First off, I just wanted to say thanks to Raymond Brenneman of Position1 Racing for taking the reigns and making NWHC a reality for '06. Thanks to everyone that helped and signed the petitions as well.

As most of you know, the preliminary year of NWHC will only have H1 and H4. I'm sure other people are curious as well, I was wondering if we can get a show of hands of how many people are going to run in each class H1 and H4.

(ya ya, the real reason i'm asking is so i can find out who my competition is going to be )

So anyways... first vote from me: H1

 

way to go up there guys! I hope this doesn't mean that you won't be making the haul down to infineon for the biggest honda race in the country. (norcal crossover) I had alot of fun last year, this year is only going to be bigger.

I would be interested in a NW crossover next summer.

BTW H4.

 

I will probably be running H4 most of the time, as I suspect the competition for group 2 will convert from F/E Prod to H4. Not to mention I can run a header and don't have to swap wheels to run ITA in group 5!

 

Unfortunately, there's no H5 and I don't have the cash to convert over to H4. There's no way I'd be compeditive in H4 as the car sits now, so it looks like I'm sticking to G Prod. Besides, I have something to prove in GP before I give up on it.

 

Don;t worry Crescent, you can stare at the back of my hatch for the season

Hopefully I can get this hatch and start the build in time for the season...yes, back in the game

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evs-One &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don;t worry Crescent, you can stare at the back of my hatch for the season </TD></TR></TABLE>

Only cause i'd be lapping you (again and again).


You're gonna run H1? I thought you were gonna stick with the single cam powah

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by G3-TEG &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Only cause i'd be lapping you (again and again).


You're gonna run H1? I thought you were gonna stick with the single cam powah</TD></TR></TABLE>

uuhh, I'm gonna slap a K20 in the ITR and throw the C5 in the hatch

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jisu009 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I suspect the competition for group 2 will convert from F/E Prod to H4. ...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Conference isn't my gig anymore but this is precisely why I wonder if the constant addition of new classes is a good thing, if it doesn't actually attract cars/drivers that would otherwise stay away.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evs-One &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes, back in the game</TD></TR></TABLE>

........someday......somehow.......

For the moment I'll be running H-nothing....

But I'm happy for you guys....I expect a lot of pics and video

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Conference isn't my gig anymore but this is precisely why I wonder if the constant addition of new classes is a good thing, if it doesn't actually attract cars/drivers that would otherwise stay away.
K</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe Jeremy or Rick can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think one of the problems is that Rick, Reg, and Keith (all Honda's) were slaughtering EP, so they were all bumped to FP last year where it's essentially a three-car group just for them. That change left the 92-95 Si's in EP split off from the CRX's.

If nothing else, the addition of H4 will bring them all back together in one class.

$.02

 

H4 primary ITA secondary for me!

SOHC POWAHH!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Conference isn't my gig anymore but this is precisely why I wonder if the constant addition of new classes is a good thing, if it doesn't actually attract cars/drivers that would otherwise stay away.
K</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can't argue that we have had some class proliferation over the last few years and that it has led to lowering some of the existing class entries. 1 of the 2 E-30 classes seems to be quite popular. I suspect the other one will die out at some point.

But like johng said, the Hondas have just dominated FProd and there is rarely an entry that is not a Honda. It has been said that we have driven away the other car makes/entrants to either another class or to stop racing all together. There have been some fairly vocal critics of CRX/Civic class placement of which I have been a part of.

You probably remember the old system of classing which placed cars in a class based upon a lb/Hp window. The new way is we take the factory stated Hp and then multiply by a predetermined number to make a final race weight. For EProd Hp times 18, FProd Hp times 20. Different values from A to I. You can move up or down. Take an ITA CRX/Civic and an ITA Integra. Currently they must weigh 2140/2175 and 2480 in ITA trim. In ICSCC, the CRX/Civic goes to FProd and loses 40 to 2100 and the Integra goes to EProd and gains 40 to 2520.

The predetermined lb/Hp was supposed to help even out the mis-classed cars but we still lack a tool to within the rules to reclass a car based on performance.

This new class may help increase entries in FProd, if there are really racers sitting on the sideline. Only time will tell.

You should plan on visiting sometime and leave enough time to take in a race weekend. You still have family out here, right?

Rick

Edit- I'll run H4 in ITA trim. Sheet, maybe I'll even run an H1 race or two since we know the H4 cars are faster anyway.

