So I just got this NASA Speednews in the mail. It's got an article on this new NASA-X autocrossing classification scheme. Anyone familiar with this? Will this structure show up in NASA VA?
Thanks

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The classing system for NASA-X sure seems screwball, from what I read of it before.

 

NASA autocross happens in only one place that I know of and that is Northern California. The www.nasaproracing.com website does not have any easy to find links to the autocross info.

 

"Evolution"

That is one way to put it.

Of course human evolution has us on a path of total annihilation, is that a good thing?

Scott

 

I like the idea of NASA-X. We ran this format at Carlisle back in May. Much easier to place cars as long as everyone puts down all their mods. I barely stayed in my class with 14 points but then there was a guy with a Chrysler Sebring full modded and i mean: turboed, coilovers, cams, cam gears, tranny work - you name it. He had something like 30-40 points...

 

I like it. Instead of being out-classed in SM i'll be one or two groups, or gruppes, higher (+29 points) than stock and may actually be competitive (because, hey, some hybrids are sloowwww).

 

I've run a bunch of these. I'm not sure if this is just a NASA Northeast thing or if they plan on extending it to other regions. My first impressions...

PROs :
-Truly is a "Run what you brung" type club.
-No binding rules... just build the car YOU want! (This could also be considered a con!!!)
-Lots of runs compared to most SCCA events
-Open Practice rocks (Low Speed drive through before competition)

CONs :
-I think the car classings could be fine tuned.
-I'm not sure if competition could be fair on a National level (Like SCCAs Tours etc).
-Room for modifications outside the rules that have no impact on points/classing.
-Stock cars will tend to always be at a disadvantage since they compete against other modded cars.

I'm sure there are other things but.... I'm lazy and bored of writing!

 

I still don't see how it is any different than SCCA classing, only by another name...

If they allow 15 poinds beofre I get bumped to the next class, then, I assure you, my car will have 15 points of mods on it (prepped to the limit).

It hasn't evened out the competition, or made racing cheaper.

Yeah, it makes a few folks happy, but also alienates just as many (like the ones trying to do it on a budget).

What if my one mod is disallowed, then I bump up classes and have a horribly underprepared car.

Scott

 

under the current nasa-x point system i have 50 even...i get bumped from grupp G to gruppe D.

 

No. At least not until after I step down.

The classing is too subjective, and people I know who've run with NASA-NE have had their cars reclassed in the middle of an event because they are "too fast." I won't go into all of the other crap I've argued against this classing previously because I just got home from Utah, and I'm too tired.

Karen

 

Too fast? how about a very very good driver compared to the rest of the class? how fair is that to follow the rules only to be screwed again?

That's like having a course set up wrong and moving the cones around on the 4th heat. BLAH!

 

There will never be a "STOCK" class, you have to have some leaway on things. You only need a FEW good mods to get to that "15" number. DOT racing tires, cat back exhaust, brake pads, rotors, and good shocks will already be around 9 (if I remember right).

But you have to remember there is no points for your driving ability. Someone with no mods done and a great driver will do better than someone with 15 point mods and is a newbie.

 

Here is the problem with it when you get down to it.

EVERYONE has used the same classifications for YEARS and they are set by the SCCA. So you have a bunch of guys that have autocrossed and are used to the way things are done and going to a new system is a pain in the *** after you have lived with the original. Sure the SCCA is always making revisions but the formula stays the same.
The NASA system makes it easy for newbies to come in and have fun without having to worry about what mods they have done and what class that will bump them to. The NASA system is a good way to get new guys.
So you have to look at the two and figure out what is best and in my eye it is changing the Street Mod and Street Touring classes so they are done like the NASA system. Those classes were designed to get new members out racing and have turned into a class just like every other. I see it like this.
You have all your normal classes and then you have 4 classes for street cars. Street Touring Stock for stock to mild modified cars (Under 10 points), Street Touring Prepared for cars with more mods and tuning (11-30 points), Street Mod for cars with heavy tuning (31-45 points) and then Street Xtreme for wild cars (Over 46 points).
Of course there will be guys that take advantage of the system but it would work as a better system to get new guys involved.

I understand that NASA wants their own idenity but recreating the wheel is not a step in the right direction.