We're doing a feasibility study of a partial Grand Am Cup program in 2007 and would be interested in hearing from any serious drivers who might want to be involved.

Please understand that in the real world, this kind of program is a pay-to-play deal so - like with most other racing series - unfunded drivers are kind of out of luck. On the other hand, if this happens, it will be a quality effort with no-BS cars and experienced team members, and a great chance for someone with the right combination of skill and financial backing to do some higher profile events in a series with a TV deal.

We're looking at a range of options but current planning favors multiple-race deals, perhaps with integrated driver-development and HPDE/club event opportunities. It is early days, there are no guarantees at this point, and there will be a lot of planning to do over the next year, but if you would like to look at GAC opportunities, please contact me offline.

Kirk - kirk.knestis(a)evaluand.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We're doing a feasibility study</TD></TR></TABLE>

The peanut gallery would like to know who is this We?

-Chris

p.s. good luck!

 

contact KingLeh on here

He races Grand Am Rolex Cup and might be interested in some racin on the side since he will already be there at the races.

He also owns a Porsche GT3 Supercup

The team he is on just finished 3rd in team points and him and Cory got 5th in driver points in GARC

 

I don't think a White VW Golf is going to be competitive in ST.

Seriously, what car(s) are you considering?

 

Nope - not a Golf. That would be pretty silly, huh? Besides the rebuild won't be white.

The final car decision will be based on a number of factors, but it won't be a "go-it-alone" option. I've played the game of trying to bring a new car into an established series with flexible specifications, so it will NOT something like a new VW turbo. Unless there's a pseudo- or full-corporate effort behind it, making a new car run anywhere near the front is technicaly and politically VERY difficult.

Factor in the "easy to run" and "knowledge base" criteria and the frontrunning choices look to be BMW or Acura in ST.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Factor in the "easy to run" and "knowledge base" criteria and the frontrunning choices look to be BMW or Acura in ST.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Or a Cobalt... I spoke to John Heinricy at a press event last week. They are increasing the support for Cobalt teams next year. And they really want to find a team to run it in SCCA T3...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Or a Cobalt... I spoke to John Heinricy at a press event last week. They are increasing the support for Cobalt teams next year. And they really want to find a team to run it in SCCA T3...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'll second that. I talked to the crew guys at VIR about the cars; they were very pleased with the reliability and Chevy's support. It's not a glamour car, but if you want reliability, affordability and seat time it's worth a look!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Or a Cobalt... I spoke to John Heinricy at a press event last week. They are increasing the support for Cobalt teams next year. And they really want to find a team to run it in SCCA T3...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Will running a single car in T3 and GAC be possible? That would be pretty cool if the rules matched up in that respect. Not that I have the budget to race anything.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> And they really want to find a team to run it in SCCA T3...</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm sure a lot of people would put their hand up for this one. lol I'm curious, what kind of qualifications are required to field such a team? Dodge has done it, and recently Subaru in T2. I'm intrigued by this. Are the manufacturers actually paying all the bills associated with racing the cars all year, or are they just providing support (like 30% of all parts you'd ever need, as an oversimplified example). If they are really shelling out cold hard money to cover the expenses, that is pretty remarkable imo at the "club" level.

K, good luck at the GA Cup venture, it's a very good series. The early planning to develop a well thought out strategy shows quality on your potential team's behalf. Would be interested to hear how it goes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are the manufacturers actually paying all the bills associated with racing the cars all year?</TD></TR></TABLE>
No. At least not to my knowledge. Support at that level usually takes the form of "dollar-cars", parts support (free and/or heavily discounted) and maybe some engineering assistance. It's usually assumed that the teams are self supported or funded and are just looking for "help" to persuade them to run one car over another...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
No. At least not to my knowledge. Support at that level usually takes the form of "dollar-cars", parts support (free and/or heavily discounted) and maybe some engineering assistance. It's usually assumed that the teams are self supported or funded and are just looking for "help" to persuade them to run one car over another... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly. This is what I was told when speaking with the director that over-see's these programs...

 

The Cobalt (and Mustang, notably) are interesting because their current competitive position benefits from excellent support of this kind. In order to take advantage of that however, it's necessary for a team to be "on the inside" - a position that can be a little tenuous, if politics or budget priorities change. GM is facing tough times right now so how on a limb would a team be if that support was a victim of cut-backs?

While we're certainly not discounting options of this type completely, our current thinking is that we want to make a choice that is supported by a more "distributed" knowledge base, so we'd have more control over our success.

For example, what kinds of resources could we call on for engine management solutions for an RSX-S? How about for a Cobalt? The latter might be free (or highly subsidized) at present, but the supply side of that equation is tiny.

