OK... I'd like to have all issues regarding the 2006 Speed Ventures S2000 challenge series resolved before the end of 2005.

The two areas where changes will be made are classification limits and points per event. I'll address the latter first:

For 2006, all events will be points events. Points available per event will be based on the number of drivers present in each class as follows:

1 Driver: 5 points

2 Drivers:
1st place: 7 points
2nd place: 4 points

3 Drivers:
1st place: 8 points
2nd place: 5 points
3rd place: 2 points

4 Drivers:
1st place: 10 points
2nd place: 6 points
3rd place: 3 points
4th place: 1 point

5 Drivers:
1st place: 12 points
2nd place: 7 points
3rd place: 3 points
4th place: 2 points
5th place: 1 point

6 Drivers:
1st place: 15 points
2nd place: 8 points
3rd place: 5 points
4th place: 3 points
5th place: 1 point

7 Drivers:
1st place: 18 points
2nd place: 9 points
3rd place: 7 points
4th place: 4 points
5th place: 2 points
6th place: 1 point

8 Drivers:
1st place: 20 points
2nd place: 10 points
3rd place: 6 points
4th place: 5 points
5th place: 3 points
6th place: 2 points
7th place: 1 point

9 Drivers:
1st place: 22 points
2nd place: 12 points
3rd place: 9 points
4th place: 6 points
5th place: 4 points
6th place: 3 points
7th place: 2 points
8th place: 1 point

10 Drivers or more:
1st place: 25 points
2nd place: 15 points
3rd place: 10 points
4th place: 8 points
5th place: 6 points
6th place: 4 points
7th place: 3 points
8th place: 2 points
9th place: 1 point

There will be no limit to the number of events you can enter, but only the best ten day/scores will be included in your year end point totals.

Unless there's any serious/significant objection, this is how it's gonna be.

As for classing issues, I'd like to propose the following changes.

I'd like to see a "super stock" class for anything on street tires, but there's not enough competitors to make it work. As a compromise, I'd like to allow up to 25 points to still be in stock. I know there will be a lot of resistance to this idea, but the dirth of competitors in the current stock class shows that the present system doesn't really allow for much competition.

My contention is that the difference in best possible lap speed between a bone stock S2k and the same car with intake and lightened flywheel would be far less than the difference between that stock car on RA-1s and a car with RA-1s, camber kit, EMS, gears, and JRZ coilovers, yet it's the latter two who are classed together under the present system.

Most folks who end up tracking their S2ks have done some kind of minor mod like intake or exhaust. The reason intakes were classified as mod was simply because that's how it's done in the SCCA rules. On other cars, an intake can make a much bigger difference than on an S2000, and I think we should make some allowances for these folks to be able to stay on street tires yet still be competitive.

That's how I'm leaning right now for stock class... (up to 25 mod points... OK)

For mod, I'm proposing the following:

BSK to be reduced to 5 points
AP2s to be assessed 20 points once they enter mod
Nitto NT-01 added as spec tire

Additionally, John proposed the following changes which I agree with:

- Max total front+rear tire width restriction added (510mm, equiv. to 235/275 or 255/255)
- Wheels increased from 20 to *25 points (*JM suggested 30, but I'd like someone with wheels only to still be able to be in stock)
- Diff and cat reduced from 25 to 20 points
- Intake, A-arms reduced from 15 to 10 points
- Points assigned to lightweight body panels
- Header, flywheel reduced from 10 to 5 points
- Pirelli R-comps added as spec tire

Here's the new and improved system:

-------------------------------------
NOVICE Classes:
The NOVICE classes are open to S2000 drivers having attended fewer than 5 SV event-days AND fewer than 10 track days of any kind (including formal racing schools), as of Jan. 1, 2006. Classing rules are identical to the STOCK and MODIFIED COMPETITION classes, and will recognize 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for each NOVICE class. Note that UNLIMITED cars compete together regardless of driver experience.

COMPETITION Classes:
COMP classes are open to all S2000 drivers regardless of experience level. So, a driver eligible for NOVICE may elect to run in the COMPETITION class, but must make a final decision (NOVICE or COMP) by April 1, 2006. Regardless of how many track days a NOVICE driver attends in 2006, he or she will remain in the NOVICE class for the year. Conversely, regardless of how few days a NOVICE attends, once declared as a NOVICE, he or she will be ineligible to compete as a NOVICE in future seasons.