 

I ran the Renault in IP a thousand years ago, in its IMSA Cup spec, so I remember something about "power" to weight ratios.

I do have family in Seattle but have only had two chances to get back since coming to the east coast. The last was for a short-notice, four-day conference/training thing, and our time was so tightly scheduled, I didn't even tell my friends I was in town: There was no way that I'd be able to even get away for a barley malt.

The other problem is that, when I DO have a free weekend, there's pretty much always an event within a couple hours of here that I can run...

Ore Region (then NWR) adopted the CP classes in an effort to boost entries back from Conference. Conference adopted the SCCA IT classes shortly after that. Steve Taylor and a few of us came up with the RS rules over beer and pizza at his house, NWR adopted it, and it has grown to be pretty popular in Conference.

I hope that NWHC does turn out to be a positive thing and I'm not bashing it out of spite for anyone involved. I've just seen so MUCH proliferation of classes since I worked my first Conference race, in the summer of 1980 - a problem certainly not unique to ICSCC - and I just wonder if there were 1/3 of the classes, would there actually be one third of the entries? I don't buy it.

Step away from your individual situation and consider for a minute that a document on the ICSCC site lists 54(!) classes, plus Novice open- and closed-wheel groups. It's now 56? Dudes...

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Conference isn't my gig anymore but this is precisely why I wonder if the constant addition of new classes is a good thing, if it doesn't actually attract cars/drivers that would otherwise stay away.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed. However, if there is one class that WILL bring in new blood to conference it will be Honda Challenge. The younger guys don't know about F/E production, but they do know about Honda Challenge.

 

Maaaybe. But, if the cars are essentially the same - headers and wheel sizes notwithstanding - I don't honestly understand how the name alone will somehow magically attract new entries. Again - I'm looking at this only from an academic position (that's what we PhD types do, after all), and it would be cool if it works like everyone hopes.

K

 

I tend to agree with Kirk but I have been surprised at the amount of people who say this is what they have been waiting for. They could surprise us or what I expect, is they will still be on the sidelines nursing their next excuse along.

I am still getting used to the idea that I won't have to comprimise the car from IT trim any longer to have a 2nd class/run group.

Rick

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maaaybe. But, if the cars are essentially the same - headers and wheel sizes notwithstanding - I don't honestly understand how the name alone will somehow magically attract new entries. Again - I'm looking at this only from an academic position (that's what we PhD types do, after all), and it would be cool if it works like everyone hopes.

K</TD></TR></TABLE>

IMO, Its not just the name alone that is the attraction. Like I stated in one of my earlier posts this year regarding an NWHC series, it is the fact that everyone (involved) will be driving a Honda. Its the attractiveness of having common interest in the same vehicle(s) and competing against them... just like Spec Miata/RX-7/BMW, etc.

 

As far as I can tell PRO 3 cars are just ITS cars that are 100lbs lighter and can have plastic window but this is a very popular class. They also do a good job of bringing new people into the sport. I just talked to a few people at the last Alfa club event that plan on building PRO 3 cars. It was explained to me that they have chosen this class because all the competitors pit together and share. Another likely reason is PRO 3 drivers often rent their cars for the Novice closed wheel race.

I am very excited that my car can run in 2 groups with similar rules. I won't be running H4 but my car will so I'll put in a vote for H4. Hopefully we can get some out of town competitors up here for a corssover event. Then I'll run H4.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Roldan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I am very excited that my car can run in 2 groups with similar rules. I won't be running H4 but my car will so I'll put in a vote for H4. Hopefully we can get some out of town competitors up here for a corssover event. Then I'll run H4.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Splitting driving duties with someone?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jisu009 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Splitting driving duties with someone?</TD></TR></TABLE>

You got to come out the shell more often. He has been sharing his car with Noriko(sp). I think she has completed the 1st wave of the Novice program and will soon be hunting little white Civics.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turfer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You got to come out the shell more often. He has been sharing his car with Noriko(sp). I think she has completed the 1st wave of the Novice program and will soon be hunting little white Civics. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Wow, I had seen her at the track a few times, but didn't realize she was actually going to be racing.

very cool

 

We'll have to wait and see how the HC concept is received overall. I can say that a second entry is appealing since the header and wheels are not an issue like they are for the Prod classes...making a H4 second entry attractive for me. But to attract new blood? Maybe.

The tell will be if the Canadian Honda drivers will start coming south and racing with the PR and PIR guys. They already have the PCC (?) class series at Mission that many of them are really into.

G