SCCA Trans-Am Series

[MagVanisher]

I know that I've create a thread a while back and it's pretty much dead. But what do you think for Trans-Am Series this year, as well as the future of it?

Is it improving, or being the same old series with no improvements? Even though Pirelli World Challenge is gaining success (Don't know what happened to the Continental Challenge though...), I think this series is being under the radar lately.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

I know that I've create a thread a while back and it's pretty much dead. But what do you think for Trans-Am Series this year, as well as the future of it?

Is it improving, or being the same old series with no improvements? Even though Pirelli World Challenge is gaining success (Don't know what happened to the Continental Challenge though...), I think this series is being under the radar lately.

As long as it is tube-frame cars, not cars based on production chassis and power-trains it is going nowhere fast.

If they by some miracle got a serious sponsor, even with the tubies they could make the Nationwide series look like the poser it is, but no money, no real future.

[Matt]

Bring back the spoilers.

[MagVanisher]

Spoilers are good, but they would look like Nationwide cars. It's better to have wings instead since they don't races in ovals.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

. But what do you think for Trans-Am Series this year, as well as the future of it?

It really is just an amateur series now, with little public interest, and no broadcast. The manufacturers have no interest in this type of racing anymore, and as such, there is no money to draw in Pro teams, drivers or broadcast. I don't see that changing any time soon... it is basically just a hollow name now.

[Rcz]

You know, with touring car now being made into GT3 spec cars, like the Chevy Camero and the Bentley Continental, somebody could make a modern Trans-Am series with these types of cars.

But I don't think the SCCA would do it because it might interfere with the PWC

IMSA could do it if their American DTM thing falls apart

In order for the car to be eligible it would just have at least 4 seats,with the engine in the front and not to be a GT car but would be confined to FIA GT3 regulation.

They would just run 100 mile sprints.

[MagVanisher]

I know that it's an amateur series currently, but yes Rcz, IMSA can do it if the American DTM didn't materialize. Trans-Am needs some help not only from IMSA, but ITR and JAF, which governs DTM and Super GT, respectively.

The result is a two-class sprint series where pony cars race in TA1 class, while international GT3 cars race in TA2 class.

[HORNDAWG]

Tommy Kendall to return to Trans Am in a Dodge Challenger SRT this weekend.

http://sportscar365.com/other/kendal...hallenger-srt/









L.P.

[MagVanisher]

The Dodge Challenger TA2 car looks great! Still, it would be nice if TA2 becomes the new TA1 class now that all three manufacturers from Detroit have fielded their respective pony cars!

[pederb]

for some reason T/A feels old and outdated.

Looking at the image of the new Challenger, it reminds me of Club Racing.



Don't know why

[TF110]

Thats what Nascar should be imo. Looks more 'stock' car than a 'stock car'.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

The Dodge Challenger TA2 car looks great! Still, it would be nice if TA2 becomes the new TA1 class now that all three manufacturers from Detroit have fielded their respective pony cars!

No way... TA2 only has around 500hp and IIRC all cars have the same Chevy LS3 engine... (at least that's the case in the Scandinavian series that run the same cars over here in Europe).

Looking at the image of the new Challenger, it reminds me of Club Racing.

That's because it is.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

No way... TA2 only has around 500hp and IIRC all cars have the same Chevy LS3 engine... (at least that's the case in the Scandinavian series that run the same cars over here in Europe).

But that 500 HP alone can be comparable with Super GT/DTM cars, so long as the TA2 class will have manufacturer support and modern chassis tub.

Then again, I guess you're right that the current Trans-Am Series is a club series.

[Speed-King]

They don't have manufacturer support either. I am sure, Dodge is looking favorable on Kendall having a bit of fun, but I'd be surprised if there was much in the way of actual support.

[pederb]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

They don't have manufacturer support either. I am sure, Dodge is looking favorable on Kendall having a bit of fun, but I'd be surprised if there was much in the way of actual support.

Oh, I thought it was a factory backed effort

[Deleted]

Apparently there are/were some actual TV highlights of Road America & Mid-Ohio rounds on MAV TV, Tuff TV and Altitude Network
http://www.gotransam.com/news/index.cfm?cid=59738

Still basically non existent but anything is better than those awful GoRacingTv webepisodes with Alfredo god damn Nin

[Coach Ep]

Looks like another Howe chassis to me, nothing Dodge about it. The Mustangs and Camaros in TA2 are all identical Howe chassis', they just stick another body on it - they call it tube framers for a reason!

IF Dodge would bring a car to TA(1), I would assume it would a Viper bodied one.

Anyway, all good fun, especially when they still run all cars together, nothing beats a 40 car TA pack thundering towards to you!

Wish the screaming Mazda would return - O, what a wonderful sound, pure joy for the ears!

[Coach Ep]

Btw, this weekend's race at Mid-Ohio sees 59 cars entered (World Challenge had 52 last weekend) and they will all race together Saturday afternoon!

[Cheyne]

Here is the info on the car from Howe Racing.

http://www.howeracing.com/Adobe/HoweTA20811.pdf

Cheyne

[nezy37]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Apparently there are/were some actual TV highlights of Road America & Mid-Ohio rounds on MAV TV, Tuff TV and Altitude Network
http://www.gotransam.com/news/index.cfm?cid=59738

Still basically non existent but anything is better than those awful GoRacingTv webepisodes with Alfredo god damn Nin

I keep looking but I never see it in the guide. Like I'll go out a week during a commercial and I still don't see it.

I enjoy it. Yeah they are dinosaurs but they are fast fire breathing monsters.

[NaBUru38]

80,000 dollars for the full car? Wow, that's cheap!

[BudLightJaguar]

Do they still use carburettors that NASCAR abandoned finally? Anyway, T/A used to be interesting series back in the days when it was a pro series with works or semi-works teams. But at least they don't pretend to be 'green'. It's just racing...vibration, flames and backfiring. Something that many European national series seem to lack.

[MagVanisher]

I think they still use carbs so to speak. Remember, Trans-Am is an amateur series and most of the teams can't but nor tune fuel-injected engines yet.

Scratch that, they can buy those engines but SCCA won't allow them.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

I think they still use carbs so to speak. Remember, Trans-Am is an amateur series and most of the teams can't but nor tune fuel-injected engines yet.

Scratch that, they can buy those engines but SCCA won't allow them.

It takes far more knowledge and skill to tune a carburettor than take a computer and work on an injection system.
The carb specialists in NASCAR were paid very big bucks.

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

It takes far more knowledge and skill to tune a carburettor than take a computer and work on an injection system.
The carb specialists in NASCAR were paid very big bucks.

That makes sense. Programmable and mandated ECU mounted in a spec engine should actually be easier to adjust than a fully mechanical carburettor.
A few decades ago in Finland we had a common phrase Replacement carburettor tune-up has been successful if the hp is less than 10% lower than in the factory setting. Nowadays, you can switch to MoTec or other programmable ECU and actually get some results.