Well we're firmly set into 2012, we survived New Year's Eve, I survived my Birthday (well partially anyway!) and now it's time to see what we can do with the "L" to bring on the pain to our rivals this season!
There's been some changes in the realms of Time Attack over the past week or so both domestically and abroad so first I'll touch base on those.
The UK Time Attack series has just announced they are moving away from what used to be essentially a spec tire series and are now opening it up to full blown slicks, no mention yet if this is brand specific or not but regardless I see this as a good thing. From watching some of the various internet based clips of the UK series in the past it has always struck me that the cars have way more power than grip and while sliding around a corner may look cool it's not exactly the fastest way to do it. I really look forward to seeing how fast the cars can go now with grip level to match their power output!
Global Time Attack launched a teaser just a day ago that they may go to a championship format, I have mixed feelings about this based on ourselves getting boned by Redline Time Attack back in 2010 where someone running the series who has less brains than my dog made it based on driver not car, granted the driver has a lot to do with the outcome but seriously this is a team/car sport where most of the shoes are hired guns and have shit to do that actually pays them more than a big mac meal and night out with a cheap hooker so like the rest of us if they have something to do that pays the bills they have to do it leaving the team scratching to find another poor sole stupid enough to strap into a car for nothing but the glory and promise of smelling like shitarse champagne!
Will Global Time Attack get it right? I personally believe they will and I certainly can see why certain teams/drivers want it, let's face it anyone can take a record away from you but nobody can take away the fact your a season champion so from a marketing and sponsorship angle it certainly makes sense!
So now onto us I guess, are we ready for the 2012 season? Simple answer is Fuck no! Will we be ready? Yea pretty sure the magic men of Earl, Aaron, Keith, Mert, Zarlo and sometimes even me will get something together for Buttonwillow in April!
Joking aside the car has gone through some pretty radical changes since it's last outing in November with the radiator now relocated to the trunk and the front end having the frames taken back to the shock tower. The radiator and front end is probably 4 work days out of completion (which means every night this week and all weekend) then it's time to address the new exhaust and Aero setup which from concept and design is pretty cool and should give us a ton more downforce.
We have some other things in the works but for now I'll keep those under my hat!
I'm confused, so help me out... You guys won the Unlimited AWD Championship with Jeff in 2010. How were you guys "boned" by the championship points structure? Unless the points document I'm looking at is wrong as well as my recollection of how things unfolded...
ReplyDeleteNot that I agree on a championships being SOLELY based on driver.
In 2008 and 2009, RTA's championship was based on vehicle/team. And yes, Mr Stewart mandated a change to a "Drivers Championship" for 2010. One of his many edicts that came down as the "Benevolent Dictator" as he were... ;-)
Just want to understand your position on the matter.
Your correct Nik we did win the 2010 championship, the simple fact remains and my memory may be a little wonky but you in fact agreed it would be ok for us to run for points at Spring Mountain initially then Mr. Stewart 2 weeks prior to the event said it was in fact a no go. I was pretty much set to skip the event based on his response but we had sponsor commitments so with the help of Gary Sheehan we ran anyway.
ReplyDeleteDid we get boned on the championship? no! Could we have? Absolutely if any of our rivals ran the event and the remaining events (beating us at Infineon and Fontana) we would have lost the championship.
We still pissed away the money and time to run the event but at least we kept our sponsors happy!
I hope that clarifies it a little better.