I did quite a bit of searching/reading to sort of confirm, that for a dedicated track car spoon hardtop is the best option out there from an areo stand point. If that statement is not valid and there are better options out there, or better yet solid numbers to prove that, and I somehow missed it, please post.

Thank you.

 

yes, it is. However, from a points allocation basis, it is not. Most competitive organizations - NASA/SCCA and other TT/TA events tend to assign a lot more points to aftermarket hardtops, making them less useful when building your car to fit in a competitive class. If you even remotely think that your car might one day be a TTC, Honda Challenge Car, or competing in some sort of sanctioned body, I'd advise you to go OEM. Spoon top isn't worth the points assigned to it.

 

I always found it weird that the Voltex/Top Fuel car didn't run a Spoon top. Or does it?

 

Pretty sure they run a Mugen top that's like crazy light.

 

Seeing how you explicitly cannot run a "fastback style top" e.g. the Spoon top, with NASA, it isn't worth any points, its simply not allowed. (TT Rule G:13)

 

I just read all of the rules and it seems like the only class that does not prohibit "fastback" top is ST/SU. That's kind of a bummer. If one can benefit so much from a "fastback" top, why not just assign more points for having one? Unless there is something else that I'm missing?

 

In that case it's definitely not worth the points assigned to it... as in points = illegal

 

There is about a 150 + page thread on the NASA forum on this subject (about 2 yrs ago). All your questions and most of the reasoning for the rule is there. Trying to change the thought process after that protracted painful discussion is like

Most of us just have accepted this:
1. use an OEM hardtop, or one you can PROVE is the same (burden of proof is on you)
2. take a major points hit for non OEM
3. Everything fastback or extended is strictly illegal

 

Thanks for pointing me towards the NASA thread. It's 47 pages it's a good read ... I'm on page 20 now

 

Not sure if anybody cares, ...or maybe someone will find this helpful..., but since I already have the fastback top, I've been reading NASA rules over and over again, and after double and triple checking on the fastback regulations here's what I found:

Time Trail:
-not legal in TTB-TTF, and TT3
-legal in TTU with no modification factor, and TT1/TT2 with modification factor (7.3.2.B.2) Road Racing:
-legal only in SU with no modification factor, and ST1/ST2 with modification factor


...again, correct me if I'm wrong or misread something in the rules.

...and thanks everyone for pushing me to do more research on the topic.