[Widget Codriver]

At the Prescott Rally I heard several people talking about a new one-make series for 2004. This has been in the rumor mill for several years.

I hope it comes to fruition, but I still haven't seen any announcements about it. With the new ProRally season less than two months away, it would be good for competitors to know about it so they can start planning on whether to buy or rebuild.

John

 

[Ole]

Rumor has it that it will be announced at SEMA . . .

 

[bcd]

which cars has it been narrowed down to?

 

[Rallymedik]

Rumor has it, that it will be the new Mitshubishi RalliArt Lancer (2WD)and will be built by Vermont Sports Car..

 

[spoier]

What price range (finished product) has it been narrowed down to?

Skye

[table cellspacing=20][tr][td]
http://www.rallyrace.net/images/CARtoons/rs500coswht.gif
[td][font size=-1]
Skye Poier (Seattle WA)
Vive le Prole-le-Ralliat!
www.rallyrace.net
Black Rocket Rally Tires
www.blackrockettires.com
[/table]

 

[Sans Peur]

I heard $27,000 +-......but that was through the grape vine so take it with a grain of salt! I also heard there's a limited number of cars and most have already been spoken for via deposits! Again....just a rumor but interesting none the less!

We'll see.......

Andrew Sutherland
UniversalRally.com

 

[John Cassidy]

Funny how we as competitors don't hear about these cars? Who would have put deposits down? Perhaps they're seeding the one make with drivers they think will give them good exposure?

Very frustrating to have them make an announcement(if they do) this late in the season for a 2004 series.

Regards, John

 

[Glenn Wallace]

> Funny how we as competitors don't hear about these cars? Who would have put deposits down? Perhaps they're seeding the one make with drivers they think will give them good exposure?

Maybe we're not the competitors "they" want. (take that with a grain of sarcasm)

 

[John Cassidy]

That was my point exactly Glenn! ;-)

IF deposits on cars have in fact been made, it indicates that the series sponsor/backer has decided it wants to either: a.) go with specific drivers for PR value initially, or b.) certain drivers were given information preferentially over others.

This may be due to the number of cars able to be produced for 2004 or some other factor.

It's too bad because I might have made different committments for 2004 had I known that there would be a spec class.

Regards, John

 

[MDBodnar]

Depending on the whole deal -- you might be able to have multiple people assemble the cars. We have lots of reputable shops. And the more cars in the series the more visual impact you can establish.

In addition, going with true known quanities (in drivers) makes some sense, but a spec series would make a great talent search too.

I really hope this is open to anyone willing to spend the money. I have been dreaming of a spec series for some time and would love to compete in this type of competition.

Mike

 

[Bruce]

If I were a car manufacturer with deep pockets who wanted to start a spec class, I think I'd quietly work out the details, contact a few car owners that I know would put on a good effort, and arrange to field a few teams for 2004, announcing it as a prototype spec car class. This would allow all of us to look at the car competing and see if we want to spend the bucks. They could start taking orders, say, mid-season for 2005.

Hmmm...this scenario fits all the rumors we've heard...

Well, at SEMA we'll see if the whole rumor starts to fall apart.

Bruce
who doesn't know anything about it

 

[jandreini]

That, plus the 2004 cars become affordable used rally cars for 2005 hopefuls on a budget.

 

[Trevor Donison]

>That, plus the 2004 cars become affordable used rally cars
>for 2005 hopefuls on a budget.

Bring them on. I sure hope they run in Production trim... Cause I think the Acura could compare favorably to a Production Lancer OZ...

 

[Ole]

>
>Bring them on. I sure hope they run in Production trim...
>Cause I think the Acura could compare favorably to a
>Production Lancer OZ...


:+ I doubt that the Acura could keep up with the 2.4 Litre
Ralliart Lancers . . . hehehehe

And unless they change the Production adjusted displacement
limit to 3.2 Litres (from 2.65 Litres), the Lancers will
just have to run in G5 or PGT ???

I think that they'll be ran as a "stand alone" championship ?

 

[Jason_Grahn]

>Bring them on. I sure hope they run in Production trim...
>Cause I think the Acura could compare favorably to a
>Production Lancer OZ...

That's one thing i was thinking. The other was "hopefully it's an RSX spec class, that'd make us one step ahead."

 

[Trevor Donison]

>>
>>Bring them on. I sure hope they run in Production trim...
>>Cause I think the Acura could compare favorably to a
>>Production Lancer OZ...
>
>
>:+ I doubt that the Acura could keep up with the 2.4 Litre
> Ralliart Lancers . . . hehehehe
>
> And unless they change the Production adjusted
>displacement
> limit to 3.2 Litres (from 2.65 Litres), the Lancers will
> just have to run in G5 or PGT ???
>
> I think that they'll be ran as a "stand alone"
>championship ?

2.4 liters, 170hp in production trim still isn't as fast as an RSX.

I don't think we have enough championships. We should add 3 or 4 more, what with the 12 guys currently running 5 or more events. If you run 5 events, you get a championship...

 

[Ole]

>
>2.4 liters, 170hp in production trim still isn't as fast as
>an RSX.
>
}> Well, we'll just see now won't we !

mmmmmmm . . . Torque !

 

[wardo]

I am amazed how many people are so quick to jump to the most negative interpretation possible, when a simple phone call will provide the truth. I just got off the phone with Paul at Vermont Sports Car, here is what is really happening. Currently they have no deposits, the one make series is a concept that they are currently pursuing, but they have not progressed beyond the proposal phase with the manufacturer. They should hear back in 2 or 3 weeks and VSC will make a public announcement when they know anything. (Although I wouldn't expect them to make a public announcement if their proposal is shot down).

Regards,
Ward

 

[Matt]

>I am amazed how many people are so quick to jump to the most
>negative interpretation possible, when a simple phone call
>will provide the truth. I just got off the phone with Paul
>at Vermont Sports Car, here is what is really happening.
>Currently they have no deposits, the one make series is a
>concept that they are currently pursuing, but they have not
>progressed beyond the proposal phase with the manufacturer.
>They should hear back in 2 or 3 weeks and VSC will make a
>public announcement when they know anything. (Although I
>wouldn't expect them to make a public announcement if their
>proposal is shot down).
>
>Regards,
>Ward

Why did you have to go ruin another decent whine, moan, complain, and gripe session with something this rational and simple?

Is there a way to work this into another conspiracy theory? Maybe VSC is hiding the truth from us! Maybe Spitzner is leaving the SCCA to help run VSC! I smell a rat!

 

[DonSwier]

>Why did you have to go ruin another decent whine, moan,
>complain, and gripe session with something this rational and
>simple?


x( :-( :9 :7