Jad wrote:Tom,
In case I wasn't clear, I also like the BRI and think it should continue and be refined. Just don't spend too much time looking for perfection, it is a good benchmark, but not an absolute science as there are too many uncontrollable variables.
10-4. Understood, Jad, thanks. I recognize the shortcomings and difficulties involved in indexing performance, and don't expect perfection, just something half-a$$ed workable. I should probably clarify that although I was involved in advocating for establishing the BRI originally, due to my experience with SCCA Solo and their PAX, my involvement in determining the original indexes was limited to helping collect the historical data that was used. I did not participate in the analysis that quantified them at that time, and know that it was a difficult job. Since then, I have not been involved in any of the revisions or adjustments to it, either. I understand that it is very difficult to "take the driver out of the equation" in order to "take the car out of the equation," which is to say that in determining indexes from historical data, it is possible for an outstanding driver in a highly-developed car to raise the perception of the speed potential of a class in the same way that it is possible that the speed potential of a class can be underestimated when there are no optimized cars and few accomplished drivers running in it. I always left that analysis to bigger minds than mine.
My only role has been to poke the system here and there when I perceive a fairly clear-cut anomaly or inaccuracy and there is some rational evidence or logical argument to support it being corrected. When we created the new classification system, and adopted the GGR indexes, I couldn't understand how the indexes for the top 3 classes could all be identical, and was pretty vocal about it. I didn't have any input into what they should be, but I couldn't understand how they could be the same, and somehow they got changed. This is a similar situation, where it seems obvious to me that if a 944 Spec car cannot possibly point out at the top of the CC06 class in our system, then it shouldn't carry the CC06 index. Whether their index should be .930 or .928, I don't know, and really don't care. That's beyond my pay grade, and as you say, perfection is impossible, but I'm pretty sure either one would be better than .938.
TT
