USCC (leave your axe outside)

[CyberMotor]

Just caught a glimpse of a new Red Bull-sponsored series, Global Rallycross, and it was short but, exciting. Small, 4-wheel drive Ford Fiesta-types with turbos and 600 HP go around a stadium course with asphalt, dirt, jumps and a road course in the middle.

It's a combination of rally, motocross, drifting and road racing. I like that the cars are the shape of my old 1992 Honda Civic VX, the car that a Lockheed aeronautical engineer said to me, "It has a perfect shape."

So, seeing these cars with that profile caught my attention today!

[Maelochs]

Too much "excitement" not enough racing. I can't get into it. Nothing wrong with it ... nothing wrong with monster truck racing either, just isn't what I am looking for.

[Bicknell55]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Too much "excitement" not enough racing. I can't get into it. Nothing wrong with it ... nothing wrong with monster truck racing either, just isn't what I am looking for.

A bit off topic but I have to chime in. I attended 2 rallyx events run by Rally America a few years ago along with the recent GRX event in DC. While the racing is exciting it is over quite quickly and there is a lot of down time in between to re-groom the dirt sections. TV helps greatly here as they can cut out a lot of the time when nothing is on track. I enjoyed my time at each event but I must admit I was quite bored at times, which isn't usually the case for someone who attends 60+ races each year.

[Lagunaseca_4life]

I agree it's like NHRA top fuel and funny car.theres some much down time I between rounds,and at a place like sonoma standing around bored doing nothing means you cook in the heat.but once they get going,oh boy it's an amazing 3-4 seconds that nothing else on this earth that can really compare to the shear noise,power,and speed those nitro burners creat.

[CyberMotor]

Yes, I agree that it was fast and short. They also did a good job of editing highlights and following battles as mentioned. Just using it as an example of what attracts attention these days of short attention spans with many inputs vying for that limited attention.

[MoMedic9019]

Getting back on topic...

The DP will have no grandfathering. It's been given a stay of execution already, it's appeals are going to be dismissed. It's just time to end it.

The damage that's being done, week in and week out...well...that might be irreparable for some time..The faster the TUSC series moves toward true P2 cars the better they will be. Align with the rest of the world, don't' be stupid.

[Rcz]

Depends on the car count and the economy.

I kind of wish the PCs were in there own support series. Like Nationwide, GP2, or Indy lights. Run them their own race with GT4 spec or GTS cars.

Conti series is good for teaching drivers how to drive GT cars but not Protos.

Then they can have regular ACO spec P2 take their place and have a super P2 based as the main protos, with there own bodies and 600hp. Could call them GTP for the sake of nostalgia.

2017 could look like this:

Main Tudor Series
GTP-based on P2 chassis
P2
GTLM-based on Gt3 advance
GTD-pure FIA spec GT3 spec

Support series
P3/PC
GTS

Continental Tire Sport cars challenge
No change. Still GS and ST.

Could this happen. Meh, I don't know. Would be better then what we have for sure.

[BrentJackson]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Depends on the car count and the economy.

I kind of wish the PCs were in there own support series. Like Nationwide, GP2, or Indy lights. Run them their own race with GT4 spec or GTS cars.

Conti series is good for teaching drivers how to drive GT cars but not Protos.

Then they can have regular ACO spec P2 take their place and have a super P2 based as the main protos, with there own bodies and 600hp. Could call them GTP for the sake of nostalgia.

2017 could look like this:

Main Tudor Series
GTP-based on P2 chassis
P2
GTLM-based on Gt3 advance
GTD-pure FIA spec GT3 spec

Support series
P3/PC
GTS

Continental Tire Sport cars challenge
No change. Still GS and ST.

Could this happen. Meh, I don't know. Would be better then what we have for sure.

I'd support this, though I suspect that the ACO still hasn't given up on their P1-L dream yet, which would probably stop any P2+ idea from being widely aCcepted.

[David Land]

P1-L should be the top class in 2017.

[chernaudi]

Only way that's likely to happen is by proxy--LMP1 and LMP2 after 2016 will share crash standards, which that's already happening by proxy, since it's cheaper to certify a car for LMP1 crash standards since that automatically implies that it'll meet or exceed LMP2 requirements.

[Rcz]

Well, P1 in general of just the NAEC in my opinion.
I would just combine the hybrid and light class in one category.

Like to see a garage 56 class too.

DeltaWing vs ZEOD. Who will last longer?

[JLGarcia]

Originally Posted by David Land

P1-L should be the top class in 2017.

Absolutely. I seriously miss the days of 3 cars in the top class.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by JLGarcia

Absolutely. I seriously miss the days of 3 cars in the top class.

