Race Classes

[Bourbon Boy]

I woke up this morning thinking that I've never seen a car race where Power to Weight ratio is a class.

There's power band, engine size, NA, Turbo, Rear wheel, Front wheel classes etc... but I never seen a race where cars are put into classes where Power to Weight is the same or similar. It would open up the track to a much greater variety of cars.

Does it exist? If not, is there a reason?

I have no idea why I woke up with this in my head.

[zebra]

Power to weight has very little to do with circuit work.

Think Bathurst.

2 Cars both have the same power to weight, 1 has 200hp 1 has 600hp, which do you think will get around to mountain faster?

Curious...what race class has limits on where in the RPM range you can make power? (power band)

[Bourbon Boy]

OK in that particular track, I would think Torque would come into play, fair call. (Forget that Power Band example.)

But say the track was flat? I would think it would be a close race wouldnt it? Actually when I think about it, I guess it would be a dis-advantage for the 200hp car on the straight. But say use the track at Wakefield. When I last went, the Hondas were eating up the bigger powered cars. I guess it depends on the track aye.

I guess why I was thinking of this was I was watching a Mini-Cup challenge on the weekend that I taped. All cars, identical, only thing that separates the winners and losers are the skill of the driver. But it got boring after a bit watching the same cars drive passed over and over. Would be nice to see a race where different types of cars compete together in a fair way.

I know the GT races are kinda like these but they're all Super Cars. Would like to see something more like the World Time Attack Challenege they had here last year.

Edited February 28, 2011 by Bourbon Boy

[zebra]

What you are thinking of is IPRA (improved production) turbo cars need to run inlet air restrictors, there are minimum weights for different cars etc.

The only real bullets in a straight line are the 6L V8 Commodores, but then they are massivly under tyred so are slow through the corners and have to get on the brakes earlier etc

[Duncan]

Production sports cars used to run power/weight classes, ie you could choose whatever power and weight you wanted but you would be competing for points against other cars with the same power/weight.

The issue of course is weight is easy to measure and power is not. they used to take a dyno to some rounds and check some cars but it was just too hard to stay on top of. And too easy to fake lower power for a dyno run (eg boost controller or 2 maps on computer).

Tyres are really the best limiting factor IMHO. Keep everyone on the same, cheap, average tyres and lots of other things even out....

[evil_weevil]

control tyres are good - but also racing in a one make class is good cause then while some people have big budgets, others dont and is quite competitive.

Duncan you raced in the Daewoo series hey? so pretty much control everything! comes down to skill!

If I were to race in Prod Sports (which my car is built for) Im up against other 2F cars such as lotus's, rx7's, porka's etc which will suck balls.while in the mx5 class, its good as everyone has a different budget and is fun!

but I still come last. haha

[zebra]

This thread makes me relise my next car will be built by for book for 1 specific class

[evil_weevil]

dont buy/build a lotus cause you wont be my friend

[Duncan]

lol you beat a lotus chris, i remember it well

building a car to a class is a good idea (I did it ) but it is not simple, easy or rewarding. It is limiting and frustrating. My GTR must be about the slowest one in the country!

But from when I first decided to build my own car, I knew I could not outspend the competition, so I went looking for tight rules where budget did not automatically determine who wins.

One make racing was excellent, but because it is close it is full of cheats. The Daewoo series was controlled one make so we couldn't even have the cars to fiddle with them - even so there was 10% power difference between the slowest and fastest of the 20 cars. 10% is a mile. The one time I got the quickest car (wakefield 500), Tom, Mark and I were leading by literally 1 lap when the power failed

So basically....there is no such thing as a level field, and no category where you don't need a reasonable budget to win.

[Bourbon Boy]

What class\competition would you recommend for a normal guy (like me) with a 2-3 mod per year budget? lol

[Duncan]

easy...supersprinting where are you based?

[Bourbon Boy]

easy...supersprinting where are you based?

NICE! Thanks man. I never knew about this... I googled this: http://www.supersprints.com.au/

Is this what you're talking about?

What do you win? Is it just for glory?

Based in Sydney.

[evil_weevil]

supersprints are good fun and good entry level.

to give you a run down...

A skyline is to go into class SVD.

Its against the clock - but you are in a class.

you dont race for position on track as its not a race,well, more a race against clock and quickest lap wins.

in SVD class, you'll be up against GTR's, EVO's, highly modified commodores and falcons etc - most will be street registered. in fact I think they have to be street registered to be in SVD

My MX5 is 2B which is 1600-200cc and street rego'd with some modifications

There is the CAMS state supersprint series, and there is also the interclub one. I have done a a couple rounds of the CAMS one but 2009 I did the interclub one with southern sporting car club. 2011 I'll hopefulyl do 4 out of the 6 rounds.

[Bourbon Boy]

I was just reading this: http://www.supersprints.com.au/rules-and-regulations/2011/2011%20Vehicle%20Regs.pdf

There is no SVD? Just an SV and I dont think I'd be in that.

I'd probably be in Type 2 class with my 350GT with only an exhaust, braided brake lines & slotted roters as mods.

There is no entry fee information on the website but I assume that it will be in something like a normal club day out like $200-$300 depending on the track??

Whats minimum spend on entry\rego fees in a SuperSprint Championship series? (Excluding car mods\repairs that is...)

[evil_weevil]

nah your car is SVD. Not type 2.

there are different SV type classes but skylines fall under SVD unless you have an r32 or r35 aussie delivered.

the rules are weird.

entry is anywhere from 180 - 220 and you'll need to hire a timer beacon for 10-20 bucks

no rego fee's for them.

if you want more a relaxed series, the southern sporting car club has 4 at wakie and 2 at EC and isnt as full on as the CAMS state round.

google sscc

cheers!

[Bourbon Boy]

Type SV: "Road registered vehicles with no limit on modifications."

SVD: "3001cc and above"

That sucks I'll get destroyed! LOL

[evil_weevil]

yep!!

some SVD racers do 1.40's at EC and 1.04's at wakie...

however, go there for the fun and try and beat your PB each time!!

if you are out there for fun (most people are!) who cares what lap times, you are out there enjoying your toy! just make realistic lap time goals and aim for them each time!

if you then get serious and bug has bitten, sell and then buy something that maybe comptetive in another class (like me haha)

[Duncan]

read those rules again chris, they have changed a lot this year other than forcing all 4wd turbos into sports sedans (class 4) they are mostly good changes