Sept 13 - FAST Open at Brooksville

[Rawkkrawler]

Looks like a nice HP section from station 2.

[280z-hab]

Hooray, no decreasing slalom on the course map!

It will be cool to see that Datsun 2000...maybe I could even score a ride-along?

[Jamie]

Hooray, no decreasing slalom on the course map!

You don't think so? Look hard....

I don't know that I've ever seen Elliot take a rider in that car -- he normally takes the minimum number of runs to set FTD, then puts it back on the trailer.

[Loren]

Hooray, no decreasing slalom on the course map!

You don't think so? Look hard....

I think Jamie may be onto something here.

[Rosko]

I was looking over the new classing rules, and then at the registered drivers.

The Focus ST is now in S3, which is good. It was an overdog in S5, which is why I bumped myself up to S4 last year.

I think that Kevin England accidentally registered in S4. I think Chris Meier is also misclassed in S4. You'd think a Honda Civic SI would also be in GS (S3), right? I looked all through the link to SCCA car classes, and I cannot find Honda in most of the classes. Misprint?

It's an odd mix in S3. Little FWD sport compacts vs 4000 pound RWD behemoths with 500hp. I've always had very little respect for the latter. It might be time I suffer some poetic justice

[Loren]

Thanks for looking over the entry list, Chuck. I was hoping that more people than just me would do that. I looked it over last week, but haven't done so in a few days.

If you (or anyone else) hasn't read THIS yet, it will give you some insight into how we came up with the class changes.

Let's see...

Ford Fiesta ST - Believe it or not, that one is correct. The ST is listed in HS, which would be S5. But, it comes from the factory with 205-width tires, so that bumps it to S4. A FiST owner could bolt-on 195's and run in S5, but I don't see anyone doing it. Their poor "electronic limited slip diff" would be working overtime trying to keep up!

Honda Civic SI - Hondas don't get much respect in the Stock ("Street") category of the SCCA rule book (they are much more specifically listed in the more modified classes). You'll find them in HS under the single line "Civic (all)". That puts them in the same boat as the Fiesta ST. They could run in S5 with 195 tires, but they come from the factory with 225's, so they go to S4.

S3 will be interesting, indeed. But, the GS "philosophy" is similar to FS. While FS ultimately has more weight and more power and is mostly RWD, GS is still "muscle cars", just of a slightly different flavor. These days, GS is lots of FWD turbo cars that are really quick and should handle as good or better than the typical FS car.

And I just figured out what may have you confused. They recently moved a bunch of GS cars down to HS. Your Fiesta ST is one of them. So, it is no longer in GS (no longer in S3), and I think that's a correct move. It's not hefty enough to fit in with that crowd... I think of GS as being more 3000-3500 pound cars. Much better fit for FAST in S4, which is where it ends up. (unless you downgrade the tires... and then it would probably fit in okay with S5)

Here's where SCCA moved a bunch of cars around for 2015

[ExecutiveHydra]

Here I come to SAVE THE DAYYYYY! Reg'd. Come on, be honest, who missed me?!

[jmdoc66]

It's an odd mix in S3. Little FWD sport compacts vs 4000 pound RWD behemoths with 500hp. I've always had very little respect for the latter. It might be time I suffer some poetic justice

Careful

Taken From the Ford's website;

Focus ST 3214lbs. (2.0L EcoBoost® 6-speed manual)

The ST is not a "little" car.

[BigBlue]

Here I come to SAVE THE DAYYYYY! Reg'd. Come on, be honest, who missed me?!

It'll be good to see you back Paul.

[twistedwankel]

Here I come to SAVE THE DAYYYYY! Reg'd. Come on, be honest, who missed me?!

Paul....the caped crusader?

Or St Paul the Apostle?

Or Les Paul inventor of the electric guitar?

Or Paul who goes thru more Mustangs than I do?

The Mayor

[twistedwankel]

http://cdn.growassets.net/user_files/sc ... 1432652738

One has to assume that with class reassignments there will be a lot of confusion or misinterpretation.

Anyone who shows up in S1 will be frisked and wanded.

Not necessarily in that order.

Sadly for you Steve will also be running in S1 AND really likes to win.

The Mayor

[Native]

[Rosko]

It's an odd mix in S3. Little FWD sport compacts vs 4000 pound RWD behemoths with 500hp. I've always had very little respect for the latter. It might be time I suffer some poetic justice

Careful

Taken From the Ford's website;

Focus ST 3214lbs. (2.0L EcoBoost® 6-speed manual)

The ST is not a "little" car.

It's all relative. I'm not under the impression that the Focus is light. It started as a five door hatchback, after all. It's not a coupe, designed and built for performance (like a Camaro).

A modern V8 Camaro weighs around 3900. My previous car was a RX8 (base model) comparable in general size and purpose to a Camaro/Mustang/Whathaveyou. It weighed around 2900. Where did Chevy find 1000 pounds? I think the American manufacturers lack any effort toward craftsmanship. Either that, or I don't understand the point of these cars. I've heard what a muscle car is. It just doesn't make any sense.

That said, I have a lot of respect for people who can drive these cars fast in autocross. That's really gotta take a lot of skill.

[Loren]

I think the American manufacturers lack any effort toward craftsmanship engineering.

Fixed that for you.

[Rosko]

Loren, I hear what you're saying about the Fiesta ST. It's a different car (and probably faster than a Focus ST in autocross, but that's neither here nor there)

Kevin England and I both have a Focus ST. It's a GS car, and belongs in S3, unless I really missed something.

That is super odd that the Civic SI would be lumped in with all Civics. It's an awesome car, and should be quite fast relative to its compatriots in HS.

I'm still working with my schedule to see if I can sign up for this event.

[Loren]

SCCA's current take on HS is pretty ruthless to anything that's slower than whatever is currently winning HS at Nationals. (used to be the MINI Cooper S, might be the Fiesta ST now) That means that an awful lot of "awesome" cars that aren't faster than a Cooper S or FiST are relegated to HS, the SCCA effectively doesn't care about them. This is why FAST put the tire restriction on S5... to make it something closer to what HS "should" be... a class where a bottom-feeding "slow car" can actually compete.

Focus ST? People actually autocross those heavy things? Okay, so I see my mistake there. The Fiesta has been "in the news" so much lately that it tends to take over any "ST" thoughts in my head.

Yep, the Focus ST is S3. I'll fix Kevin's entry.

[nathanwilliams617]

Awe man, so wish I could make this event...
Chris M. In a new ride,
The launch of the FASTiva,
Paul is back,
Steve in the Vette,
and More competition in S3.

Oh well, catch you all at the classic.

[Loren]

Looks like Dave O'neil is back in a new car, as well.

[Dave]

Looks like Dave O'neil is back in a new car, as well.

Yep!, it was time to retire the Honda and move onto bigger and better things. It will take some time I'd imagine, as all I have ever autocrossed is a FWD sedan. So, the change to RWD might take some adjustment, a way of thinking, and a change of my "set" natural reactions to car control. Plus, a move back to Tampa should put me back onto the course with the frequency of old.

[jev61]

Steve, you should stay in S1 where you will have a chance at a 1st place sticker cause you won't be getting one in M3 this season.

Or will you be in M2 with your latest mods? M2 where a Top 10 finish nets you a 3rd place sticker.