I miss the days of having spectacular prototypes racing in the top class, even if there were only three.

Quality wins over Quantity every time for me.

[TRspitfirefan]

Originally Posted by David Land

P1-L should be the top class in 2017.

AGREE!

[Maelochs]

We might want to consider the economics of the situation.

We lost ALMS despite it having real P1 cars. Losing TUSC wouldn't be as catastrophic, but it wouldn't be a good thing---I'd rather see the series get it right than go broke, leaving fans with possibly something worse--or nothing.

Quality does Not always trump quantity. Would you prefer a daily ration of one tiny but delectable amuse-bouche which could fit in a tablespoon or several bowels of rice and beans? Starvation versus a bland diet?

I love the idea--if and only if at least half a dozen well-funded teams buy a P1L chassis and enter it. I would really love to see it---if there were enough cars opn the grid to actually make a class.

If there were half a dozen teams wanting to run P1L, I'd say do it, but three cars would only be stealing TV time from the P-class, meaning more of those teams wouldfn't be able to afford to race. The we would be back with the ALMS sort of situation, with Muscle Milk driving around a lone, the main Dyson car in the pits, and the Dyson rent-a-car somewhere back among the PC cars.

Shrinking fields, no real competition in the top class, generally insufficient funds ... I thought the idea was to take the good, not the bad, from ALMS as we moved forward?

[Speed-King]

Also, P1L seems to have less manufacturer involvement than P2, seeing how it is a class aimed at independent constructors and all of that. But the top-class of TUSC needs recognizable names, so I'd rather go for P2+ (say with DP-engines*) than for P1L.

*and I think that might be the story behin Starworks' HPD-program

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Also, P1L seems to have less manufacturer involvement than P2, seeing how it is a class aimed at independent constructors and all of that. But the top-class of TUSC needs recognizable names, so I'd rather go for P2+ (say with DP-engines*) than for P1L.

*and I think that might be the story behin Starworks' HPD-program

You think the 3.5 engine will find its way into the new HPD P2 chassis in the future? That hasn't been mentioned as of yet in the press releases, but if imsa is thinking about the future having a bit more power available to the top class wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Speed-King]

I don't have any inside info,but it would make a ton of sense to have the DP-engines in the 2017-cars... would make it easy to keep Ford and Chevy in the fold and ease tensions with the remaining GA-loyalists. And the increased power-output would of course also be a good thing.

Could put Mazda in a world of pain, though. I guess they'll have to break out the rotary again.

[Rcz]

That's why I say in addition to P2+, there also there should be a pure p2. Or lower the weight for diseals.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I don't have any inside info,but it would make a ton of sense to have the DP-engines in the 2017-cars... would make it easy to keep Ford and Chevy in the fold and ease tensions with the remaining GA-loyalists. And the increased power-output would of course also be a good thing.

Could put Mazda in a world of pain, though. I guess they'll have to break out the rotary again.

I wonder if Chevy would want to put a turbo engine in a prototype by 2017 since ford, Honda, and Mazda will all have turbos.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wonder if Chevy would want to put a turbo engine in a prototype by 2017 since ford, Honda, and Mazda will all have turbos.

Why is there a need for Chevy to go with a Turbo V-6? That, to this point, does not reflect their 'performance' line-up of cars. We know that a sb Chevy will fit just fine in an LMP chassis.









L.P.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wonder if Chevy would want to put a turbo engine in a prototype by 2017 since ford, Honda, and Mazda will all have turbos.

The only turbo engines Chevy has are small displacement 4 cylinders, not counting the IndyCar V6 which isn't production based. Cadillac has a 3.6 V6 turbo, but I'm not sure they would go with a Cadillac engine program versus Ford and Honda.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Also, P1L seems to have less manufacturer involvement than P2, seeing how it is a class aimed at independent constructors and all of that. But the top-class of TUSC needs recognizable names, so I'd rather go for P2+ (say with DP-engines*) than for P1L.

*and I think that might be the story behin Starworks' HPD-program

I could not agree more!









L.P.

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wonder if Chevy would want to put a turbo engine in a prototype by 2017 since ford, Honda, and Mazda will all have turbos.

First thought was this:


Then a few more for light-hearted good measure:

[TF110]

It wouldnt be hard for P1-L to be the top class since the new P2's are nearly the same. That way teams can run engines that arent just production based. Like the wec p1-L's, 800kg would go a long way to making them quicker in acceleration and faster than the other classes on the straights. Rebellion has said they can get their R-1 down to 775kg if the rule makers ever decide to lighten them further. That should not be an issue for 'p2+' cars as you guys are saying.