It has been proven, you can build viable 4/6 cylinder cars. Are they as fast as the big V8's? Heck no, but it was a hoot to run one. There's other guys running them, and it's still fun. Run it Le Mans style, separate the two but have em run the same time. Chaos has it's place, but you need to expand the Enduro division... or it will die out. Just my thoughts.
First off, love the "Enduro Challenges"... They've been some of the most entertaining races this season. Keep that idea going.
As much as I like watching Camaros and Metrics race each other, the fact is, you can see that in Super Stock, or at any number of other tracks. The future of Enduro has to be the same as the future for ANY "entry level" circle track class: imports, 4 cylinders, and 6 cylinders.
So on the one hand, that'll get you your "new/different/interesting" cars. But then you say "wtf do the 30 guys who have Camaros and Monte Carlos do?"
So my question, for John I suppose, is there a LOGISTICS problem with running multiple classes on the track at the same time? I mean just like endurance racing in sports cars. Have your 20 or so guys with Camaros and Montes as your uuuh... I dunno, "Endurance 1" class or something... And then run a second class, in the same race, as "Endurance 2" or something, with a particular displacement/weight limit?
So you'd have your first class racing just each other, for a win in the "Endurance 1" class, and basically negotiating traffic in the process. Then you'd have "Endurance 2," with Honda Accords, Neons, Cavaliers, Taurus', Sentras, maybe even 4 cylinder trucks, racing against each other for the "Endurance 2" win. So, just like sports car racing, your "Endurance 2" winner might finish like 25th overall, but 1st in class. And have separate points for them. Make it a 2.0 litre limit for the 4 cylinders at xx lbs race weight, and a 3.0 litre limit for V6s at xx lbs race weight.
And have this "Endurance 2" class very similar to a typical 4 cylinder Pure Stock class... BONE STOCK, gut it, put a rollcage and a race seat in it, and go.
This, to me, is a better solution than the "win extra money if you have a 6 cylinder" or whatever. It seems more fair.
But is it possible with the timing and scoring system? Two different sets of transponders maybe? I think the Enduro class, more than any other class in oval track racing, has the potential to bring back old school manufacturer battles, only this time it'd be Honda vs Nissan vs Chevy vs Whatever. And it would get more of the young guys interested.
And eventually the big V8 cars will probably disappear. But this would be a way to keep those guys happy while expanding the class.
and I just realized doug said "run it LeMans style." 😀
I elaborated though. ;D
And then run a second class, in the same race, as "Endurance 2" or something, with a particular displacement/weight limit?
So you'd have your first class racing just each other, for a win in the "Endurance 1" class, and basically negotiating traffic in the process. Then you'd have "Endurance 2," with Honda Accords, Neons, Cavaliers, Taurus', Sentras, maybe even 4 cylinder trucks, racing against each other for the "Endurance 2" win. So, just like sports car racing, your "Endurance 2" winner might finish like 25th overall, but 1st in class. And have separate points for them. Make it a 2.0 litre limit for the 4 cylinders at xx lbs race weight, and a 3.0 litre limit for V6s at xx lbs race weight.
And have this "Endurance 2" class very similar to a typical 4 cylinder Pure Stock class... BONE STOCK, gut it, put a rollcage and a race seat in it, and go.
I think the point I’m trying to get across (perhaps unsuccessfully) is that the Endurance 2 division you just described <<is>> the Chaos Cars. I sometimes wonder if I simply changed the name tomorrow to “Old Enduro with 4 & 6 Cylinder Cars” whether we would enjoy more success - - because that’s what it is.
The cars are bone stock, gutting, roll cage and go. It even has the same rules as the 1990s Enduro with regards to obstacles and red flags. The only difference is Chaos Cars is still building its car count (fans won’t be into running a 100-lap chaos race with 14 cars. Get 60 cars, and you’re cooking -- but nothing happens overnight). What I’ve started doing with the chaos drivers is working with their lap count based on cars (ie. 14 cars = 14 laps, 18 cars = 18 laps, 50 cars = 50 laps) and you work together from there.
My feeling, (as someone who has put my money where my mouth is with a group of friends who built one of these), is that it’s time to stop sitting on the sidelines wishing for a 4-6 cylinder and to join that class (which already exists) and help to shape its future.
We get our four / six cylinder event, without having to throw out the existing Enduro, which has been putting on excellent events (both 175 lappers & challenges).
-John Houghton
john@delawarespeedway.com
Delaware Speedway
(519) 652-5068 Ext 201
I wouldn't want to be the guy in the Honda that gets body slammed against the wall by an out of control Monte.
What about a 4 cylinder Enduro class. A safely built 4 cyl Enduro car could also run in Mini stock or Bomber classes at many other area tracks on weekends when there's no Enduro.