2012 Minimum Weight

#81

Run spec miata you’re in the wrong series :stuck_out_tongue:

#82

We ARE taking them to the limit. The limit of the RULES. If you don’t like those rules or want to take it to the limit of the chassis/platform, then SpecE30 isn’t the race class for you. There are several other classes where you’re free to spend all you want and build to whatever limit you want.

Cheap, easy and equal.
Cheap, easy and equal.
Cheap, easy and equal.

Matt

#83

Fixed it for ya.

All due respect, if you don’t like the rule set don’t join the series. If there are minor annoyances in the rules, fire away.

For f*ck’s sake. If we are all racing at the same weight and allowing 50 lbs higher minimum allows a bunch more back yard builders to join the series, I’m all for it. The large numbers make this series great, not the cutthroat engineering/no limits builds.

#84

Seems like most se30 racers are stuck in their old ways.

#85

[quote=“silence” post=61195]Seems like most se30 racers are stuck in their old ways.[/quote]No, but we know the level of competition and camaraderie produced by large fields and stable rules.

Don’t miss the fact that the weight was dropped 50 lbs last year. When people start talking about how much better the cars would be if we (significantly dropped the weight/changed to a real suspension/allowed chips/tune-your-own-ECU), it is obvious that they are ignoring the investment that would be required by the folks already racing in the series.

#86

Six posts and how many races has Mr. Silence done? Wait, I know, “He is thinking about selling his 318is to…” Great credibility!

Yep, we’re stuck in our old ways. Kinda like it that way, too.

RP

#87

Six posts and how many races has Mr. Silence done? Wait, I know, “He is thinking about selling his 318is to…” Great credibility!

Yep, we’re stuck in our old ways. Kinda like it that way, too.

RP[/quote]
What? Lol, I’m sitting here watching you guys go back and forth… But I guess I can’t make a comment unless I’ve been in a race. Thanks for the warm welcome General Patton.

#88

I would just like to keep up with the Spec Miatas / 944s. More people to race against!

#89

Just keep reminding yourself:

Competition, not speed
Competition, not speed
Competition, not speed
Competition, not speed
Competition, not speed

If you want a faster class, ITS or GTS is a good path for the future for your car.

I am still very aware that SE30 would be faster with Chip, Headers, 225 Hoosier “Spec” tires on 16’s and -tive 50lbs, but are we really looking to make our cars faster for some reason? I don’t think it’s worth the effort and upheaval to the class and my pocket book especially in this economy.

Is there a chance for a Faster E30 Spec Series? Yes, it’s called Pro3 http://www.pro3-racing.com/ But adopting those rules for NASA might be hard to accomplish AND we’d be splitting our audience between 2 classes, while we’re just starting to gain momentum with the one class considering these last 2 years where we’ve been so successful as a series…

To my mind it’s just not worth out time to make ANY changes at this time.

#90

I won’t actually give my opinion on the weight drop until I get it weighed. However I just looked at someones ride domain pics who runs no ballast and I’m pretty sure there is at least 100lbs left in it. I don’t think the cost of a scraper is a factor.

#91

Oh, what did I start?! :woohoo:

I keep thinking it’s going to end, and then someone pipes back in. I’m on my 14th bag of popcorn… :stuck_out_tongue:

I just want to reiterate that dropping weight is not about speed. It’s not going to make much difference. People keep taking it there, but that was not the intent of my rules change proposal. I look in my car and see 125 lbs of steel and lead sitting beside me I just felt that it is unnecessary to be carrying so much weight. The advantages, regardless of going a few ticks quicker, were listed in my original post.

It APPEARS that I may have been mistaken in thinking that everyone could easily drop another 50 lbs. I am not questioning those who have listed out everything that they have removed and it appears to be all of the big hitters. I don’t think that “I don’t want to remove” this-or-that is a legitimate excuse for not allowing everyone to pursue the benefits of lightening the cars. But, if some car/driver combos just can’t get down to the lower limit, then I certainly would not push the issue. I would like to see these heavy cars with my own eyes, though, and try to identify what is different on the cars.

Current stats on the poll are 9 in favor of No Change. 23 in favor of Weight Reduction. (8pm 12-12-11)

#92

Six posts and how many races has Mr. Silence done? Wait, I know, “He is thinking about selling his 318is to…” Great credibility!