Classing Rules for NOVICE and COMPETITION:

STOCK:
Philosophy: A STOCK car is essentially a "street car" as the term is broadly understood. Therefore, the allowed STOCK modifications fall into three broad categrories:
1) Those that are common among street-driven cars, and are believed to provide little or no performance advantage on track (e.g. exhaust, chassis bracing, cosmetic body kits)
2) Those that are considered "minimal preparations" for a track event (e.g. alignment, brake pads/fluid, certain engine cooling mods)
3) Safety equipment -- anything short of a full roll cage is allowed here as long as it improves a driver's safety on the track.
4) Up to 25 points are allowed from the MODIFIED category; e.g. intake+header+Volks+rollbar = 10+5+25-15 = 25.

The following are considered "stock" modifications and are assessed no points:

Tires: up to 275 width rear tire, 120+ treadwear
Alignment

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just because other people don't show up, you don't penalize someone in total points.

There is NO form of motorsports that works this way.

Every event is for points, every event counts the same points for finishing places. Anything else penalizes someone for being dedicated enough to show up when no one else does

 

Geez, Drew, you're really getting into this...What hath I wrought.

I'm not liking the points system for a couple reasons.

First, it's not at all transparent; at any given event, people are going to be wondering "how many points is this worth again?" "Is the difference between 1st and 2nd 3 points today or 10 points?"

Still, I understand the desire to base it on # of people at the event... I think Ry's suggestion of 5 points per position is better. If that's a "little too NASCAR" for you, you could reward drivers who beat out lots of others if you "worked up from last place", i.e. "last place" is always worth 1 point, say (even if it's first place that day because no one else showed up!). Then add 2 points for next-to-last, 3 next, etc., with no maximum.

So if N drivers show up, they get:
Nth: 1
N-1: 1+2 = 3
N-2: 1+2+3 = 6
N-3: 1+2+3+4 = 10
.
.
1st: 1+2+3+...+N = N*(N+1)/2

Or, perhaps, you could adopt the new FIA points (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1), but drivers again have to work their way up; if 3 drivers show up, they 3, 2, and 1 points, while if ten drivers show up, the winner gets a full 10 and the last two fail to score.

Lastly, remember that if you change the points system, you'll no longer be consistent with Speed Ventures' other challenge series, so you might want to consider what John and Aaron think about all this.

 

I tend to agree.

 

Again, what's the merit for penalizing total points if no one else shows up? Someone still came to compete, so make it his/her fault that no one else showed up by awarding them a whole 1 point for the win? Same effort and money expended in either case, so if I know no one will show up, I won't bother either. Great incentive

 

OK, so points stay the same. Phew!

Now, the other stuff:
I propose intake, header, and exhaust each be 10 points. Exhaust was given "free" to stock cars since it was a very common mod and could be done cheaply with a straight pipe. But it does save a lot of weight, which is important. Also, intakes are cheap, so they shouldn't be worth more (or less) than exhausts. Headers are more expensive and more involved to install, so should remain.

No way should a car with Volks be allowed in stock. WAY too big an advantage. Bigger than intake+header+exhaust. 30 points is a bargain for Volk rims.

Spec tires: Any R-comp, defined as a non-Hoosier with treadwear of 100 or less. Treadwear of 101 or higher = "street tire". R-comps allowed in Stock, on stock rims only.

No tread width limits (front, rear, or total).

No penalty for AP2s, but allow bumpsteer kit in stock (0 points). Suck it up, the car got a little quicker. Just drive faster.

Novice-Stock = up to 0 points.

Comp-Stock = up to 0 points + R-comps.

 

jp doesn't get a vote. he drives the wrong kinda car.

 

Keep up this madness and I'll take my toys to another sandbox

 

mmhmm.... sure you will.

 

When 5 or more show up I wouldn't worry about it.

If 5 or more people show up (per class), points are:

10
6
4
2
1


If 4 show up (per class):
9
5
3
1

If 3 show up:
8
4
2

If two show up it's
7
3

If one shows up it's:
6


- Bitterman

p.s. You're all homos.