Looks Impressive!

http://caddyedge.com/gallery/CTSV-Race

 

If Darth Vader drove a WC car, it would be that one

 

When will these be available to the GP? (the street version) I think that Caddy is pulling a M3GTR on us here. They even managed to get this one in on C/D's 10 best, and they aren't even for sale yet. It's $50k I don't have, sure, but still.

 

The driver looks REALLY pushed back. It looks like they even moved the shifter back b/c the driver is pushed back so far.

That car looks really nice. I wonder how long it will stay that way.

 

I like the WC car it looks great!

 

If nothing else, it's pretty cool to look at.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by madhatter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When will these be available to the GP? (the street version) I think that Caddy is pulling a M3GTR on us here. They even managed to get this one in on C/D's 10 best, and they aren't even for sale yet. It's $50k I don't have, sure, but still.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe the official unveiling of the final production version occurs this week at the NAIAS, or Detroit Auto Show. Should be very shortly after that.

 

To me, it's not logical to let a "factory team" to compete against other private tuners.

I heard from a former WRC racer that a sequential tranny in a Group A race car (factory team) already costs almost as much as an entire car in Group N.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To me, it's not logical to let a "factory team" to compete against other private tuners.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Say what? Audi, BMW, Ferrari ring a bell?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Say what? Audi, BMW, Ferrari ring a bell? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Did they "sponsor" or enter the series with their own team?

 

I actually saw the Grand Am series (or so, I think) car running at Sebring just before Thanksgiving during a private test. We stayed at the hotel at the track, but suprisingly enough weren't allowed to let our kids play on the playground 100 yds away from the hotel. The car was quick, I would say about 3-4 seconds slower than the factory Corvette's running at the same time.

 

Hell yeah!!

 

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

Did they "sponsor" or enter the series with their own team?</TD></TR></TABLE>

the caddy is a "works" car/team, but i guess I'm just unable to register why it's "illogical" to allow a factory backed effort in? I think it adds pressure to the other car makes in competition, and will probably/maybe lead to more factory involvement in the series; which can only be positive. Also, outfits like Champion (Audi), Turner (BMW), Realtime (Honda) aren't by any means "small" outfits that will easily be intimidated -- and , lets not forget what the late PMUM accomplished with his own privateer efforts. Competition is good for the series, and it adds diversity.

As an aside, the point that was raised about GM doing what BMW did with the M3GTR is dead on, and very perceptive -- you're 100% correct; as the series rules state:

"Eligibility: Only those vehicles specifically accepted by SCCA Pro Racing are eligible for the series. For acceptance and homologation, only vehicles that are normal production vehicles which are marketed and delivered to retail customers are recognized. Modification companies and small-volume manufacturers may be accepted on a case-by-case basis."

It's akin to what Ferrari used to do to squeak cars into le mans,and what BMW did previously, but, personally, I think all the bitching and moaning was lame -- the other teams should have ponied up. my 2cents.

 

I agree that it would add positive effects to the series. It's a good sign that WC is stepping towards a bigger scale.

I guess what I'm saying is that, it would be impossible to see another Roger Foo, who put together his Civic hatchback and raced competitively without having a corporate bank behind him.

But again, it might be a good thing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by keithv &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The driver looks REALLY pushed back. It looks like they even moved the shifter back b/c the driver is pushed back so far.</TD></TR></TABLE>

WC cars are like that. The driver sits low, pushed back, and towards the center of the car for better weight distribution. The shifter, pedals and steering column are all modified.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did they "sponsor" or enter the series with their own team?</TD></TR></TABLE>
PGT = Factory BMW team.
Champion = Factory Audi team

 

<U>PGT = Factory BMW team.
Champion = Factory Audi team
</U>

Right on the MONEY!!

Realtime=factory Honda support
Team RTR=factory nissan support
Dave Rosenblum from 1999-2000 (ICY Racing)=factory GM(Quaker State Saturns) support don't forget about these cars.
Archer Racing=factory Dodge support

We ran with alot of different teams from 1997-2000 and finally couldn't keep up with the money being spent!! It really got just to expensive in 2000 and we finally had to pull.

