Van

I saw an email from Bryan and Vicki asking if the 944 crowd likes the split-start format that let the 944 Cup cars (SP1,2,3) have their own start when there are 15 or more of them in a race run group.

Personally, I think this is great - at the start of the race, I can focus on battling cars that not only have done similar times to me, but have similar handling and power abilities, too.

If you're a 944 racer, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you're another class racer, I'd be curious to know: if you're in the lower classes, does having a split start with the 944s bother you? Or, if you're in another run group, do you wish your class had 15+ cars and had it's own split start?

Picture for click-bait:

91K-Man

My question is, what other large classes are there ? Split starts or we will run over Spec Boxster class. I am sure they don't like that at the start.

Gary R.

I think Split starts, especially if SPx is grouped with SPB, are great. The classes get intermingled after a few laps and the racing is generally very good. To be honest I would be fine just grouping everyone together by lap times but I think it's cool racing (at least for a while) just with the guys in your class..

multi21

I'd vote for split starts. Eventually, the fastest 944 guys catch up with the back of the spec boxster guys and eventually make their way to the midfield of that class, but I think it's important to battle it out with your own class until that happens. When it's all jumbled up in the beginning, you're sometimes held up by a slower Boxster in the corners who pulls out on the straights. Of course, it can work in your favor at times too.

David993S

I'm not a 944 racer but I'll offer a dissenting opinion: I think split starts have the potential to be quite dangerous, especially if there's a problem in the first group and starting (or waving off) the 2nd group is mishandled. I just believe it's better to grid racers simply based on where they qualify. But I'm very biased. A split start mess nearly cost me my life.

mmuller

SPB racer. I could vote both ways. I have had split starts that went great and some that didn't. I have had mixed starts that went great and some that didn't. In general, I would prefer to race the guys I am actually racing on paper and therefore my own class as it seems that the racing within the class stays closer throughout the race.

Van

This is my primary reason for liking them, too. PCA go through a lot of trouble to define class rules to keep the cars as close to each other as possible - it just makes sense to let the race starts focus on in-class battles.

Streak

Split starts are best. We have enough cars in the SP field to make grouping easy for the organizers. SP1-3 and SPB should always be together and always be a split start. The racing is better and the numbers justify it.

Not sure why this is even a question. Split starts are SOP in many organizations.

K964

Split starts Van. See you soon!

Mike

linzman

I like the split starts too, although last year there were quite a few "poorly exercised" ones, like the one where they forgot to send the second pace car out. That made it worse than a single start.

944Cup

For 10 years now, the 944 Cup classes have been getting split starts with PCA. I have never seen or was it reported to me that an incident resulted during any of those races that was attributed to the split start.

I have myself raced in over 125 944 Cup races, all with split starts, and there was never any incidents that occurred that could be attributed to the split start.

Splits starts it can be argued actually make for safer racing by reducing the number of cars entering T1 on lap 1 at the same, which is inherently the most dangerous segment of the race.

Could there be a problem if the process was mishandled by racers and track officials, of course, but that is the case with any race or track event. Racing is inherently dangerous. With 2 pace cars, radio communications, and flagging stations, the risks of racing are minimized and with split starts there is no greater risk than what occurs with any other situation on the track.

ned911

I'll be a dissenter and I have an SP1 car. Part of road racing is the mix of classes and having to navigate this mix of HP versus handling cars.

Racerrob

I voted split starts for most of the reasons already mentioned. I think this survey only went to SP racers. I would suggest the SPB guys voice their opinions to National as well.

944Cup

Three fun reasons to have split starts:

mmuller

Here is one more