San Diego Tour results

[des]

Since there were so many Toyobarus competing, an update:

STX - 7th of 12
CS - 4th of 7
RTRL - 1st of 6! Congratulations to Terri Mayo!
RTR - 28 drivers overall, 8 of them in an FRS. Top finisher Jeff Cawthorne, 5th place, behind four folks in trunk-kit versions of the Miata, followed by his co-driver, Derek Punch. Jeff seemed disappointed -- understandably, since he's more accustomed to finishing on top.

These aren't certified final results or anything, but good enough for here: http://sololive.scca.com/

[zo7vette]

Originally Posted by des

Since there were so many Toyobarus competing, an update:

STX - 7th of 12
CS - 4th of 7
RTRL - 1st of 6! Congratulations to Terri Mayo!
RTR - 28 drivers overall, 8 of them in an FRS. Top finisher Jeff Cawthorne, 5th place, behind four folks in trunk-kit versions of the Miata, followed by his co-driver, Derek Punch. Jeff seemed disappointed -- understandably, since he's more accustomed to finishing on top.

These aren't certified final results or anything, but good enough for here: http://sololive.scca.com/

So much so, that I am bailing on the FRS. MSR's and ZOK's are just to fast for the Twins. I have sent my request to the SEB to move the Twins to DS, please send your letters to make this happen, sooner than later.

Jeff Cawthorne

[renfield90]

I'm the black FR-S that was in CS. Writing my letter tonight.

I drove Bandes's RTR Z0K at a Tucson event this past February and beat him on day two by a few thousandths. In San Diego I had trouble raw-timing him with sticker Goodyears and a front bar. Sure, my car needs more development but it's pretty clear CS isn't a good fit.

The SCCA stands to lose a lot of potential participation when Twin owners discover HPDE is more fun than being a CS also-ran.

[forwallblakmail]

Originally Posted by zo7vette

So much so, that I am bailing on the FRS. MSR's and ZOK's are just to fast for the Twins. I have sent my request to the SEB to move the Twins to DS, please send your letters to make this happen, sooner than later.

Jeff Cawthorne

This is the first full year for the twins let alone the beginning of the season. I think its a little too soon to be asking the SEB to move the car to DS.

My personal opinion. I think it fits well in CS.

[xwd]

I think we'll have to go through nationals this year before the car has any hope of being moved, or the MSR/Z0K being moved out of the class. I still see that as a definite possibility with all the talk of wholesale stock class changes.

Eric Jones did pretty well at the Sunbelt Tour against Dan's 370Z and Ken Baker in an MSR and both of those guys were top 5 at nationals last year. Jadrice did very well at Blytheville last year, PAXing 9th overall and beating Ken Baker by a solid amount.

At Dixie though he was very disappointed and said the car was too course dependent. The car didn't have enough torque in spots and in the spots where he could open it up he was hitting the rev limiter which just kills the car.

What kind of Goodyears were you running? I didn't think they made a competitive autocross tire anymore.

[renfield90]

Originally Posted by dwx

I think we'll have to go through nationals this year before the car has any hope of being moved, or the MSR/Z0K being moved out of the class. I still see that as a definite possibility with all the talk of wholesale stock class changes.
...
What kind of Goodyears were you running? I didn't think they made a competitive autocross tire anymore.

...they don't. Isley had one of the last Eagle RS sets (DOT legal) in a 225/45/17 size with the autocross compound and sold it for cheap. (Yes, I fit these tires plus all my luggage and tools in the FR-S!)

If stinking it up at Nats is what it takes, then that's where I'm headed. I think that's too long a timeframe though, and the SEB misses its chance to make an executive classing decision in the best interest of the sport. Waiting until after Nats means they'll have to consider member feedback on the move, and it would get pushed out to 2015. For those who are new to the sport, that's too long a timeframe and they will go find somewhere else to play.

Wagner said it best on Jeff's Facebook (not to stalk, but someone sent me a link) - something along the lines of whatever list of things the SCCA has to offer to FR-S owners needs to end with "...and the car can win."

[trippinbillies40]

I suggest moving it to GS. Massively under attended class and a massively popular car needs a home. Sorry to the three guys with developed Celicas

[whataboutbob]

I was 7 of 12 in STX. Tough class. Lots of fun.

[forwallblakmail]

Looking at the results from the tour I think that the twins are doing well considering the lack of seat time most drivers have with it compared to the competing models which have been on the market for years. Last year I went to the Toledo ProSolo. I ran C-Stock on corded 225/45 Kuhmo V710 (yes literally corded) because I had them laying around. No crash bolts/stock alignment. I owned the car for 3 weeks. I've been autocrossing since 2006 but am not at the level that alot of people on this forum are. I was beat by two very seasoned drivers with fully prepped cars. Both on Hoosiers that had stickers on them in the morning, and real alignments.

Here are the results: (I'm Nick Kelly, BRZ obviously)
http://www.scca.com/solo/content.cfm?cid=51100

Yes, I got beat, but with the huge gap in experience between the leaders and myself, not to mention the lack of preparedness of my car (and owning it for 3 weeks) I did not get beat that bad.

End rant. I personally think it belongs in CS.

[Kido1986]

Note: I don't have the long pedigree as some of these other members, only been autocrossing regularly since 2010.

C Stock (Street soon?) may be the fit for these cars but MSR/Z0K needs to complete the move that they near did last year. B Stock is definitely more of their speed. When is the last time Z, RX or twin (mind you they are 10 months old at most) beat these cars on a national level event in Stock or RT?

I am willing to write a letter to the SEB but I don't know how to address it best to get there attention. I'm open to any help if anyone that is familiar with this process cares to hit me up here or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Hclark86). Don't want to write a letter only to have ignored.

[Sccabrz192]

IMO there is probably no point writing anything for the SAC to review that doesn't pertain to the stock-to-street discussion. FWIW the feedback I got from a few in-the-know individuals that MS-R and ZOK to BS was inevitable for 2014... but that was before the street class debacle, so who knows.

I am really PO'd at this whole process right now because I think if Street goes through I'll probably end up as an under-prepped STX competitor for a little while.

[TRev]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

C Stock (Street soon?) may be the fit for these cars but MSR/Z0K needs to complete the move that they near did last year. B Stock is definitely more of their speed. When is the last time Z, RX or twin (mind you they are 10 months old at most) beat these cars on a national level event in Stock or RT?

A 370z placed 3rd (.3 sec back) in CS at Nationals last year and had FTD in class on day 2. It can definitely compete against the MSR/ZOK depending on course layout in C Stock. Definitely not so much in RTR due to power. I do agree with moving the MSR/ZOK cars due to their production numbers or more so lack thereof. In general, they do tend to dominate the current class.

My only point of reference for competitiveness is driving in RTR at Nationals last year. Almost zero seat time, car had some development though was not fully prepped. Definitely still a bit loose in the caboose. With seat time and more development, I am confident that it could have placed first in RTR.

[xwd]

The problem with the Z is it is one of those cars which destroys Hoosiers in the front in 20 runs, and big really expensive ones at that. The new street proposal doesn't help in its current form since it isn't strut based. It also has a crappy LSD so once you put it on street tires I don't think it is competitive any longer. I think it gets moved to FS in any reshuffle that happens.

I am somewhat expecting a new CS to be the regular Miata, RX8, and Toyobaru.

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by dwx

I am somewhat expecting a new CS to be the regular Miata, RX8, and Toyobaru.

I believe it would be a good and competitive class with normal Soltice/MX5, Twins and RX8.