Back to the top!
You won't see this in Fastrack because it's not a rule change as such, but you'll probably be interested to hear that the ITAC has adopted a new approach to the FWD "subtractor" question. Instead of subtracting big chunks (defined for each class), we will now deduct a percentage of each FWD car's "base weight." Percentages to be applied are...
C - 0%
B - 2%
A - 2%
S - 5.5%
R - 6%
These percentages were established using an average "IT preparation" HP figure and weight multiplier for each class, to define imaginary "average cars." We then used LapSim to model the differences between front- and rear-wheel drive versions of each of these mythical beasts, and to derive weights required to account for those differences - 175, 150, 50, 50, 0; from R to C. That weight, as a percentage of the "average car's" weight, established the percentages you see above.
Again - this subtractor will be applied to the base weight, defined by the stock power, IT power factor, and class multiplier.
There are a few big assumptions buried in here, of course (e.g., that the effect of mass on performance is linear), any of which may be debatable, but we had to make them in order to move forward. This solution isn't "angels dancing on the head of a pin," nor is it "we can't be perfect so let's not do anything." It's better than what we've had in the past even if it's not perfect, and the ITAC thinks it strikes a good balance.
This does away with the trap we were in, where cars were treated inequitably by the subtractor, depending on their weight (and power). Depending on the luck of the draw, some cars will net out heavier under the new regime, and some lighter. (So the degree to which you individually think this change is a good idea might also be influenced by that same luck!) Regardless, it is repeatable and has a greater degree of granularity, and it takes subjectivity out of the process for yet another step - in this case, the subjectivity of the amount subtracted.
FINALLY, the question of whether/how this new step will get applied to EXISTING listings is still an unknown. We started using it during last night's call for NEW listings and will continue to do so. It will also get applied to any "please review" cases we have on our current agenda. What happens after that is not yet decided (e.g., another Great Realignment) and is the topic of ongoing discussion.
So there you go. We figured that we kind of owed you all some news about a step forward - particularly those of you being patient about requests that are tabled pending clarification of our internal processes...
K
We're not a different race, Dick, we're "special".
