain it. The Tucker rule (they actually call it that; Brannigan's Law, anyone?) allows you to be a driver for 2 cars and collect the points from whichever car gets the most. So he drives 1 stint in 1 car and another in a 2nd car, and gets the points for the top finishing position from the 2 cars. Screw the teammate (although he probably pays for their part also) he's in it to buy the most points possible. He's in the points lead due to this. I don't get it. What's the point of buying a championship? Just buy a repro trophy.
EGO!!!!!!!!!! He is generally several seconds slower than the ringers with him in the car...course I am also
in my opinion... from my experience... SCCA is a joke... the meetings I have been to are a joke. I will never take part in a non profit racing organization... I want people to compete for my business... and I want real corner workers... They really seem to be mismanaged.
"The SCCA" is a loose collection of many regional SCCA organizations. Don't devalue the whole thing based on whichever region you didn't like. eg, the corner workers of the SF SCCA region *are* the "real" corner workers at pro races held in the region. The SCCA is a club, not a vendor who competes against other vendors. The money they charge for you to race is not profitable; it's the actual expense to hold a race. The people that are working the race (flagging, safety, etc.) are all volunteers. In my experience, the SCCA is very well run compared to other racing clubs I've had the displeasure of being part of. That's not to say it's perfect.
Proposed rules show the 430C eliminated from T1. SCCA is trying to move the cars to STO, where at the moment the rules require 18" rims. I've requested a rule change to allow 19s, but no response yet. Not optimistic. No interest in T1 anyway. As others have pointed out, it's really a GT car, not a touring car.
Age old trick at Runoffs to put false cars, teams, and sponsors. For organization with so many rules, no rules on how you enter. He was playing with Scott's head entering as a Risi 430 C.
430 C kicked out of T1 for 2011. It should have never been in T1, Touring is for street cars as defined in the rules. I really hope Scott builds out a 430 or even 458 street and wins T1 next year telling SCCA F.U..
The two years I was at Runoffs there were heads, pistons, cranks, and micrometers laying all over the tech shed. I agree that some teams are always a few steps ahead, a shame for amateur racing they have a NASCAR "not cheating unless caught" mentality. One of the several reasons I don't lose at that game anymore. NASA has right idea in Super Touring to say do what you want, but we'll put you on the dyno. Now the hurdle is to figure out through GPS or whatever how to catch the dyno cheaters, still less work than catching the SCCA cheaters.
There is more "not a pro" talent in SCCA than all the pro racing series (Grand Am, World Challenge, and even AMLS). BTW, "not a pro" means anyone that pays for a seat in a pro race.
I have had a great time running NASA Super Touring the last 3 years since hanging up my SCCA hat. Good choice as SCCA in Texas has averaged less than one T1 car a weekend while NASA has had turnouts of 5-10 Touring 1 type cars a weekend. we have a good time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1h9GRIwl4U
NASA also gets my money. Being in business, it's a natural fit. Perhaps if I were a socialist, SCCA would make more sense.
LOL Ferrari Club Racing Association gets my money next year. They are running like a business, but all the money goes back to racers because the organizers already have plenty of that.
SCCA has a distinguished history, and in many classes a legitimate national championship. There are some really good people in SCCA, some in registration, some in tech, etc - and I mean really, really good. SCCA is involved in far more than just club racing, something the other organizations can't claim. All of these things make SCCA special. I think they've lost their way in amateur racing, and I'm not alone. They need to get rid of a lot of car classes. They need a far, far more customer oriented ethic - "it's a club" and "they're volunteers" have been excuses for too long. I don't understand their strategy, or if they even have one. They are competing with every other club and sanctioning body for funded drivers, and the success of their club racing program depends on competing successfully. They completely lost Porsche in the 90s, and now they will lose Ferrari, which just amazes me. They do not understand the market. They do not seem at all welcoming to modern race cars. The current SCCA President really is a numbers guy, with no background in motorsports. We'll see how he does - and we'll see how the Bull Rider does with the IRL. I wouldn't bet on either of them. Motorsports in the US is such a sad mess. If SCCA allows 19s in STO, I will run in that class. But the FCRA, a great idea - which has been around for what, a month now? - will eat SCCA's lunch in the Ferrari community. Amazing.
"The two years I was at Runoffs there were heads, pistons, cranks, and micrometers laying all over the tech shed. I agree that some teams are always a few steps ahead" I have no doubt but that the SCCA would be incapable of catching any kind of sophisticated cheating with Ferraris.
"Perhaps the slow guys who have been losing for years should try what Tucker's doing." Except for getting caught? I know nothing about Tucker in the Challenge series, didn't know he'd been caught cheating. For my view on cheating in the Challenge series, I'd refer you to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIX_0nMlIBU
