ITAC News.

[Chip42]

Wait on dude. The issues have always been with the process math, the false belief that the system is truly objective, and the penalty of getting that wrong in high #/hp classes (NOT with the specific cars people use as examples). As long as the ITAC is not willing to use additional information to make decisions, we get the ITB that we have. Not my problem at this point.

well, FWIW, we are attempting to make the system more objective by evaluating basic class-wide statistics like mean, standard deviation, etc.. of engine displacement, OEM hp/litre, and OEM published torque numbers, brake sizes, etc... basically, if there's an adder indicated and being used, we want to be able to prove that it's use is justified. no plans to implement until review is complete, but we're looking at it.

I can't argue with you otherwise. it's true - mistakes in actual hp matter much more in the slower classes than the faster ones due to the hp/weight numbers we use. also, the entire system is based on the belief that cars will make 25 or X% gain over stock OR a specific WHP number, and that driveline losses are very similar across the class. we don't count aero - which again increases in effect with low power, boxy cars typical of ITB and C, and we don't always get it right on the gain number. then you have to add in the politics (many examples), disagreeing information (Audi), arguments against conviction (MR2, many people who got their asses roundly kicked by higher prep level cars), ...

in order to become 100% objective there needs to be MUCH more data than we will ever have access to, and the stability of the rules re: classifications will disappear as development changes the hard facts.

but you are right. the system, as it is, has the ability to screw "you" on the track if the inputs are even slightly off, which can easily happen without any malicious intent at all, and the room for error goes up with speed because the multiplication of the error gets smaller.

all that said - IT is a helluva lot better off now than it was when it was 100% subjective - if you disagree with that, well.... I don't know what to say to help bring you on board. I'm sorry you feel disenfranchised.

Prod allows for actual competitive adjustments of a given car against the others in the class. that can cut both ways, and FWIW, the prep 2 classification in HP are very "standardized" and prep 2 rules mean that "warts" are less able to be ironed out (say, a really poor intake design) - Prod, and now ST and GTL, have borrowed HEAVILY fro the IT ruleset and more and more, from the IT classification philosophy. they also seem to disregard aero, brake sizes, standard gearing, and torque, just like us. but they HAVE THE OPTION of changing weight, lift, CR, wheel width, etc... to balance things out - or help/spite particular cars. how you see such adjustments all depends on how much you like conspiracy theories or what end of the help/spite curve you find yourself, I guess. I truly believe that subjectivity is the only way to get balance in mixed marque racing, but humans will always prevent actual balance from happening because human. but I do think the PAC / CRB are honestly working for parity.

I like prod, we have a prod car in our stable, and are discussing building another. but I love IT, despite having chosen the wrong car for it. I don't think your car of choice is so far off, but to each their own. enjoy HP, what I have seen of your build so far looks VERY nice and I'm excited to see how you do with it.