Yep, we’re stuck in our old ways. Kinda like it that way, too.

RP[/quote]
What? Lol, I’m sitting here watching you guys go back and forth… But I guess I can’t make a comment unless I’ve been in a race. Thanks for the warm welcome General Patton.[/quote]

No" lots of laughs" here.
Glad you appreciate the the warm and inviting welcome.

RP

#93

Just reading this thread made me almost not worry about being light and worry about the time I’ll waste on the scales removing my tar. Then I looked at the pictures and videos of those opposing the weight drop and saw factory mileage computers, tar and active check systems. Clearly some people have made no effort to lose the weight. Isn’t the allowance for cars to remain street legal for people who drive they’re car to the track and not for people who want to bed they’re brakes on the street or put they windows up instead of putting a tarp on they’re car. Anyone who’s driven to the track half a dozen times knows that its a bad idea to make it to work on monday morning with your track car broken on sunday night. Unless you live closest enough to paddock your car at your house its a bad idea. I have limped home 2 bad water pumps and a head gasket. It’s not worth it. Plus all the people who “want to be street legal” have the spec exhaust anyway. We could have the absolutely free benefit of removing weight from our cars or we could accommodate those people who just don’t want to put in the effort. If you want to drive an e30 on the street then buy another one. I think I represent the poorest most grassroot builder here.

#94

Not in favor of a weight reduction.

Our 1991 is right at min weight post race starting with a full tank. We only have 1 window, P/S pump and some front floor tar (sorry heater core is not an option for removal in my book), but the window will come out to balance out the fire system that is going in over winter.

The guys posting about wanting to prep the car as much as possible, you picked the wrong class, that’s not what this class is about. There are other classes better suited for those that want to tinker. I’ve been racing for over 10 years now, perhaps when you guys have more time in you’ll understand or at least have a broader perspective. I race in other classes with more modifications allowed, have built cars from bare whitebody tubs, etc… so don’t think I’m just lazy – in fact headed out right now to go work on one of those ground up builds for the 25 hour this year.

If your having problems with ballast tearing your floor panels and such, the problem is in how you are mounting it.
I currently run with 225 lbs of ballast in the T3 Honda S2000 without issues (and near perfect corner weights!).

#95

Now that ballast is allowed in the trunk, doesn’t that eliminate the need to run a full tank of gas (assuming you removed the weight you legally can from the front of the car)? There’s 50lbs right there.

#96

The fuel weight is low and in the perfect location. Adding weight in the trunk isn’t a good thing. Think about where you CG is and what happens when you turn. You can put your ballast in the trunk if you like, but I’m not going to…

On another note, this subject has been beat to death and this thread is ridiculous! It’s clear that weight reduction is possible, but evident that the powers to be are not going to change the minimum. If you don’t like the Spec E30 prescriptive rule set, then race GTS, ITS or whatever you may fancy. Although the rules aren’t perfect, they have proven to encourage class growth while providing healthy competition.

Can we please talk about something else?

#97

Holy crap, haven’t logged in here for awhile but a 10 page thread about 50 lbs is pretty terrifying. :stuck_out_tongue:
I’m one of those weirdos who likes the car to still be street-able. Not having to haul it’s fat ass around on the trailer to the alignment shop or simply to check if something I fixed works before I get to the track is worth it to me. In addition, I like windows that roll up and down that don’t require duct tape to keep in place overnight. Other than the side glass and door guts, I’ve removed pretty much everything else I can and have to be careful about my fuel load to meet min weight. So I’ll vote ‘no’ for the record.

#98

How many SE30 champs do you have now?

Are these guys right at minimum? How many have windows and all the other things that are being argued here?

I haven’t weighed my car yet. Probably will sometime in February. Last thing I want to do is start finding neat ways to put things back in the car like weight.

If someone is 50-100lbs overweight, however that weight comes I doubt it will impact the finishing position all that much.

#99

Huge waste of time. My car is good with a 30-40 pound buffer and really don’t want to have to do more work for no reason.

#100

[quote=“Z3SpdDmn” post=61093][quote=“Ranger” post=61090]

Who carries >100lb of ballast with a full tank of gas in order to make weight after a 40min race?
[/quote]
I am carrying 125 lbs (max allowed) and running a full tank. Go back to post #1 for the details.[/quote]

We have 100+ lbs in ballast too.