Spec Exhaust?

#61

I can’t believe people are still griping about this, especially with the price being as low as it is. Come on guys, lets move on.

#62

Could I have gotten the “hook up” and gotten essentially the same exhaust made for me for less? Yeah. But absent my relationship with my welder/fabricator friend, I’d be paying at least this much to have this made.

Is the price being charged here bad? No.

Thanks to you guys already racing for allowing us builders to place our orders first. I just contacted Paul to find out where to send my check.

#63

As one of those people who was fairly vocal when the news of this exhaust first broke… I got to say, Carter did a very good job (while late breaking) of how this is being implemented. The price is in the right ballpark, installation sounds to be a non-issue and the it looks to be a simple and effective design. He’s never going to be able to make everyone happy and I’m sure that sucks for him, because he invests a lot of time and energy into this series.

While I’m still not a fan of this change—I accept it and am looking forward to getting my new exhaust (4th for anyone keeping count) sometime before June.

For those of you who feel it is just too much to overcome… I’m sorry to hear you’ll be going elsewhere for your fix. You are passing on being involved in a great series with great racing with some of the finest people I know.

Thanks for you efforts, Carter

#64

in addition to all of the other supportive comments, do you seriously think that if this vendor started screwing us that the production couldn’t just be moved to another shop? He knows that and that will keep him in check.
bruce

jonmca wrote:[quote]
You cannot be serious with you comments about the HR/Bilstein prices going up. We are being forced to us a sole supplier for this exhaust system with is possibly the most ass-backwards piece of rule making yet. Many shops sell the suspension pieces and some have sales and others offer discounts to friends or long-time customers etc. We will be at the complete mercy of some unknown supplier in NC who could raise prices without warning because of whatever reason he states (new shop costs more, his metal supplier went out of business and he had to find a new one, etc). THERE ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE COMPETITION in the market.
Put the requirements for the system into the rules, ie specifications of pipe diameter, turn locations, resonator part number, etc and let the rest of us get the pieces made if we want. If I can have a local shop make me a system for $100 then why should I be forced to spend an extra $100 (75+shipping) to buy this one, it is ridiculous. And don’t feed me some line about how racing is expensive yada yada yada. Because it is expensive we should be taking every step possible to enable each competitor to manage his/her budget as best as possible. We are taking about a few tubes welded or bolted together, heck I bet Vic could make one of these with the tools he has from building his own cage.
Jon[/quote]

#65

Since there are only 20 of these right now and some people need them to finish their builds for upcoming events, what do people think about starting a thread/list of who needs it and when so everyone can judge on when to order? I would really like one before VIR in February because I never put a proper exhaust on the car (new the spec one was coming eventually). But I don’t want to take one and prevent someone else that needs it in order to run, it won’t be the end of the world if I have to wait. I’m sure others are in the same position as me. Anyways, just an idea.
btw $175 is cheap for up by me (north jersey)

#66

secu wrote:

I would fall into that catagory since my stock exhaust was scrapped but I am signed up for VIR. I emailed the supplier last night. No response, yet.

#67

secu wrote:

[quote]Since there are only 20 of these right now and some people need them to finish their builds for upcoming events, what do people think about starting a thread/list of who needs it and when so everyone can judge on when to order? I would really like one before VIR in February because I never put a proper exhaust on the car (new the spec one was coming eventually). But I don’t want to take one and prevent someone else that needs it in order to run, it won’t be the end of the world if I have to wait. I’m sure others are in the same position as me. Anyways, just an idea.
btw $175 is cheap for up by me (north jersey)[/quote]

Like a Spec E30 Exhaust Triage?

#68

I ordered one by e-mail but am only going to be in the DE. That being said, if anyone needs one to compete I certainly can wait.

Stuart

#69

For those that have sent the e-mail - has anyone heard back yet? I need the exhaust to finish my build (still sporting the “performance stock” setup).

Not getting antsy after all of 50 hours since they came out, but if there was an automated “hey - got your order” that you all got - I didn’t.

Just don’t want to see the order lost in cyberspace…

#70

I’ve also sent an email request ordering one with the qualification that Paul should fill other orders first for those needing exhaust systems immediately. It would be comforting for him to reply with, “Thanks for your order, I expect to be able to ship on such and such a date.”

