Still under construction, but you gotta start somewhere.

Thanks to Karl and Zsolt for getting it kicked off.

http://www.honda-challenge.com

 

You're SURE I can't just put Honda badges on my Miata??? Come on Scott...

 

Please hold off on number assignments. Numbers will be at the disgression of the NASA Registrar.

Grumpy

 

I'll be handling Honda Challenge registration and forwarding everything to Elyse in one package a week before the event.
Already worked this one out with Chris.

 

Looks nice.

One item - SCCA no longer requires seatback brace (on FIA homologated seat designs) - I'm guessing NASA will follow (Grumpy - can you confirm/elaborate on this?).

Which begs the question - why duplicate the safety rules? NASA has gone to great lengths to produce safety rules that make sense. Is there any need to further complicate the car building process by having another set (assuming many of the drivers will do both SCCA and NASA events). More worried about keeping the two in sync than anything.

And there still isn't a specific allowance for SCCA IT cars. Under the current rules, many IT cars would be ineligible due to balanced/overbored engines and fuel cells.

 

That's not an accident.
Actually, "many" IT cars have stock bottom ends. It's typically the REALLY expensive ones that have done the full engine job. These are the ITS cars that run lap times within 2 seconds of World Challenge Touring cars (no, I'm not exaggerating), and are not really what we're looking for in our series.

As far as fuel cells, we'll probably go ahead and allow that as long as it's in the stock location since it's more of a safety feature than anything else. Again, one of those things we just didn't think about.

 

I showed the rules to a friend of mine who races in SCCA, EMRA, and maybe... maybe Grand-Am next year. Anyhow, he had a few questions.

o How come there are safety rules in the rulebook when we're running under NASA sanctioning?
o No radios? He was really stumped by this one. Does SRX-7 allow 2 way communication?
o Big wings? Why?
o Big (radius) wheels? Why?
o Final drive, fancy flywheels? Why?

The last three he said just make the series more expensive to be competetive. He thinks we should drop them in the interest of reducing cost.

Warren

 

From what I understand, NASA's U.S. Touring Car Championship adopted these 'cause eye candy is good in attracting attention of the riceboy crowd. Riceboys interested in race series = manufacturers interested in race series. I'm guessing that's why they are allowed here. ???

Although big eye-candy wings and wheels are like black licorice in my book.

 

I know if I try hard enough, I can find a Honda badge somewhere on my SE-R :D

You guys are really, really, really making me pissed I bought an SE-R and not a CRX....

 

NASA requires that our safety rules match their's at a minimum. Any safety measures that we wish to take, that are beyond the extablished NASA rules, are up to us. We are taking extra measures to protect the cars, and protect the drivers.

This is to keep the field level, and allow people who don't have the big budgets to compete equally.


Matt

 

Grumpy,

If we have our own run group, overlapping numbers with people just running the regular pro-atlantic series shouldn't be a problem, right?

Matt

 

I still claim this is not an issue. The rules still allow one-way scanners, so all the benefits of radio comm can be realized. Simply tune scanner to race control freq. Get all the info you need (flags, incidents, etc). Two way with pit does nothing in a sprint race (if you have to pit, you loose, so it's a non-issue). Either re-write it to ban ALL radio comm, or toss the rule out.

SRX-7 in DC allows them. In varies by region. In those where 2-way is banned, people use scanners to listen as I noted above.


[Modified by Crack Monkey, 8:46 AM 8/2/2001]

 

Wow, I'm impressed! It looks like things are coming together nicely!! The website looks very professional, which will help in attracting participants, sponsors, etc. Nice job guys

 

I nominate Jon Felton..... Hmmm, or maybe we could get Cary to go!


Well Toyo sponsored NASA's Pro-Atlantic last year, maybe we can get them back. The downside of Kumho sponsoring is that they don't make 13" tires that would fit a CRX... Wasn't NASA Tri-State talking to Falken about this? One other thing is that we don't want a spec tire for the series. We are going to be trying to pull in a lot of racers from other groups, and we don't want to lose them over a tire issue.

Yep, yep, yep, yep, and yep. Don't know about that last one though, what does "others TBA" sell anyway?

You could also add Neuspeed, Volk, Panasport, Greddy, etc.

Matt

 

mmm
i'm from east canada..and i just wanna know where will theese events take place?

if it's not tooo far south ...

could i join sometime ?
what are the prerequisits ?



just want to know more about it

 

Site looks real nice fellas. Sure would be sweet to own a H/A track product

BTW, I have heard that if you can convince "others TBD" to help out, "others TBA" will most definately follow suit.

 

Wow, I'm really impressed with the progress of the Honda-Challenge. I've been reading closely for quite sometime. Any idea where the events will take place. I'm real interested, and would consider participating.

 

Great job on the site so far, already looks better than the USTCC site. I feel 2 way radios add to the safety of everyone on the track though. Think about anytime someone has spun in front of you on a blind corner, chances are your spotter will radio in before race control. Also, I've called in a car that was on fire to my pit before the driver of that car even knew he was on fire, race control black flagged him and nobody was hurt. A classifieds section would be nice too Then I could post my H3 killer GS-R, Soon to be on a car lot near you...(Shameless Plug)
http://headonphotos.nasaproracing.co.../pages/915.htm

 

The series will be run in conjunction with the 2002 NASA Pro-Atlantic series. I believe the plan is to run at least one race at each of their 2002 venues. That would include Raush Creek (PA), Summit Point (WV), VIR (VA), Lowes (NC), and CMP (SC). Other possible locations will be Nazareth (PA), Watkins Glen (NY), and Road Atlanta (GA). We have to wait for NASA's schedule to be released before we can finalize ours.

Matt

 

Was this in a FasTrack someplace?

Pat, seat back brace sitting in box

 

Yes, I think so. And it was mentioned in last month's SportsCar. I just don't have them on hand right now and don't remember all the details. Remember, this only applies to FIA homologated seats AND you must have the documentation on-hand at tech to prove it. Otherwise the seatback brace is still required. That's what I remember anyways. I'll defer to Grumpy, since he's the resident tech inspector.

 

Hey Pat, if you have an FIA approved seat, sell me your seatback brace Is it adjustable like the IO Port?

Warren

 

Thanks for all the compliments on the web site! If any of you are PhotoShop gurus and would like to help out .. join the Honda Challenge logo contest. I am badly in need of a cool logo for the site.

Info here: http://www.bseries.net/forums/forumd...php?forumid=29

 

anyone know if this will come to the west coast, esp SoCal?
If not, how do I go about setting something like this up?

yoshi - who wants in on the H-C

 

I have a Corbeau Forza, and I'm pretty sure it's FIA approved -- I think that's what the stitching is on the side.

Found the FasTrack: "FIA homologated seats need not have seat back attached to roll structure if seat manufacturer recommends, within their mounting instructions, that seat back remain unattached to roll structure." The thing is, I don't think the seat came with any kind of mounting instructions.

My seatback brace is adjustable like the IO Port 'cause it is the IO Port. If I don't need it, I'll sell it to you.