eccles

Must've looked something like this:

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

Close, but the OR event was even more dramatic. I was in the timing trailer when the monsoon hit, and I took some great pictures of cars throwing wakes - like the one above, but about twice as much water. My favorite was of a Mazdaspeed Miata throwing these huge waves with the top down. Unfortunately, it wasn't with my camera and I'm pretty sure the owner is nats right now. And sorry Dark8, I didn't get a picture of you.

George

randyc

Could be worse... me at the 2003 National Tour in sunny San Diego-




No Elises at Nationals either. Next year.

clyde

The first heats were halted for about an hour on Wednesday as a band of thunderstorms blew through. It got sunny after that and the south course was almost totally dry by the end of the third heat.

I ran in the fifth heat and was lousy (both days ), but I will definitely be there in the RX-8 next year even if the S2Ks are still in BS.

Noteworthy: At the SEB town hall meeting Monday afternoon, they said that no reclassing decisions had yet been made. On the north course Tuesday, four S2Ks were faster than the fastest AS car. On the south course Wednesday, two S2Ks were faster than the fastest AS car. Combined, three S2Ks beat the best AS combined time. The best '04 S2K took third in AS, running about 0.5 combined behind the AS leader. AS ran fourth heat and BS ran fifth heat. All AS and BS cars were weighed for "informational purposes" after the second day.

We'll find out soon enough.

PedalFaster

Comments from an S2000 driver on all sorts of points made in this thread:

I think the RX-8 is competitive in B Stock as it stands today. As noted above, tpryor was right up there with David Hedderick at the Houston Tour. Hedderick is a multiple time Nationals trophy winner; if you're running on par with him, in my mind that makes you nationally competitive.

Having said that, I'd be very surprised if the RX-8 ever reaches total parity with the S2000. The S2000's lighter and more powerful than the RX-8, and the it's been developed by dozens of national-level drivers over the course of four years. Conversely, I suspect very few national-level guys will develop and campaign RX-8s as long as the S2000's still in the same class.

To clarify the proposed reclassing -- there are proposals out for member comment to move the S2000, Boxster, and Z4 to A Stock. There is no proposal to merge CS and ES on the table, nor is there any proposal to split BS beyond what's described above. Since no such proposals have been offered for member comment, the earliest such changes could happen would be the 2006 season.

Just because the S2000 beat A Stock at Nationals doesn't mean it's going there next year. Moving the S2000 out of BS would completely gut what was the largest Stock class at Nationals this year. It's possible that the SAC / SEB would choose to do so, but it strikes me as unlikely given the ES precedent of preserving classes with healthy participation numbers. If / when the S2000 moves, however, I expect that RX-8 adoption will really pick up -- I've talked to a number of people who have expressed interest in running the car. I'd certainly consider it.

Last but not least, about rain tires -- until there's standing water on course, R-compounds will still be faster than street rubber. If there is standing water, the serious guys will break out the Hoosier Radial Wets and continue to go much faster than is possible on street rubber.

Steve