HI just read about it in GRM sounds kind of cool May be good for those who are just starting, any thoughts about it?

[qoute]The goal was to create a specification for a Cooper that would have good on track performance characteristics while maintaining the ability to be used on the street for daily use and keeping the costs for the modifications contained to the $5,000 range. The Cooper S is allowed additional modifications that raise its total modification cost to the $8,000 range. All dollar estimates are exclusive of installation costs.[/qoute]

 

Not any less expensive to prepare than a Showroom Stock car. I don't know what Minis are going for but I put REALLY good safety equipment in my car - pretty much all you can do in SS - for about $2600. Do the same with a $10K Si or any number of other low-miles street car and it seems like one would be money ahead.

The only way that one-marque series get really sensible is if they are heavily subsidized by the manufacturer - in terms of purchase price, prize or appearance money, and/or parts support.

Kirk

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not any less expensive to prepare than a Showroom Stock car. I don't know what Minis are going for but I put REALLY good safety equipment in my car - pretty much all you can do in SS - for about $2600. Do the same with a $10K Si or any number of other low-miles street car and it seems like one would be money ahead.

The only way that one-marque series get really sensible is if they are heavily subsidized by the manufacturer - in terms of purchase price, prize or appearance money, and/or parts support.

Kirk</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed. This one-marque mania needs to come to an end sooner or later. Pretty soon we're gonna have over a dozen spec classes out there, with only maybe 1 or 2 of them being good. Personally I'd rather see Mini put money into an SS program or for someone to really endorse a club touring model (like IT but allowing new cars).

 

Now don't get me wrong - we ran the old Renault Cup and LOVED it but (a) we got a new car for a bunch less than what the cheapo thing cost retail (something in the neighborhood of $7500 in 1985, as I recall), (b) for that price it came with all of the racing bits on a pallet, ready to install (Autopower cage, seat, sliding bracket, KONIs, springs, ARBs, airdam, spoiler, and wide alloy wheels*), (c) parts support from the RJS truck at the track was awesome (read, cheap), (d) prize and contingency money was paid well down into the field, (e) entry fees were paid for by each entrant's "official" dealer, and (f) we got to run with the IMSA GT series at real racing venues in front of real crowds. This is not the "spec" model that gets applied today simply because manufacturers aren't willing to finance a series to that extent.

K

 

It seems like at some point you're just contributing to the dilution of class fields.

The thought process must go something like this:

- I just bought my new XXX car and I like it
- Hmm, XXX car isn't competitive in it's class
- But I want to win
- It's not fair...
- Maybe I'll start a new class where I have a chance to win

NASA continues to pick up these upstarts, because they can just throw 10 different classes on track together. If the trend continues, however, it appears to be a problem in the making. I suppose they'll just deal with it when the time comes.