996 STU
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY
THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ HAS SPOKEN!
Your letter has been reviewed by the Solo Events Board and will soon appear in an upcoming Fastrack. An additional email will follow this email giving you more details.
Here are your letter details:
Letter: #16345
Category: Street Touring
Class: STU
Title: Porsche 996 Classing Proposal
Author's Request: The Porsche 996 should be in Street Touring. It is uncompetitively classed in the Street class due to the "threat" that someone might equip Exclusive options on it.Because it is so punitively classed in Street, you should give used Porsche owners a chance to play in a class that allows modifications without requiring them to rip out their AC and tack on ridiculous spoilers, and which they can actually be competitive.Why should the 996 go to STU?-It has a back seat-It has a smaller displacement than the 5.1L for the class-Pretty much every other competitor in the class has more power, and some have AWD.-Running 285s in the rear doesn't give it any advantage - it already runs those in stock, and it can't run those sizes up front anyways.Also, 996s will become a popular car as their pricing continues to drop into the $15,000 range. We understand that everyone loves their Corvette and nobody wants to lose, but if a Corvette, which weighs about the same and makes 100 more horsepower fits into STU, why wouldn't a 996?
Here are your letter details:
Letter: #16345
Category: Street Touring
Class: STU
Title: Porsche 996 Classing Proposal
Author's Request: The Porsche 996 should be in Street Touring. It is uncompetitively classed in the Street class due to the "threat" that someone might equip Exclusive options on it.Because it is so punitively classed in Street, you should give used Porsche owners a chance to play in a class that allows modifications without requiring them to rip out their AC and tack on ridiculous spoilers, and which they can actually be competitive.Why should the 996 go to STU?-It has a back seat-It has a smaller displacement than the 5.1L for the class-Pretty much every other competitor in the class has more power, and some have AWD.-Running 285s in the rear doesn't give it any advantage - it already runs those in stock, and it can't run those sizes up front anyways.Also, 996s will become a popular car as their pricing continues to drop into the $15,000 range. We understand that everyone loves their Corvette and nobody wants to lose, but if a Corvette, which weighs about the same and makes 100 more horsepower fits into STU, why wouldn't a 996?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 903
Likes: 85
June 2015 Fastrack News
Street Touring
#14520 Porsche 911 Classing Proposal
STAC does not feel that these cars are a good fit at this time. The STAC and SEB will continue to monitor this situation.
#16345 Porsche 996 Classing Proposal
Please see the response to item #14520 elsewhere herein.
#16349 Porsche 996 STU eligibility
Please see the response to item #14520 elsewhere herein
Street Touring
#14520 Porsche 911 Classing Proposal
STAC does not feel that these cars are a good fit at this time. The STAC and SEB will continue to monitor this situation.
#16345 Porsche 996 Classing Proposal
Please see the response to item #14520 elsewhere herein.
#16349 Porsche 996 STU eligibility
Please see the response to item #14520 elsewhere herein
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 622
Likes: 3
From: Calgary, AB
I should have read your letter before now. 
Actually, it can with a fender lip roll -- a 996 GT3 did it at the 2010 Nats. That car was subsequently penalized since fender lip rolls aren't legal in Street (Stock back then) but they're perfectly legal in ST.
Yep, like how CS Boxsters became super popular as Boxster prices dropped below $15k. Except that never happened; I can only think of a single Boxster that came out after the reclass, and that was only because the owner's regular car was broken.
This has already been addressed at great length elsewhere, but here are two new points. Firstly, despite your claim, I'm pretty sure 996s make more than 250 hp at the crank. Second, Corvettes have a ludicrously long second gear which makes them really doggy in second. I was confused by how slow mine was until I ran the thrust charts and realized that the E46 M3 I drove last year out-accelerates a C5 in second gear up to around 55 mph (60 mph in the case of the more popular FRC) despite being one of the least powerful cars in FS. The C5 is far from a power monster.
Second, Corvettes have a ludicrously long second gear which makes them really doggy in second. I was confused by how slow mine was until I ran the thrust charts and realized that the E46 M3 I drove last year out-accelerates a C5 in second gear up to around 55 mph (60 mph in the case of the more popular FRC) despite being one of the least powerful cars in FS. The C5 is far from a power monster.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544
Likes: 1
From: Gautier, Mississippi
Porsches are pretty highly geared as well. like 72 MPH in 2nd gear (at least mine will).
I suppose the Porsche participation will continue to be poor just as long as the whole series of cars are so buried in each class so as not to upset the apple carts.
Speaking of karts I am still searching for a new shifter.
I suppose the Porsche participation will continue to be poor just as long as the whole series of cars are so buried in each class so as not to upset the apple carts.
Speaking of karts I am still searching for a new shifter.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY
This weekend, at our local event, we have 4 Porsches show up. Two base 987s's in AS and an ES 944 (and me).
In all honesty, I do think my 996 in AS is competitive (I paxed 6th out of 89 people with year old RS3v2s . . . . pretty sure I could be a bit faster with the new RE71rs) but sticking the Boxsters in AS (and the base 986 in BS?) is pretty ludicrous.
Why not a 986 into STU if you think the 996 is too beasty?
And yes, our 2nd gear goes to 72 mph so it's not exactly a benefit.
And, oh yeah - remember how you classed the Corvettes down a step because the worry was they'd all go careening to their deaths on street tires?
Go read the rrax street tire thread where the Corvette owners are saying with the new generation of street tires they're on power all the time and have full grip.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 622
Likes: 3
From: Calgary, AB
I don't remember the exact number off of the top of my head, but the C5's top speed in second is in the high 70s if not 80 mph. I never thought I'd say a Porsche had a short second gear, but compared to a C5 it does.
remember how you classed the Corvettes down a step because the worry was they'd all go careening to their deaths on street tires?
Go read the rrax street tire thread where the Corvette owners are saying with the new generation of street tires they're on power all the time and have full grip.
Go read the rrax street tire thread where the Corvette owners are saying with the new generation of street tires they're on power all the time and have full grip.
And why should I base my opinions on random forum posts when I own a Corvette?
As alluded to, I do use full throttle -- a lot. Given that, I agree that the Corvette's disadvantage on street tires has been overstated. My point isn't that the 911 would be a clear STU overdog -- rather, it's that your letter contained several factual inaccuracies, and that in my opinion, the cost-to-benefit math for allowing the 996 in STU is nowhere close to working out.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,042
Likes: 84
From: Chesapeake, VA