Tsukuba Race Prep (all Finished, Some Vids & Pics ) !

[hrd-hr30]

- although my concern here in Oz is exactly how many "Open" Class cars are we going to get if it is just JDM cars. Athough it probably only needs half a dozen of them to be interesting and I can think of 3 "Open" class cars (and I'm putting gaints car into street class currently)

jeezus! he ran open class in Japan and came 13th outright, and that's only going to be street class here!!!

wow

[Roy]

This thread seems to have taken the direction of "this sounds like a good event - lets see how I can fit in".

Unfortunately, for a top level time attack - not a lot of us have the car or the money or the driving ability to compete.

Amending the rules so we can compete will only diminish the draw of the event.

A lot of what has been discussed is probably relevant to a sub event - but does it really apply to a national JDM time attack??

I hear what you are saying. But to be relevant here in Australia it has to suit our environment. There is no point just copying what the Japanese do if there are only 6 cars that will be entered?

This sort of event will nto be cheap to run, and would be a shame if the rules only permitted or interested less then a dozen cars.

Im not for dumming down the event, the open cars will be quickest. But i see the real competition coming in the lesser categories where there will be more cars and competition. Fields of 40-60 cars make it a far bigger spectacle. More interesting viewing, less expensive entry for competitors. Also the street class will be a great feeder as they wioll see what the open cars are doing, and will be motivated to take the next step if they are sharing the track with them. This way the ranks grow, and are not dependent on the entry of a few cars which due to family situations, financial, work, health, or even couldnt be assed value may not attend... means that numbers will always be strong and growing.

Rather then a mirror Time Attack event, i think a multi club Sprint event that brings the countries fastest cars together as being more relevant. The formats of sessions can reflect what is done in Japan, as it would be great to see Australias quicker cars getting relevant practice in the required format, in case they do end up racing against the Japanese at years end.

[swanny180]

I think it really needs to be a bit of a balance.

There should be two criteria aiming to be satisfied:

1 - Make it a good event for spectators. Obviously this encourages sponsorships, higher viewing, higher attendance, basically helps make it a success commercially. We all know how good it can be watching a number of wild cars going at it tooth and nail.

2 - Make it accessible also for the not *as* serious entries. Theres no point having an event with half a dozen cars and thats it. Basically there would be an hour of action and not much else. If you have a couple of lower classes with one top class acting as the draw card, it will encourage spectators to stick around for a full day.

Obviously street class entries wont be as crazy as open class ones, they wont be as fast, wont be as impressive, but they would likely still provide close and entertaining competition.

Think about your typical drag racing event. Noone says 'oh lets not have the untubbed class because the pro RWD is the one everyone wants to see'.

Yeah sure the top class with the fastest cars is definitely most impressive, but its also the slower but still entertaining entries in the lower classes that make it a proper full day event, rather than a handful of cars doing a handful of passes then calling it a day.

[Roy]

...(and I'm putting gaints car into street class currently)

But i think thats where the ruling on std panels takes effect. If a car has carbon doors, lexan windows etc you cant put it into a street class

[NickR33]

a bit O/T but I was watching ESPN the other night and they were playing the Pump Gas Drags from somewhere in the US... interesting event, basically you rocked up with your drag machine (street registered) and had all your fuel siphoned out and replaced with bog standard pump fuel (91ron or whatever they have over there)

then the most interesting part was you had to participate in a cruise across town in peak hour... you weren't allowed to switch of your car or pop the bonnet during the cruise or you were disqualified from competing in the drag event

I mean there were still plenty of tubbed monsters who competed but it was a pretty good attempt at achieving parity without hurting the competitor numbers too much

[djr81]

- although my concern here in Oz is exactly how many "Open" Class cars are we going to get if it is just JDM cars. Athough it probably only needs half a dozen of them to be interesting and I can think of 3 "Open" class cars (and I'm putting gaints car into street class currently)

Thanks for the stupid reference - I never said I was no rocket surgeon.

Why does it have to be just JDM cars? I mean if Barry Bogan wants to have a go in his HSV then good on him I say.

[Ant97GTR]

There are so many ideas in this thread I don't know where to start....

I'm all for keeping it simple.....I think have an open and street class with both safety (cage, seat, harness) and tyres free, and under each have a fwd, rwd, awd class. The determining factors that put you in open or street should be exterior panels (minus front bar, rear bar and wing) and stripped interiors. To go further than that you could start looking at things like fuel systems, brakes etc which sort the higher hp cars from the rest.

