Classes when you race, huh!?? GT-1, Su?

TheSaint71 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 03:39 PM

Hey guys, I've been trying to make poop from heads with all this racing class stuff, can anyone help, anyone know about this stuff??

GT-1, Super unlimited, SU-1 beyond what a cobra can do?, SU-3? When I get my cobra I want to race it but I am not familiar with this class info stuff! And what in the heck does NASA stand for, the only NASA I know of makes space exploration stuff, nothing to do with racing! lol

I greatly appreciate your time and input, hope to hear from you guys! I am quite curious about these classes and what cars you'd be up against in them!

Jamin

thanks!

DanElam · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 04:56 PM

Ok.... Here's the scoop.

If you have a Cobra you can race SCCA with GT-1. There are some real significant limitations when it comes to engine configurations and you are limited to 16" wheels, but you can run slicks. Your Cobra will not be competitive, but you can have fun. This is SCCA's only appropriate national class for the Cobra. Most GT-1 cars are former Trans-Am cars that go like stink.

At a regional level, you can run ITE or SP, depending on your region. Note that these classes don't let you at the Valvoline Run-Offs, but it doesn't matter since you wouldn't be competitive here either. ITE is usually the Vipers and hot shot BMWs that are only slightly slower than the GT-1 cars. SP varies more across the country, but often includes the cars that *couldn't* qualify for GT-1. So these cars can be wicked fast. I've seen SP cars that easily cost $250K.

If you run an FFR Spec Cobra, you can run in the Spec Roadster series with NASA. NASA has strong chapters on the west coast, mid-altantic (Virginia chapter), Florida, Ohio/Indiana, Arizona, and now Texas/Oklahoma. In the northeast, they are running with COM, but this is a time trial on road course - not wheel to wheel racing.

If you have a Superformance, ERA, or FFR car not built to the Spec Racer rules, you can run with NASA in what is called SU-1. This is basically the unlimited categor and features very fast cars. Dennis Olthoff brought his beautiful One Lap car and did very well, but it sort of depends on who shows up. I have seen a Nissan Sentra run in SU and I have seen a Jaguar 220 (yep. Gorgeous) also in there. I don't know what you would have to do to run in something like SU-2, but my guess it would involve less horsepower and an ugly car.

www.scca.org has some info, but it isn't great. You can try sccaforums.com

www.nasaproracing.com has more info on the classes. The Virginia region has an outstanding forum that can answer many of your questions very quickly:

http://www.nasaracing.net/pHP_BB/phpbb2/index.php

Hope that helps!

-Dan

TheSaint71 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 07:24 PM

WOW, Thanks Dan, that helps alot actually! WOW, You mean a Jaguar XJ220, closest thing that compete with the ugly Mclaren, perhaps the most best handling supercar ever??? Fastest Jag ever, damn I always wanted one of those! Amazing...

Why would you be limited to 16'' wheels, why would it stinckin matter! What a joke, reminds me of polotics in war time situations! DUMB! A cobra would not be competitive in GT-1, is this because the cars in that class are so much better/faster?

ITE or SP, won't be competitive? How so, cobras can wax Vipers and BWM'S.....SP cars that cost 250k thats one expensive Viper and BHM hehe

SU-1, sounds cool, unlimited whatever shows up type group.. wow sentra to XJ 200! Facinating... btw, Im going to look on these sites to find this question but, what exactly are Spec Racer rules? Green peace safe tires and logo? lol

These days aren't like my grandpa's time where when off work designing the best WW2 airplane (P-38 lightning) ever they stroked a Model T and went exactly 107 mph in the salt flats!, they said it was so hard to handle, u just had to wrap all of your hands and arms up in the sterring wheel to have any type of control! Got pics of this too...

Thanks man!

Jamin

DanElam · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 08:42 AM

Yep. Same Jag. Funny thing was that it was *loaned* to a guy who brought it out on the track and raced it. I think the car had like 970 miles on it when it showed up. It was scary fast. I almost nailed it when I misjudged the closing speed and didn't think there was any way he could catch me and get inside me. It was disconcerting with that thing around.

One of the SP cars I raced against last year was a factory carbon-fiber Vette. Same confuguration that ran Le Mans. It didn't even win the race. Same thing for Porsches with engines too big to be legal. So that gives you an idea what you might expect.

The problem with the Cobra is drag and that is why the BMWs, Vipers, etc. do so well. They have great balance and get better runs on the straights, especially if they are longer. You can get a $50K Grand-Am V-6 BMW that doesn't have much trouble smoking a Cobra. Throw in one of the $240K V-8 BMWs and....

For the Spec Racer, we basically run a stock 5.0L from a Mustang, VictoRacer V-700 tires (wonderful DOT tire for the track, but they aren't slicks. Great tires though), and whatever you want for brakes. We generally get 215-225HP from the engines, weigh in around 2400 lbs, and can out accelerate just about anything up to 45 miles an hour. There also isn't a whole lot that can outbrake us. There are plenty of things with less drag, better high end power, better tires, and better suspensions. With FFR's 3-link, the suspension gap isn't as good as it used to be. Not to shill for FFR, but they've really done a great job with these cars. They are cheap to run (cheaper than Spec Miata), relatively inexpensive to buy (a little more than Spec Miata), and are always among the fastest cars on the track (the nearest Spec Miata was 6 laps down to me at VIR before I wrecked the Cobra).

Bottom line, bring your car out the track and play with it. You'll have a blast no matter who you are competing against!

TheSaint71 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 02:59 PM

I really like your replies, thanks alot! I couldn't help to read at the edn of your message it said you wrecked the cobra? How did this happen? How bad was it, can you fix her?

I see, so the vipers, bm's do much better as far as higher top end speed on straits because of drag? Makes sense, what is top for those vipers anyway? I know of cobras that do over 180mph. Some of those BMW's and porsche's that have like 200k in them there fast, but for the money I don't go there! Look at Olthoff, he got 7th at that one race with supercars, car he ran was like 60k, others twice that or more!

These BWM that can beat cobra's, Is that also top end? Curious, I am not too familiar with BMW's that r really kickin like that.. I bet a hard top would help a cobra alot in that race..

Your really fun to chatt with, thanks...

Jamin