What would a USCA pro-touring class look like??
 

The 2014 USCA Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational was awesome. Had a great time, and if you have a chance you really need to attend these events.

In the finals it's "run what you brung"; no classes for individual cars. But what would a pro-touring class look like if there were classes for competitors? I'd love to hear your thoughts. :thumbsup:

I've been involved with this discussion on the SCCA level in regards to their CAM class.

IMHO, a tire width rule is the simplest easiest way to separate the cars. My proposal was for 2 classes, one 275 series tires and under, the other for any car with wider tires. In their case the 3rd class for the 2 seaters is also appropriate and I don't have a problem with it either.

It really doesn't matter how much power you make or handle you have tuned into your car...if it's only got so much tire to grip the track, that's as fast as you are going to go. I see no need to further separate the body styles, model year, extent of mods...any further than tire size.

I think you need more than tire size. You put identical sizes on any 69 Camaro you want and a newer Vette, and with similar drivers and power the Vette wins every time. There's such a difference in aero, track width, center of gravity, etc. that the older car cannot make up the difference.

Here's a good example. Take a new ZR1 and "Jackass". They have identical engines, wheels/tires/brakes. Put Mark in both cars and he'll be much faster on the track in the new ZR1.

I don't think a meaningful discussion can be had about classing without clearly presenting the problem that one may be trying to solve with classing.

I believe simplest is best. I also believe the fastest driver will win 95% of the time.

At the end of the day, these cars dont drive themselves. So I agree with you 100%!

I don't disagree...but the Vette is a two seater. Let the two seaters run with the two seaters.

I see no reason to put my car on 275s in a different class than a 1969 Camaro on 275s. And a 1985 Fox Body on 315s should be in a class with a 1967 Camaro on 315s.

Weight limits and full interior restrictions can also come into play, but most guys with muscle cars on 275s are going to be the same guys that won't cut their fenders for wider tires nor strip their interiors for weight savings.

What we're looking to discuss is how to set up rules for a pro-touring class. There are huge advantages to run late model vehicles in this event if there's only one class. I'd like to see the older muscle cars we love and build be able to compete with each other. If your only goal is to win it all then you'll want to build a late model Vette, F-body, etc.

Yes a great driver in an older car can win, several have done that. But now that there's great drivers in all the cars the older stuff is much less competitive simply by the reasons I mentioned earlier. By the way, I am not against the later model cars competing. It was great seeing Danny and the others hauling butt on the track. I'm just afraid we'll lose the muscle car guys if they feel there's no way to openly compete.

Optima is always a lot of fun and it's been interesting to see it evolve over the years. The first few years Mary Pozzi was setting up the Autocross track and the field of cars was primarily made up of Pro Touring builds. DSE's rig was the biggest out there by far and we all just parked at the track or in the pits. When I think back to those events and compare to the field of competitors/cars run this years it's obvious that PT cars don't really stand a chance. IMHO it seems wrong to push the cars and people who helped start it all, out of the running. Cars from the PT community are a huge draw. I would like to see something along the rules put out by SCCA. It would even things up a lot and make for a better event.

http://www.scca.com/clubracing/content.cfm?cid=44726

You didn't mention anything about two-seaters being a different class. ;) But I'll give you another example...

DSE's 5th gen Camaro against their own second gen Camaro. Both Camaros, put the same size tires on both (may already be the same, not sure) and the aero, track width, and center of gravity has the 5th gen quite a bit faster on the track. I don't remember the exact times, but DSE's 5th gen was a few seconds faster than their second gen on the road course. I believe they're similar power and both very capable drivers, but the advantages to the later model car are very apparent.

1. Driver experience- plays a huge role in the overall class
2. Cut off year for vehicles- separate the present day super cars from classic iron with technological upgrades.