 

I know what you mean Wai, but the series is growing very quickly which means more money and everyone is stepping up their programs. It seems the bigger money is going into the GT class, and that is understandable because consumer sales of those models are also higher dollar amounts (generally). I have a fondness for the "privateer" also, because "that could be me". I think that Mumford's win in GT was all the sweeter (for all of us) because he was up against the factory guys. In the 2004 SVWC Rules they now have a rule that if you have not run at least 50% of the seasons races then you have to run 300 lbs. of ballast for the last 3 races of the year. I guess that they don't want anymore PM's messing with the standings.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I agree that it would add positive effects to the series. It's a good sign that WC is stepping towards a bigger scale.

I guess what I'm saying is that, it would be impossible to see another Roger Foo, who put together his Civic hatchback and raced competitively without having a corporate bank behind him.

But again, it might be a good thing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Victor Penner

 

Nice really nice. I think even Donny Brasko would like this car. Forget about it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JoelG &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If Darth Vader drove a WC car, it would be that one</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

I've followed WC for awhile now and I think its good for the series for a "factory backed" team to enter to a POINT. Obviously a team with triple the budget of a privateer is going to have more resources and man power but a privateer with a limited budget can still and do compete with them.

Like the late Paul Mumford in GT and Roger Foo in Touring (before he went to Mazda) I say its fine as long as it doesn't become apparent that the money is what wins the races and not driver talent.

 

Really, this is just going where past race series have gone where the buying public is watching and being enthusiastic. Factory team effort is very much a foregone conclusion. The series will be better for it provided the factory teams are policed and the privateers are helped a bit. Besides, what manufacturer wouldn't like to say they beat the factory BMW team?

I was a little taken back by BMW's support of both of the GT and Touring series this last year.

 

Nice looking car

Those pics are from Gingerman. I was there the day before at a private event and they were setting up that afternoon. They came in parked the semi in pit lane and started to unload everything, total dis-repect to us. A-holes took the whole pit lane away from us!!! There goes drag racing down pit lan (it was a private event with 15 cars), bastards. However we talked to them and got most of it back. They still were not the most firendly people that I have talked to. Good luck to them this comming season tho.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by APEX CRX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Like the late Paul Mumford in GT and Roger Foo in Touring (before he went to Mazda) I say its fine as long as it doesn't become apparent that the money is what wins the races and not driver talent.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The nature of racing has always been that the better prepared team is the one that is more likely to win. Most times this means more money spent = more wins. The trick is that a series must endeavor to maintain enough parity and tight enough rules that a team with huge money cannot develop a runaway advantage against the other teams in the series. This is sort of the problem in the ALMS LMP900 class where the Audis have such a lead that they are annihilating the competition.

In World Challenge's case, they're doing a good job of maintaining parity but I think the costs in Touring are starting to get a little outside of what is ideal for the series (given the current advertising value). Hopefully in the near future this will be rectified.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As an aside, the point that was raised about GM doing what BMW did with the M3GTR is dead on, and very perceptive -- you're 100% correct; as the series rules state:

"Eligibility: Only those vehicles specifically accepted by SCCA Pro Racing are eligible for the series. For acceptance and homologation, only vehicles that are normal production vehicles which are marketed and delivered to retail customers are recognized. Modification companies and small-volume manufacturers may be accepted on a case-by-case basis."

It's akin to what Ferrari used to do to squeak cars into le mans,and what BMW did previously, but, personally, I think all the bitching and moaning was lame -- the other teams should have ponied up. my 2cents.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not true. NO M3 GTR's were produced for the public, except 1 or 2 customer race cars. Probably less than 8 total cars. There are definitely enough CTS-V's being produced for homolugation. They are going to make hundreds or thousands of this car, and it will be out in the coming months. This car is not being made to race specifically like the M3GTR, it's being made to change the image of Cadilac. It's being raced to help promote that image change. I would say that the car, as shown, and from the description I have read on the WC site, excepting interior and other racing modifications, is as 'stock' as any other car in WCGT, too.

You're right about the bitching and moaning though, but then again, rules are rules, so the bitchers are right too.

BTW, I live with 2 GM engineers. One of them saw the car prettly close up. He was impressed.