Ahh! the ever so annoying weight issue.

PCA I Stock
83-85 944 2779
85-88 944 2779
87 924S 2734
88 924S 2734
88 944S 2964

All weights are WITHOUT the driver. Add the 200ish pound driver and the weight of the fuel at the begining of the race you're looking at 3000lbs.

So trying to run a true PCA stock class car in '44 Cup (2700lb. min with driver) or apparently even worse 44 Spec (2600lbs. with driver?) you're giving away 300 to 400 pounds! I'm not sure Hoosiers and shocks can make up for that much of a handicap.

 

Weight depends on year, 83-87 944- 2779# 88 944- 2844# 89 944- 2967#
The 88 model had to add weight this year, it could make things interesting. We will see in about a month.

 

Sorry, grabed the 2003 rule book not the 2004

 

Al,
I agree that my 944-spec car is faster that most I-stock cars in PCA trim and weight. Most PCA races I can run with the fast G-stock cars or the slower F-stock cars. But in 944-cup trim with I-stock cars down to 2700 with driver I only have 100 lbs weight advantage. So sure I could run with the group and my guess is mid pack. Better than full weight I-stock and probably even with cup weight I-stock, but moderatly prepped. I don't think I can run with a full prepped 944 Cup car (either I-stock or ITS) at 2600 lbs on Toyo's. Put me on Hoosiers and I may have chance. Even so all this really just speculation as we dont run on the same tracks so comparing times is very tough.

 

Agreed, my problem was that I was trying to run a PCA legal I stock car in '44 Cup (full interior etc.) and it was very frustrating. Even when I made the jump to H prepared I was still grossly over-weight (the car not the driver)

My car is now (will be when I finish it) a fully prepped '44 Cup car (would be over prepared and not legal for 44 Spec) and a poorly prepared PCA GT4S. Sometime over the winter I decided that since I'm doing this to have fun I was going to build the car that I wanted and if it wasn't competitive in PCA then so be it. My point with the weight issue is that I personally don't see how you can prep a car to be competitve under multiple sets of rules. There are too many compromises.

Race safely and have fun doing it

 

Al P..

You are exactly right. It is not possible to prep a competitive car to multiple rule sets. Or at least VERY hard. My car is prepped for 944-spec since that is what we have around here. In my opinion 944-spec is rightly developed rule set that was based on the 944 alone. There is no need to deal with allowances for PCA or SCCA or any other group. This purely a ground up rule set based on cheap 944 racing. The 2600 lbs is not that hard to meet and does not cost much since all we allow is interior removal. Suspensions are limited for cost reasons, but due to the weight reduction we are faster than I-stock cars. Motors are pretty much stock too. We also allow camber plates where PCA requires them to be "pinned". So all in all the rules are optimized for changes that allow the 944 to be fast yet cheap and reliable.

The biggest issue is this rule set also isolates us from other groups either by rule or by non-competiveness. On the west coast there are few I-stock cars and few ITS cars (maybe 10 in Az) so we are not giving up too much. Oh the east coast there are many I-stock and ITS 944's so the 944-spec rules may not have been so good over there to get going. Problem becomes to equal out the cars they require some mods. Then guys get stuck like you. 100% stock = too slow for Cup, Fully prepped I-stock Cup is no longer legal for I-stock. So you either do alot fo swapping bettween races or just screw it and run I-stock and not be competitive in Cup or be competitive in Cup and run GT4S.

In the end you have car that is really good for only one series just like mine. Ahh well, as long as you have fun in that series that is really all the counts

 

There are other options, Al...
http://www.gtschallenge.com

 

Hmmm....

Must..not..get..involved..with..another..series.....arghhhhhhh!!!!!

All kidding asside I can't help but notice that both series are on the same track May 22nd & 23rd, could be a good oportunity to see what GTS is all about.

 

I was with the "Driving God" on Friday at Road Atlanta and I decided to time 1 hot lap for him. Coming thru T12 , Just as I was reaching to hit the stop button on my stopwatch....the *** starts sliding left just as we pass under the flag station. The "Driving God" corrects with throttle and steering input that would normally correct the situation and we would be on our way. However, Friday was the day to test the "Driving Gods" skills. The correction was too much and the *** kicked to the right..Now I am looking at the concrete wall, just before the front tires get in the grass the *** end comes around to the left and we commence to doing 3 and a 1/2 360 degree donuts down the front straight at Road Atlanta. The car never touched concrete. We stopped with only grass thrown throughout the inside of the car. I think the "Driving God" said a little prayer last night.

The corner workers applauded the magnificant control that was exhibited.

 

 

So what was the time?

and

Was a change of shorts was in order?

 

The exception to the 'can't prep for two series' rule may be that 951s and 968s prepared for PCA F Stock or E Stock can run in 944 SuperCup with some very minor changes:
Weight
- PCA F Weight 2899# without driver [951]
- 944 SCup weight 3050# with driver
- Works fine if the car can carry some ballast to make PCA weight.
- PCA E weight 2998# without driver [951S, 968]
- 944 SCup weight 3300# with driver
- just add lead, and lots of it!
NASA Tech requirements
- Ignition steering lock must be removed
- Coolant overflow must be routed to a catch can
- No big deal there.

944NA cars with FG & lexan can also run SuperCup, with a very generous 2280# weight with driver. Would be hard to see this setup being competitive in PCA GT4.
Running at Summit Point last weekend, my car vs a well prepared 944NA SuperCup car at 2280# was a very close call. More than 1000# of weight difference is a real leveller.

 

Brian,

No change in shorts required.

When I finally remembered to stop the stopwatch...at the end of the event....the time was 1:57.

 

2280# with driver? maybe I should read the Super Cup rules a bit more closely.

 

Al,
Sent you details in a PM. The weight is actually 2250# - sorry!
This 'new' SuperCup rule for lightweight NAs was first announced in December. The details are straight from the godhead - Dave D.