Nationals Withdrawal

#1

Due to the new rules imposed by NASA for the Nationals I have withdrawn my entry. I just want others to know if they were thinking of going and it was entry number related. I was listed twice in error so the number really drops by two. Cheers

#2

Due to the new HP rule imposed by NASA for the Nationals I have withdrawn my entry.

Best of luck to those headed to Miller.

#3

NASA is a for profit organization. The only to effect change is with your check book. Good Job!!

#4

I love it. Can’t run with monster engines so withdraw. Sad.

#5

That’s not the point. I had a legal motor built. Paid good money. Offers to let NASA tear my engine down and was declined. No “detune” options made available from NASA. Only options given, switch class, drive a different car or install another motor that meets the new HP rule. Had NASA given advance notice of this rule change, I would have kept my old motor and competed, period. The implementation of the new rule 30 days out from nationals is complete BS. I would love to compete but why would I spend even more money now to do so. The only good business move is to withdraw and minimize the loss. I can’t speak for the other drivers pulling out but this years nationals have been tainted in spec e30. Those that keep thinking HP is the key to winning are mistaken. Look at NorCal results from this past weekend at Thunderhill.

#6

I don’t see your name on the entry list! Sad as well. We all have different reasons for not going!

#7

I am a little confused by the above portion of your comments. As many people here have attested to, there are multiple ways to legally detune these motors. Did you try to follow any of them? If you did try, what methods and what were the dyno results?

#8

I love the repeated comparison to what appears to be a huge talent gap in that region as a valid reason for allowing a 10+ HP difference. Keep posting this around :wink:

#9

I see both sides of the coin on this one. I agree that rolling out new rules mid-year is somewhat unfair, although I love the rule. I also think that rolling into a race with 170hp is somewhat unfair as well, and while you may be within the written words of the rule, you are outside of its spirit when you do that.

I also have a Spec Miata, and I did some extensive testing with the top on and off, and the results were almost identical, so I don’t fault you for having the convertible, and think the convertible exclusion is not well founded. Those that gripe about losing all that weight “up top” have no evidence to back it up. At Utah, you’d more than pay that benefit back with the aero penalty you suffer when the top comes off.

I have three NASA national championships, two of them came in Utah, so it isn’t that I’m afraid of the trek out to Utah. The fact that there is just no excitement from seemingly anyone is why I’m not going. I usually drive a FFR roadster, there isn’t a one of them registered, and I would have paid to rent or ship an E30 to the race, but that roster is currently 4 deep, and I don’t have any inclination to try to grab my 4th National Championship in a field of under 10 cars.

All of that said, there have been more than a few comments on how you could take that beast and give back 15hp and still race it legally, and probably still win, which is why your taking your football and going home is somewhat a weak move. I’d prefer you man up, legally “detune” and go whip their ass, then tell them “I told you so”. That’s stuff of champions right there.

#10

I love hearing the Palacios comment on power. I love both of you but the day they bring a dyno to the southeast you boys are going to need a trailer you will be carrying so much ballast.

#11

Truth. Besides, even if the rule wasn’t in place anyone that wins a Championship with 170hp would have an asterisk next to their name in the record book.

…but so would anyone that wins a Championship in a field of four.

#12

Detuning 3HP shouldn’t be hard to do next year. My lack of trq is the part that worries me, then again towing a trailer on track should make it easy enough to keep you out back. That trailer will be rolling WIDE.

#13

As someone who has actually raced against a Palacio or two on a very regular basis, I feel compelled to comment on your comment to Eric’s comment.

It’s bullsh!t. When I had top shelf power, it was all I could do to dice with Eric’s mid-pack power. He is talented. He and Julio now have top shelf power and top shelf prep to match the talent and time they devote to the sport.

It’s just so tiresome to hear the sniping about motors. And funny to hear that some of you think the rule as written will fix the problem AND result in large competitive fields.

#14

My favorite video from Road Atlanta. Thanks a bunch to David for doing this for all of us.

http://vimeo.com/21133407

#15

RE…nats. All of us want a level playing field, and NASA has gone to great lengths to maintain that. Though ill timed, they have once again attempted to level the playing field. Given equal drivers and cars, a car with 10 more HP will most often win. Since perception is reality, if you have 10hp more than me I already T H I N K I am at a disadvantage!!

Adding weight ostensibly levels the field, but that is not what actually happens on the track (just ask those of us that no longer run GTS2 with high torque cars). In actuality, the extra 50 or so pounds will not change grits for a good driver, and he still has the extra power to pull down the straight.

Food for thought.

#16

[quote=“tpr jules” post=73726]My favorite video from Road Atlanta. Thanks a bunch to David for doing this for all of us.

http://vimeo.com/21133407[/quote]
Ahhhh good times. Eric and me, working together, building a gap. Then we fight it out after a few laps. It’s just so textbook, it almost brings a tear to my eye.

There are few things as fun in life as going door handle to door handle with someone you trust 100% - absolutely 100% - to race you hard, clean, and WELL! Thank you, Eric.

#17

For all of you wondering, Yes, I did try some of the LEGAL suggestions to DETUNE my motor going into this past weekends race at Thunderhill. I spent more time/$$ on the Dyno Friday afternoon & my HP dropped to 167/167, I guess my new motor must be going soft.
I also tested another car that has approximately 10HP less than the UBER motor. Oddly, lap times were within 2/10’s & this was at the end of the day on Saturday when the track was blazing hot, a bit greasy & brake calipers that were doing the shimmy-shake thing.

#18

You can get a working M20 on R3v for like $300.

#19

For the record, I love the Palacios and think they are both great drivers. I also think they have big ass engines. I can come out of T7 at Road Atlanta, close the gap and pull up on the bumper of papa bear Palacio’s bumper, and then that thing leaves me to the point I can’t stay in the draft.

Anyone that think power doesn’t matter down the backstraight of RA, or down the back of Sebring, or down the front of Miller is just totally lost.

#20

[quote=“priapism” post=73734]You can get a working M20 on R3v for like $300.[/quote] Roger that.

If an especially tired M20 is 15hp low it could mean a person shows up to a gunfight with only 140hp. Fortunately, hp doesn’t matter.