Lateral-g Forums - What Is Pro Touring?

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SO after its has proven it can run at this "level", does it get some kind of gold star or something saying it is a certified Pro-Touring car? :trophy-1302:

:hairpullout: :hairpullout: :hairpullout:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironworks (Post 588312)

SO after its has proven it can run at this "level", does it get some kind of gold star or something saying it is a certified Pro-Touring car? :trophy-1302:

:hairpullout: :hairpullout: :hairpullout:

At WHAT LEVEL does it need to perform? If your car runs a lap that is 10 seconds slower than mine - does it "perform"??

This whole question isn't worth the bandwidth it's taken up already. Sorry. It's just stupid to try to put definitions on something that doesn't need defining.

Let's try to define Tim's new all wheel drive '32 Ford.... WTF are we going to label that?

My personal label "BAD ASS HOT ROD!!"

I'm with Charley. The owner of the car gets to decide how it's used, it's his money and sweat that built the car. Whether it's tracked or not doesn't change whether it's a pro-touring car or not in my opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by camcojb (Post 588320)

And that should wrap this segment up.

I am not to concerned if it (my car) measures up to anyone's but my protouring standard, as an informed car enthusiast, I realize there is a entry-level, and a very elite level of the Protour category. I would say we all know who we are, and where we fit in that category.
Describing that fit to the general public is a whole other subject, so I don't try, and where I live, there are about 5 true pro touring cars and that's probably optimistic by 2 cars.
All I care is that I can "SAFELY" cruise at a reasonable speed on the highway, handle corners at a reasonable pace that I don't feel like death is eminent. Stop without issue from any speed I choose, and also not feel like there is 40 years of technology separation when I get in my 03 z06.
I believe that the Safety, and technology put the Pro in pro touring our old cars.

Just my opinion.

Well, history repeats itself as we know, so if we meet back here in one year, we get t-shirts, right?

:lol:

I think we need to ask Stielow, he first coined the term.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Che70velle (Post 588107)

So Ty, were a bunch of hobbyists. Nothing more. We come from all walks of life, and all of us share a common creed, which is a passion for cars. All we are doing here is taking an otherwise stock automobile, and transforming it into a better handling, more efficient running, safer to ride in car, while improving the looks somewhat, and that's (improving the looks) debatable to many. I don't really know how or why someone first called this "Pro-Touring", but to MOST people, it refers only to a style, and doesn't hold guidelines on how far you need to modify your car.

I certainly see you point. I have just tried to read the definition (That I didn't create) and understand what the original question was asking. Just because something might point to a direction, or level that is beyond what you would choose to do for your car for one reason or another is just fine.

Under the definition, None of my projects are currently at the true "Pro Touring" level. It doesn't mean I don't enjoy my cars. It is the segment of this Hobby that I enjoy and like the most. As time goes by, at least at this point, I will continue to would on my "Pro Touring" project, drive my "Pro Touring" project, and enjoy my "Pro Touring" project.

I know that I for one, would be outta here if I had to meet a criteria comparable to a Steilow build, with custom built, one off parts, and carbon fiber body panels. I simply am not willing to put that kind of money into a car.

I do understand and there is nothing wrong with that, nor should there be. This is just a Hobby we are passionate about, nothing that we would take food away from a baby over. All I have tried to do it look at the definition and understand what it means. I've just tried to break it down to it's purest form that's all.

I could replicate my home, for that kind of coin. What I'm trying to say is that we all have modded our cars on different levels, to the point of where there not really two cars exactly alike. So I suggest that we leave the title, or name of this hobby alone, before it becomes a formality of having to have an exact amount of certain items, in order to be accepted into the hobby. But you are suggesting that the HOBBY be renamed: AMERICAN CLASSIC TOURING CARS? or AMERICAN CLASSIC GT? :bang:

All I was trying to do is to take what I thought were synonyms of the definitions we are given, and reword the stated definition, as to create a name that essentially said the same thing. I think I even broadened it a bit. It doesn't matter to me whether is stays the same or changes.
I have tried to encourage this the whole time, I tried to make the question more dynamic than it was as to create some real discussion and thought. I think for the most part, at least by looking at the answers, that many on this board have really given the original question, A LOT, of thought. I have learned many things about how the people, at least those here who are willing to voice their opinion, think what "Pro Touring" is and how to describe it.
I tend to agree with everyone. I am working on my cars to make them as close to true "Pro Touring" as possible within the time, personal preferences I have and financial constrants I have to work with.

I think that is what most of us are doing.

I don't think there would be many of us that would stay if it was so deeply regimented. We probably wouldn't qualify to begin with. I would be in this group as well.

Thanks agin for you thoughts, thay have certainly helped move the dialog further.

Take care,

Ty O'Neal

This is like trying to define what's a "STREET CAR" -- what's streetable to you might not be anything I'd consider streetable. Touring is equally difficult to define. I would not want to drive either of Hobaugh's cars on the street - nor Mike Maier's Mustang or several other cars that we all love, and would love to own.

Having driven HellFire on the street... THAT is the best definition of a "pro touring" car I can come up with. It's truly long distance comfortable, easily driving in stop and go traffic, and we know it's track capable (far in excess of most drivers ability).

My point is that some people - in an effort to "beat" a car like HellFire on the track - will no doubt go "too far" and the ride or some other part will suffer. Still - that is what they wanted to build and it's still pro touring in our eyes.

It's like "having enough money". What's enough money? Put a definition on that. It's impossible but we'll know it when we see it. LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld (Post 588477)

Having driven HellFire on the street... THAT is the best definition of a "pro touring" car I can come up with. It's truly long distance comfortable, easily driving in stop and go traffic, and we know it's track capable (far in excess of most drivers ability).

That car seems to be the ultimate PT car...or at least until XVI? :)

And...it's extremely helpful that Dr. Stielow is a teaching physician on this board.

:thankyou: