So far, 8 RX-8 entries in BS with no other cars in sight

The event cap is 250, with only single digit spots left. Time to sign-up for what is gonna be a really spectacular competition. FYI, the green car is gonna be flying among the sea of grey/silver with Mark Presley and kc piloting.

This is as good as it gets talent-wise, short of driving half way across the country to KS (sans your truely here).

 

I hate to be a party pooper, but with only one person who trophied at Nationals last year in the field, Devens is a ways from "as good as it gets talent-wise".

You don't know the true pain until you go to Nationals, but the next best thing is one of the big tours (which Devens is not).

Steve

 

IIRC, there are two past trophy winners, and three National/Tour attendees. Not too shabby for a regional competition. In any case, I'll let those talented racers speak for themselves. Like I said, I'm not it

 

atwater had a good trophy-winner turnout.

 

Peru NT was hella good competition last year. Just off the top of my head, Mark Sipe, GH Sharp, Carter Thompson, Sam Strano, Andy Hohl... (sigh)

I'm still excited for devens.

 

New tires will be in Friday.

Alignment within the next couple weeks.

Devens is fun. It's not your typical square section of asphalt. Its just too bad there's not much around Devens to 'go' to.

--kC

 

There's a Texas Roadhouse near our hotel, and if you know TeamWTF?! you know that's all we need.

 

I'm stayng with a friend that's local instead of driving the 1.5 hrs each way.

I'm not making any plans for anything right now and will play it by ear.

 

So what you're saying is you're in for the Roadhouse?

 

So which hotels are RX-8 racers staying at?

Stayed in Holiday Inn at Boxborough last time during Evo school. Location was fairly convenient (15mins). There was also a motel lodge right in Ayer if you don't mind.

Got my V710 replacement with an extra spare. which should be ready to go before Devens. Will snap some photos since they look kinda "funny" sitting on the wheels as compared to other tires. V710 has more voids on the side, instead of sitting flush on the edge of the rim.

Peru ProSolo this year is star-studded, I'll admit. Though it's still in the midwest for people on the east coast.

 

BS has become lame once again

 

I think that many people don't have confidence in the 350Z nor the 968. I'm sure they'd be up there, especially after what happened with the wet at nationals, skewing perception a tad.

I understand where you're coming from with the Qty of the RX8 has replaced the S2K... but there are other cars in the class that have a shot... not like AS S2K being in BS and totally decimating its competition.

That said, it's no wonder, when you can get the car for $25K, you have all you need to run in the class. (Add in $1K tires, $600 shocks, maybe a ffew hundered in exhaust, and extra set of rims).

That's not bad at all for a modern day stock class car.

MCS are north of $20K and that's GS! WRX, BMW in DS over $20, Bang for the buck, the RX8's a good bargain for a brand new car that's competitive in the class.

Not many other cars are this fun at this pricepoint.

--kC

 

I think the die is cast -- B Stock's an RX-8 class for the foreseeable future. I still don't think it's the best car in the class, but enough people are repeating that the RX-8 is the car to have on enough forums that those who don't know any better are believing them, thus feeding the cycle.

It doesn't help that two of the standard bearers for the "opposition", namely Ron in my 968 and Carter in the 350Z, have moved to other cars for unrelated reasons.

Still, a Spec RX-8 class isn't a bad thing at all, in my opinion; I quite enjoyed Spec S2000 two years ago.

Steve

 

Carter has moved on? He's not going to be driving it at the Peru and DC Pros like he's registered in?

Andy Hohl, I think, could win in Chris' 350Z (especially if they really did fix their ice mode problem).

Until I see it in Fastrack, I won't be sold on the GXP will go to AS (even if we all seem to think it should). the non-S Cayman looks, by the numbers to be a good fit into BS as well...but the cost will probably prevent anyone from trying to fully develop one for at least a few years.

And then there's the perpetual uncertainty about the future of stock classes in general. With the ES/CS and FS/DS merger proposal and yours and Jason's comments about it being related to creating new classes really makes one wonder what the SAC and SEB have in mind. I don't think it's reasonable for anyone to expect a Stock class to remain stable for more than two years at a time. It's part of the price of competing in those classes. I'd just like to see a roadmap/plan for the future and gain an understanding of what is trying to be accomplished rather than trying to make sense of a system that from the outside appears to be ad hoc and almost random at times.[/rant]

 

Carter still drives the Z locally. He was also at Walnut Ridge but wasn't on his game that weekend for whatever reason. He and Jim had pretty much given up on the car until the A6 came out. Now that there is a competitive tire in a 275/18 I wouldn't be surprised to see him in Topeka. He's also building an SM2 car but I doubt it'll be ready this year. The '05 350 has a better 2nd gear than the older models and could be the car to beat now that it's not limited to a 245/18. Course dependent of course, but the new nationals site may require more low speed elements than in the past which plays into the hands of the torquey cars.

 

Bunch of random comments:

I didn't know Carter was signed up for Peru and DC. It'll be interesting to see how he does.

I'll bet anyone on this forum $5 that the Solstice GXP will go to AS.

The base Boxster (987) is in AS, so there's no way the base Cayman will go to BS.

Steve

 

Perception is reality.

 

 

B Stock entries are looking a bit weak in both events though ...

 

Are you running BS at the Peru Pro Mark?

 

Pedal Faster is on the money with the above comments. I looked at the same things regarding the Cayman.
After this past weekend no way will the GXP go to BS. The Soltice really showed what it can do in CS with a 285 tire underneath. The course had a lot of transitions and thread the needle manuvers with offsets. Not your typical Peru big Sweeper course. The course was Tailor made for at least 90% of it for a RX8.

BTW, for everyone that seems to make the debate about Asphalt setting vs Concrete. Unless you are in the 1st heat asphalt can be very grippy once some rubber is laid down. NO it will not have the ultimate grip but it is very eye opening to run on after 500 plus runs have been made:-)

 

Someone fit a 285 tire under a solstice?! I thought those things had 8" wide wheels? Yikes.

I had a great time in Peru last year and wish I could have made it back this year, but finances / schedule would just not allow... Concrete rules.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking... We have just about the same amount of room under our wheel wells... and same size wheel too.

--kC

 

Tim Pryor tried a 285 Hoosier on stock rims a couple years back. It fit on the rim, but rubbed on the suspension on the inside when mounted on the car. 275s work great though.

 

Maybe, but then you have to run a Hoosier.