How about a Jeg's Suspension Masters Challenge?

[Steve Chryssos]

I think Ty means "race within a race". The Camaro is a close comparison, but the event should also have some "Open class" cars running to add excitement.

Also take note of this thread's stats. (four pages, 39 posts, 749 views) Compare them to the stats on the Ring Brothers' car pix thread. (12 pages, 111 posts, 13,260 views) An event of this nature is a huge undertaking with tremendous expense and logistics. Perhaps the interest just isn't there??

[tyoneal]

To All:

As requested I will post this entire series of messages for those interested in any, "Off Board" thoughts.
=====================================Ty,
Steve:

(From Lateral-g)
"If you're looking for some homework, respond with a list of all manufacturers who should be invited--not who you think will show--who you think should be asked. Remember that I propose a challenge within a challenge. So non-Camaro companies and products are of interest to many. I sure would like to see if a Mopar, Mustang or the Morrison 3g Vette, for example, outperforms the Camaros. That won't help me choose Camaro parts, but I still want to see a wide cross section of cars run.

As for the Camaro Challenge, weight is important. So are horsepower (power to weight), tire commonality, driver commonality, and street legality. If equivalent engines turn out to be an insurmountable requirement, then the track will need to be timed in segments to prevent the use of straight sections to make up for lost time in turns."
=====================================
In answering the first Paragraph, with few examples, anyone who produces anything for the PT market, having to do with suspension, would be on the, "List".

Maybe they would have their own car like DSE, or perhaps they would work with a group of suppliers producing a vehicle utilizing a number of different suspension products.

I would imagine the biggest number of participants would be the Pro Touring Enthusiast, who spend their Money on these products.

A SEMA list of companies would probably be a good place to start.
================================================== ================
With regards to the other items:

In the different Competitions I have been a part of, You want to encourage a lot of participation through a positive experience. (i.e. Fun and Trophies for Enthusiast, and Notoriety for the Manufacturers?)

For Example: Classifications (2 Types), "For Contestants Only" (non Manufacturers), "For Manufacturers",

With regards to encouraging a broad amount of cars and brands;

Best in Body Type,

Best A Body
Best B Body
Best C Body
Best D Body
Best E Body
Best F Body

"Best of Show from a Manufacturer",(Best Chevy, Best Ford, Best Mopar, Best AMC),

Then Grand Prize, "Best Overall", of the entire field.

If participation was large, this structure would give a large amount of people the opportunity to win a trophy, and the Manufacturers would win huge because more than likely the other winners were using a product they produced, thus giving them big bragging rights as being a part of many, "Winners", achievements.

An entry fee of $20 per car to cover expenses with proceeds above and beyond expenses being donated to a Charity. Door prizes to participants could be involved so literally, everyone who shows up and enters, has a chance to win something.

In the process a huge amount of information could be gathered from the winners as far as what components they had used in their cars, and what types of test they excelled in.
=============================================
Since you mentioned Weight being an important factor:

As for the Camaro Challenge, weight is important. So are horsepower (power to weight), tire commonality, driver commonality, and street legality. If equivalent engines turn out to be an insurmountable requirement, then the track will need to be timed in segments to prevent the use of straight sections to make up for lost time in turns.[/QUOTE]

Steve:

Since much of the Testing would be focused on Handling characteristics of the cars, instead of the power of the Engine (2 out of 3 parts) I would think that the testing could even weight the 3 different components as to force a focus on Handling rather than pure HP.

For instance:

Lateral Acceleration to 1g = 50% of total score
Braking to 1g= 25% of total score
Acceleration to 1g = 25% of total score

A System of scoring each of he 3 parts of the 3g Challenge could be shown as:

.5g = +50 Points
.6g = +40 Points
.7g = +30 Points
.8g = +20 Points
.9g = +10 Points
.91 = +9 Points
.92 = +8 Points
.93 = +7 Points
.94 = +6 Points
.95 = +5 Points
.96 = +4 Points
.97 = +3 Points
.98 = +2 Points
.99 = +1 Points
1g = 0 Points
1.1g = -2 Points
1.2g = -3 Points
1.3g = -4 Points
1.4g = -5 Points
1.5g = -6 Points

-6 points per segment is the best you can get

Lowest Scores would be the winners in each class.

All Acceleration would only be counted when, "Sustained", for <x seconds as measured on a 300' Skid pad (or 600' if available?) Drag Race, Braking etc.

(Reference to R&T for Best Scores might be available so people could see how their car compared to the, "Worlds Finest".)

Speed through Slalom = 0 points for any car who matches the best R&T Score (Refer to Current R&T for Best score) As with the rest of the grading, the further away you are to the, "Best" (Baseline), the more points you would be given.

It should be REAL hard to get a "0" in the contest. Lowest Point Competitor Wins.
=========================================

I know this is a just a brief sketch of an event, however it could be easily modified to account for time restraints, different participation numbers etc.

I just thought doing a mind dump regarding your questions might be a good way to get thing started.

Thoughts?

Ty

[tyoneal]

To All:

Can someone give me an idea what is the approximate going rate to rent a Track for a day? (M-Th, Fr, Sat-Sun)

Please also include the size, type and facilities that are on site.

I'm looking in the North Texas Area (Spring, early Summer) and have found several good prospect locations, however, I have no idea what kind of cost is usually involved.
==========================================

If there was some real support, I will see what I can do to get something like this started. This said, however, since my head injury several years ago, I have to take things as I can. I'm usually good for 2-3 hours at a time, then I have to "recharge". What I'm trying to say is, I would need some committed help for coordination and extended managing.

I would entertain helping to put up some seed money to help get this thing going if need be.

Anyone remotely interested in attending something like this, please speak up. I would like to try to make something like this a participatory event, meaning, You show up, you have the opportunity to drive your car a lot. (Open Track Driving, Lateral Skid Pad, and Slalom)

Answer and Remark PLEASE!

Please take the time to post here of PM me.

Thanks,

Ty