Carter, Perhaps he doesn’t check email very often and a phone to this masked man may help. :wink:

#71

I sent an email to Paul on that first day, probably minutes after the posting as this is the last thing I need before the opener in less than a month. I have not received a reply. I inquired whether check, credit card or paypal was going to work and sent my phone number or that I would call him if he sent me his. He needs to start boxing and shipping those 20 prepared units…

#72

Chill out guys; it was the end of the week and he’s probably still making the units. I wouldn’t expect a response until Monday/Tuesday. That being said, I doubt there are more than 20 people that NEED an exhaust by February. The rest of us should just wait until March or so to get ordering (unless supply increases).

#73

For those that have emailed Paul, he has received your order! Paul and I are in the race shop putting the finishing touches on my new Spec E-30, going to Sebring next week! He has been hard at work finishing up this car and he will be getting to all of the orders on Monday.

#74

Thanks, appreciate the confirmation!

#75

andrew240z wrote:

Andrew-

We placed our email order the evening the info was posted (as this is the last item on our build to-do list) and we will also be at Sebring next week…
Is there any chance that instead of Paul going to the trouble of shipping our unit out, is there anyway that it could come along to Sebring and we could grab it there? That would be great.

Thanks!
We’ll have to try to catch up with you at Sebring, either way… we’ll be there all four days…
Natalie

#76

[quote]screwynewy wrote:
Scotty, please go racing with SCCA. You’ll fit in just fine there.
[/quote]

:blink: Thanks newy. Nice attitude.

I don’t think it’s practical nor in the best interest of the series to single-source a component for a low-buck class. The price is not relevant. The larger issues are lead time and supplier reliability. It’s a bad idea and you’re not going to change my mind about it.

The price is definitely reasonable and I don’t have any problem with the club recommending a vendor. But the club’s primary job is to publish the specifications for the class. The technical inspection process should confirm that my car conforms.

Whatever. Sorry for the rant - I didn’t mean to extend an already extensive whine-a-thon.

#77

jonmca wrote:

[quote] We are taking about a few tubes welded or bolted together, heck I bet Vic could make one of these with the tools he has from building his own cage.
Jon[/quote]

Correct Jon - I already did build my exhuast last year. In fact, most of the guys in Salazar made their exhausts last year, which now seems like an incredible waste of time and money, but oh well. I’m usually a big fan of making my own stuff - you know the old saying: If you want it done right…

BUT (and I’ve been the king at whining about rules change) it’s hard to argue the price - 175 for a mandrel bent system sounds hot.

Here’s a thought though - instead of making sure the rookies get their parts in time, how about making sure the front-runners get their exhausts in time…If the exhaust is worth enough power to mandate a rules change, then it’s probably an essential componenet to staying competitive. To me, it seems much more vital to get anyone who is competing for a series championship the new exhaust. Dropping from 1st to 5th is a much bigger deal than going 10th to 20th if you follow my logic.

Oh by the way - my new year’s resolution is to not take this stuff so seriously…I’m trying :slight_smile:

-Vic

#78

Yeah, Vic, I think the problem is, some of us do not have ANY exhaust, and you guys do. You have until June to get yours swapped. I can’t run at all until I have one.

:dry:

#79

natblack wrote:

[quote]andrew240z wrote:

Andrew-

We placed our email order the evening the info was posted (as this is the last item on our build to-do list) and we will also be at Sebring next week…
Is there any chance that instead of Paul going to the trouble of shipping our unit out, is there anyway that it could come along to Sebring and we could grab it there? That would be great.

Thanks!
We’ll have to try to catch up with you at Sebring, either way… we’ll be there all four days…
Natalie[/quote]

I am going to check with Paul today, if everything goes ok we should be able to bring one down…

#80

DaveCN wrote:

[quote]Yeah, Vic, I think the problem is, some of us do not have ANY exhaust, and you guys do. You have until June to get yours swapped. I can’t run at all until I have one.

:dry:[/quote]

Dave,
I agree that guys w/out exhausts should be high up on the priority chain. I’m just trying to make folks aware of another group’s claim to priority. With 20 systems on the shelf, and more being built, I doubt that there will be a bottleneck.

If there was a shortage, or any other issue I’m sure your fellow racers (myself included) could help get something together to get you on track. Wouldn’t be the first trackside exhaust repair/install I’ve done.
-Vic