Proposed racing category: Saloon Superstars

[steady1985]

My father came up with this idea, but I've begun to create rules for it.

I've called it "Saloon Superstars". (and better names are welcome). It's a category for stock-standard naturally aspirated V8 saloon cars. The category is open to all manufacturers, though the emphasis is on Ford and Holden V8s.

For our purposes, a saloon car is defined as "A four door sedan with a seating capacity of five or more", and a car that is "stock-standard" is an exact version of the showroom car that can be purchased by the general public. This covers Ford XR8 Falcons and Holden SS Commodores's. Stock standard V8s.

The rules for entry are that the car must be stock standard (with the obvious exception of an approved rollcage), roadworthy and registered, and fit the criteria stated above. It must also be able to be purchased brand-new, so if it is off the market, and cannot be purchased brand-new, it will not be eligible. Models recently removed from the market will have a maximum 2 season grace period, during which no new entrants of this model will be accepted, and after which current users will be required to upgrade to the new models. If the model is pushed out less than 6 months into the new year, the grace period will expire at the end of the year. Otherwise, it will end at the end of the year after.

During races, changing tyres will only be done with the equipment that comes with the car. No other equipment is to be used for changing tyres.

If this category does well, a class could be opened up for V6 saloon cars, allowing a diversity of cars to compete. The same rules regarding body, seating and engine aspiration will apply.

If promoted correctly, a category like this could be a formidable rival to, and maybe even overshadow, the V8 supercars series.

As this category is in a draft stage, all ideas will be taken into account, so if you have any to offer, e-mail me at aaron@mason.id.au or reply to this post.

[Just Do It!]

I would enter a stock standard BMW 745i and beat everyone else hands down with traction control and ABS and simply outstanding handling.

GTR will be stoked when you get the 6 cylinder category going. I see a bright future for him in a Mitsubishi VR-X!

Parity would be your biggest challenge. When you look at the demise of Procar, which really was kept afloat by one man's dream and wallet, then you will soon probably realise the challenge that you have ahead of you.

What you might be wiser to do is to look at the New Zealand Super GT Series and try to develop that into a ctaegory in Australia, which really offers all-comers racing with some very exciting cars.

I don't want to sound like a critic to your dream, but I just hope that you look at every element before you jump in.

[steady1985]

I would enter a stock standard BMW 745i and beat everyone else hands down with traction control and ABS and simply outstanding handling.

As long as it has a naturally aspirated V8 under the hood, bring it along. We'd love to have you.

Parity will be difficult... but just look at GT-P. You've got 2-litre straight-fours rubbing the noses of 5+litre V8s in the dust.

Question is, will people pay to see their favourite car win, or to see exciting racing with cars they can actually buy? Cause if the first is the case, then this idea will be a flop.

[Gav56]

This class would be good for my new E55 AMG Benz..(sorry its supercharged) I'll buy a new C55 AMG.

[worried]

NOt another V8 category - how many more are there going to be?

Why is it people don't realise that there is more to racing than having 8 cylinders in the engine?

As for getting people to pay -debatable. Get name drivers they can relate to and it mught work - but first you need to get away from the 8 cylinder fixation.

[steady1985]

I know there is... but there are a lot of people who don't - and thats what we're capitalising on.

As you can see from the first post, we also hope to appeal to the rest who've seen the light with a V6 class. They'll race alongside the V8s and should (hopefully) make for some interesting, close racing.

[Driver]

What about the Falcon and BMW's. Are they allowed to race in a V6 class? BMW M3 CSL yum.

[Just Do It!]

Bring that on......re: HRT dominance of an era gone

[steady1985]

Originally posted by Driver
What about the Falcon and BMW's. Are they allowed to race in a V6 class? BMW M3 CSL yum.

Why not? As long as its a naturally aspirated V6.

(note: V6 not straight-six. i'm sure there's a difference. if there isn't, let me know.)

[Senna05]

Falcon uses straight 6 technology, as I'm sure some bimmers do too.

[Morris 1100]

The trouble with touring car rules is one car will be better than another.
Nobody wants to race a car that can not win. So they buy the one that will win.
Manufacturers do not want to risk losing or having their weak spots shown in public.
The spectators do not want to watch a race with only one brand winning all the time.

The ideal set of rules need to give all cars an equal chance of winning. The rules for Group A had some good features like a sliding scale of tyre width, fuel tank size and car weight set by the engine capacity. The problem was the way the rules equated turbo engines and this was the main downfall of group A. (besides homologation)

[Driver]

The Falcon and the BMW 6's are inline 6's. Why everyone is all revved up about V6 I don't know. The V6 has only a packaging advantage ie: it is shorter and that is it.

[aj_308]

better weight distribution..

[Driver]

I am sure there is nothing wrong with the weight distrubution of a M3. A Falcon might be another matter. But that is still because the V6 is shorter.

But basically steady1985, there is no reason why straight 6 can compete against a V6.

[steady1985]

Probably. But it's the whole 'V' thing, that's all it is.

I'll discuss it with my old man, who came up with the idea in the first place, and I'll get back to you.

[Bigguy]

Tell 'im he's dreamin'. There is no way that another class, which offers nothing innovative compared to anything already in place, has any chance of happening. Sorry.

[steady1985]

So we're dreaming. Dreams never die. And it takes an unblinking eye to make those dreams a reality.

Not saying that it will be a reality. But there's nothing to stop me from trying.

[Just Do It!]

Steady, you have the perfect attitude to make a success of yourself.

Live you dreams, the kickers will soon run out of energy, or stub their toes

[tiko]

Originally posted by steady1985

For our purposes, a saloon car is defined as "A four door sedan with a seating capacity of five or more", and a car that is "stock-standard" is an exact version of the showroom car that can be purchased by the general public. This covers Ford XR8 Falcons and Holden SS Commodores's. Stock standard V8s.

So does this rule out any stock CV8 Monaro's racing? Because it only has 4 seats.

[bartman71]

Originally posted by tiko
So does this rule out any stock CV8 Monaro's racing? Because it only has 4 seats.

only has 2 doors too.

[steady1985]

Ok, after viewing the concerns regarding V6's and straight-6's, I have made an amendment to the entry requirements.

The category will now accept any 8-cylinder car, be it V8 or inline-8, as wells as V6s and inline-6s. Same rules for aspiration will apply.

The latest regulations may be viewed by going to http://groups.msn.com/ProductionCarR...uperstars.msnw

(not an ad for my MSN group)

[Morris 1100]

I just noticed a problem with your rules....

...The rules for entry are that the car must be stock standard (with the obvious exception of an approved rollcage), roadworthy and registered,

If you fit a roll cage the car is no longer roadworthy (in NSW anyway!)

[steady1985]

Originally posted by Morris 1100
I just noticed a problem with your rules....


If you fit a roll cage the car is no longer roadworthy (in NSW anyway!)

Valid point. However, without the roll cage, I'm pretty sure a car can't race (at this level anyway).

I suppose I should move the parenthesised area after "roadworthy". Done, there thats better.

[Morris 1100]

There is no real need to have rego on a race car anyway. (except for the midnight trips along the Bells Line of road to run the motor in!)

[rdmdog]

I havent read this thread word for word, for reasons that I will keep to myself, but there is a class that allows these cars top compete agains each other now.

Its called Improved Production.

You used to be able to race a car without a rollcage as long as it was road registered, god only knows why you would do that, but anyway I dont think this is allowed anymore.

When you race a road car, that is standard, ie NOT modified, the stock parts break, and cars fail. Therefore these cars become either unreliable, or very expensive.