IT is the entry point for the SCCA. Yeah, there are a bunch of really knowledgeable folks participating, but I ain’t one of them. I’m getting there, but it’s going to take more than the two years I currently have under my belt. I have been told that my A2 VW Jetta is classed “differently” than other cars because smart people on the Comp Board think it can realize a 30% gain. Not trusting my own expertise, I’ve talked to all the experienced A2 VW guys I know and none of them are achieving 30%. Nonetheless, the last two years I have done 99% of the things I am supposed to do to make my car fast. The things that are left to do are things that many would argue won’t make a difference anyway (e.g., I need to install a crank scraper). I am far from being a good VW tuner, so I don’t trust my dyno numbers to be the best, but I do NOT have a 30% gain. So, I do have dyno data that I can provide for this discussion. But, I’m a freakin’ Psychologist that is just figuring this stuff out, so I just don’t think my results will (or should) carry that much weight.
Here’s my real concern . . . this class is supposed to be for folks like me. I shouldn’t have to be an automotive engineer to make the case for my car to be classed properly. The BURDEN should be on the experienced EXPERTS that are running the show. If there isn’t documented evidence that is clearly communicated to justify my car being processed in a manner that deviates from the established standards, then my car SHOULD be processed according to those established standards. When someone inquires about a deviation from standard processing, there should be a record of why the car is being treated differently. The established process should prevail unless there is EXPLICIT justification to do otherwise. The BURDEN should not be on an entry level participant to refute “mysterious rules anomalies.”
When I am told that the justification for the “atypical” processing of my car is lost in antiquity, and that it is my responsibility as an entry level racer to prove that this atypical processing is wrong . . . well, that’s just crazy. Suffice it to say that I feel like am not only fighting an uphill battle, but I’m fighting a battle that I should not even be asked to fight in the first place.
So, I too am done with IT. To put it bluntly, my car is competitive in HP, so I am moving on. I hope, however, that you will consider the opinions of someone who is supposed to “fit” in Improved Touring. FWIW, I don’t think there is anything wrong with just “wanting to go fast” in a fair, competitive, safe and relatively “hassle free” race environment. That, quite frankly, describes exactly what I am looking for.