Good questions and ideas, all and thanks, those of you who've gotten in touch directly.

K

 

What about the Mazda 6?
I don't recall seeing one out there last year, just RX8s.
But this is something Mazda might get behind given their enthusiastic support for club racing and SWC. There's lots of knowledge out there with Tindol and TriPoint as well.

Just thinking out loud.

 

Mazda likely has the best contingency support in ST right now. Subsidized parts, a factory team bringing spares to the races, etc. BMW's are easy because the cars are probably the closest to stock in the ST field which gives them excellent reliability.

Only other advice I can give you. Put together your budget, include everything you can imagine that you might need.

Then double it.

That said, after you've picked out a car, its built, and you can demonstrate its competitiveness, drop me a line, I might have interest in a couple of races.

 

there was at least one Mazda 6 out there (a burgundy one ) i believe?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What about the Mazda 6?
I don't recall seeing one out there last year, just RX8s.
But this is something Mazda might get behind given their enthusiastic support for club racing and SWC. There's lots of knowledge out there with Tindol and TriPoint as well.

Just thinking out loud.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

There was one 6 at VIR - with Beaverun Driving School on the side. We looked at it briefly in the paddock and it was a pretty low-impact effort. By '07, that might make more sense, as a knowledge base builds up around that chassis in limited GAC spec.

There are a bunch of RX8s of course, mostly (or totally?) from SpeedSource. I did NOT know that Mazda had a parts and contingency program in place, having not gotten that far down that road...

K

 

I think I'd start here:
http://www.mazdamotorsports.com
Then find Tim Buck on SM.com...

Marcus

 

Kirk, I hope to see you at the GA races. We have toyed with the idea of building a couple of Cobalts to run in the Cup races to compliment the Rolex car we currently run. On the plus side was we already have a crew out there and the hauler would take 3, but the amount of upkeep between races would be a full time effort, and we would need to find enough funded and qualified drivers too, which is harder than one might think.

Jim

 

Glad to hear your still in the thick of it, Spritle. Is there a Rolex round on the spring VIR date? Coming this way?

K

 

I think there is a VIR date for Rolex, but are tentativly planning Mid-Ohio as the only Eastern track (waiting for the rest of the schedules to come out). Otherwise Laguna Seca and Miller Motorsports Park 9 hour race.

 

i've eyballed this one a couple of times, this isn't a car you've considered is it kirk?

ACURA INTEGRA TYPE R. Professionally built for Grand-Am Cup series, this car has the best in safety equipment, suspension and drivetrain. Some of the parts include: MSD, Moton shocks, Mugen ECU, King Motorsport engine, Sparco seat, LSD trans, ACT Comp clutch, coil-overs, totally adjustable suspension, Accusump, Halon fire system and more. Extremely reliable, ready to race, new SCCA logbook. $25,000 obo. Call Joe at (973) 253-3900 or e-mail imp.auto@verizion.net for more info and more photos. (NJ) 12-05

it's been in GRM for the past few months.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JHill &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...are tentativly planning Mid-Ohio as the only Eastern track ... .</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's a big-*** country, huh? Maybe we'll meet in the middle somehow. I owe you a beverage or two for all of your help, way back when.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ACURA INTEGRA TYPE R. Professionally built for Grand-Am Cup ...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not really interested in something that's not a current model. Part of what makes this kind of deal viable is image and new is where it's at. Plus, it's been my experience that "pro" sanctioning bodies, whether they do it conciously or not, discriminate against older cars. It's a combination of performance creep in a class and the desire to encourage manufacturer involvement.

Chevy isn't going to be very happy if a vintage Integra is favored enough by the rules to beat up on the Cobalt, for example - nor will Acura, for that matter, want to see an R ahead of a new TSX.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it's been my experience that "pro" sanctioning bodies, whether they do it conciously or not, discriminate against older cars. It's a combination of performance creep in a class and the desire to encourage manufacturer involvement.</TD></TR></TABLE>
[Sarcasm] Thank God we have the SCCA as an alternative to that.

Nothing like watching affordable Hondas with 16 valve heads, electronic fuel injection and contemporary suspension design getting their asses kicked by 35 year old Spites and Midgets built with parts no junk yard in the country hasn't already crushed.

But I digress...

 

i completely agree kirk, which is why i wanted to make sure that wasn't the car you were looking at. it is my opinion that the club actually favors newer cars at the regional and national level also, not just pro.

 

To be fair, I think varies by class. I think SCCA gives the old stuff too much of a leg up in the Prod classes. Showroom Stock, IT, and GT seem better attended to in my opinion. It just rubs me wrong that they created Limited prep rules in GT and Prod to grow the classes but have done a poor job of nurturing the concept...