[Roy]

Yeh, i would actually like to see other manufacturers. Not so much to see Porsches or ex Nations Cup Dodge Vipers out there (i can see that happening as ppl see how cheap it is to buy a old spec race car rather then build one), but to encourage a local flavour...and who knows if any are built and steered well enough that a car with a real lcoal flavour could go and compete in Japan. I mean the Pontiac GTO is in the US Drift series and is recongnised as a competitive car by the Japanese...i would hope that they would accept a 7L Monaro in the class

[Snowman]

jeezus! he ran open class in Japan and came 13th outright, and that's only going to be street class here!!!

wow

Yeah but I made that comment based upon the last time I saw the car which was early 06 at the 1st Autosalon Circuit Battle. Back then it was IMO just a damn fast street car. It's mostly likely a little more hardcore now but I haven't seen it in it's current form to comment. I guess that should have been explained when I said I'd put his car into street class currently.

But Marcov's, JFK and Penno's cars I'd say were open class. Actually you could add Newtons new car to that list as well (and none of them are street registered). But I'd say mine, Jacks, Aarons, Franks, Scotsmans and Benno's cars would be street class. (for those that know them all)

[maccattack]

I hear what you are saying. But to be relevant here in Australia it has to suit our environment. There is no point just copying what the Japanese do if there are only 6 cars that will be entered?

Valid point Roy.

[dazmo]

Hey mate you should run the event however you see fit and any one that does not like the rules that you decide on should not enter the event full stop. You will always get some one whinging about one aspect or the other either due to lack of skill, funds or performance and if people are going to be such nancys that they would threaten legal action over an event that is really meant to be about having fun getting out on the track and mixing it up with the type of machinery that we all love then you would have to wonder why they would even bother turning up at all. As you stated it is not racing for sheep stations and is at best about a few bragging rights. As i said you can count me in regardless of the rules mate.

[fatz]

mmm i wouldnt mind running a a new day

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

can we do a skidz comp as well the punters love em!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[giant]

actually fatz, i wouldnt mind having a drift class but with a speed based theme but not sure how to police the entry to this class.

the reason for liking the idea is that there are some great drift cars out there with good steerers and i think they would love to get there car out there with equivelent cars, all possibly a drift section through the day to see some of these cars compete at what they do best.

one thing is for sure it definately will be JDM only and simplified rules as the basis for this event, sorry if this does not work for every one but that is the theme!!

[djr81]

Take it from me - don't mix drift cars with people who want to set a lap time.

The drifters make too much of a mess of the circuit (the traps & generally just dragging sh!t onto the track) & will annoy the hell out of those trying to set a lap time. Keep them to another day.

[Roy]

But a drift car with good tyres and a decent wheel alignment will be quick cars. There are plenty of Japanese drift cars that do sub 60 second laps ...a well built, light car with good power will be quick around any track...irrepctive of what its typical application is. Dont let them drift, but give them a class. I would think that they would be about the quickest cars out there and there is a lot more serious drift cars around then track cars

[evil_weevil]

I guess when it all goes ahead and has been organised - and the rules have been set and the classes outlined, for those who dont like it, simply dont enter! For those who do - go nuts!!

I'll be keeping an eye on this event as it certainly interests me

[giant]

But a drift car with good tyres and a decent wheel alignment will be quick cars. There are plenty of Japanese drift cars that do sub 60 second laps ...a well built, light car with good power will be quick around any track...irrepctive of what its typical application is. Dont let them drift, but give them a class. I would think that they would be about the quickest cars out there and there is a lot more serious drift cars around then track cars

yes exactly that's my point

[Belsil80]

IMO keep grip as the main event. You dont get breaks in the middle of drift events to have a sprint session. and an event like this shouldnt need any other support as it will be able to hold its own. And in regards to drifters, make them welcome but blend them in, no seperation. hell, the only difference between my car and the common drift car is how much i wind in the stiffness. (and in a lot of cases 200kw)

[giant]

IMO keep grip as the main event. You dont get breaks in the middle of drift events to have a sprint session. and an event like this shouldnt need any other support as it will be able to hold its own. And in regards to drifters, make them welcome but blend them in, no seperation. hell, the only difference between my car and the common drift car is how much i wind in the stiffness. (and in a lot of cases 200kw)

good point

[Duncan]

good luck with this Russ I hope you keep up the momentum and enthusiasm and make it happen.

One suggestion I think you should consider is to run it under CAMS classes (with only 1 change):

Production Cars

Improved Production (but no restrictor)

Sports Sedans.

Some good reasons for this include:

Ready made competitors out there

Regs for each class have been trashed out over the years by competitors including the sneakiest cheaterers you can imagine.

Cars used for the Oz time attack would still be legal for other competitions (CAMS sprints and racing).

You can get insurance and track hire for the event because permits can be obtained through cams

Scrutineers, Stewards, CoC etc are all available.

Until last year 4wd was banned in Sports Sedans, it is now allowed. And production cars has just been opened up to allow things like aftermarket bushes etc.