Gary Burch wrote:As you would guess I voted for the new class structure.
The current system is a dinosaur roaming around the backwaters of Qualcomm.
Rub those class trophies and hold 'em close, cause next year is a new ball game.
.... and, in this man's opinion, "a new ball game" that levels the field to a more just and fair paradigm. Let me give you one example .... the only one I can use being my own.
Greg Phillips 911SC is "near the top" of the points scale in II class, according to some (I haven't pointed out that car, so I can't say that this is accurate). My 911SC is at the bottom of the II points scale with 25 points. Otto Obrist's car is max'ed out in II at near 40.The difference in points between, say Otto's or Greg's car and mine can be upward of 15 points in II. 15 points!! Heck, that difference in one class is like a combined classification of ISS, IS, and IP... all competing in the same class! Imagine an X-SS car (X being the first letter of class ... fill in your class letter here) competing with a X-P car in one class. Really? Really!?! MSS vs MP. Really? Really!?!
So, on any given day, at any given track, with the wind, sun, and temperatures just right, and faded-red 944's moving into your line "flat out," there can be as much as 5 seconds ... five whole seconds ... between the same class-cars in II.

Yes ... 5 seconds. Really? Really!?!
Now: In the new system, Otto would be up there with the big boys (where he belongs ... Mr TTOD) in a class 3 or 4 above my own, and Greg's car would be around 1 to 2 classes above my "low-end II" car. So that: when Otto spanks my @ss by 5 seconds for TTOD and Greg/Steve G. humilliate me with a 3-scond best ... I don't feel so bad with a 25-point car. Because, they're not in my class. I'm now competing with the likes of 930's, Boxters, 944S2's, etc, all similar to my car in points and in actual times. Yes, ACTUAL TIMES. There is no 3 or 4 or 5 second disparity in the same class. Huh, imagine that. Cars of equal capability competing against each other. Mmmm. Mmm. Mmm. What a concept. Really.
So, this is just the ramblings of a "bottom-of-the-points" guy who's battled cars that are way more prepared than his own in the same class. My situation is unique, and probably not shared by too many others. But if you've "been there" you know that squeezing the Jacksons out of the wallet to be competitive is not necessarily what motorsports is all about. Or ... maybe I'm just crazy.

Well, okay. ... not "maybe."
