Why not separate the groups by size/weight then and still use relative lap
times? It is sort of done now, big bore small bore? Might have to think
"outside the box" a little though?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack W. Drews" <vinttr4@geneseo.net>
To: <S800Racer@aol.com>
Cc: <Ccanepa50@aol.com>; <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 5:19 AM
Subject: Re: lap time groupings
> S800Racer@aol.com wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 12/1/00 8:57:47 PM, Ccanepa50@aol.com writes:
> >
> > << it gets a little unnerving
> > on a handling track when a "fast lil' ol' sprite" (substitute
> > elva...TR3...Alpha...MG...etc) has to go against a 67 mustang or a
'vette
> > coupe type car with marginal rear visibility, the small bore is
invisible
> > literally driving under the mirrors of a heavy beast >>
> >
> > It's unnerving because it is unsafe! The size differential is a
very
> > good reason not to set up run group based on lap times alone.
>
> I always thought that the way the SCCA did it was not perfect, but it was
the
> best. They classified cars by "performance potential", so generally,
similar
> cars ran against each other. I've kind of pumped for that here in the
midwest
> but there seems to be little interest. The one exception has been when Jim
> Donato talked organizers into splitting two groups and letting them run
with
> each other. VARA, the west coast guys, do it better than any other vintage
> group I have seen, but there may be other good systems too.
>
> I run in "pre-1963, over 2 liters". That means that in my humble TR4 I
race
> against early Ferraris and early Chev V8's. I don't care for that, but I
> console myself by knowing that when one of those guys passes me going 140,
I
> have the best seat in the house.
>
> Taken to extreme, some of these schemes could lead to situations where we
> would group small formula cars with small sedans (perish the thought!!!)
> Although lap times may be similar, the cars are very dissimilar in how
they
> get those lap times, with small formula cars generally being faster in the
> corners and sedans sometimes being faster on the straights. (witness lap
times
> at Blackhawk Farms, where Corvettes turn similar lap times to Formula
Fords).
> Also it could be argued that drivers' mentalities are somewhat different,
but
> I wouldn't want to debate that one very vigorously.
>
> However, I'll race anywhere, anytime, with anybody. And I've met a lot of
nice
> policemen who bear witness to that.
>
>
> --
>
> uncle jack
>
> The Attorney General advises that vintage racing may be hazardous to your
> wealth.
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