IMSA USCC in 2016 and 2017

[ATLFalconsFAN]

In the spirit of being constructive, if I was the person in authority who could dictate changes and rules this is what TUSC or whatever it is called now would be:

1) Open up the NAEC races to P1 privateer and factory cars.

I know the argument against this is that it would detract from the exposure of the series regulars, I disagree completely. Having the P1 factory cars in those races would bring tremendous exposure with the marketing of the manufacturers. I would venture to guess that some additional funds would find their way into the series' coffers if this was the case. Plus it would take away the argument that people like me have, that we are not allowed to see P1 cars in this series anymore.

2) Open up the tires, no more spec tires.

I can't believe that the increased exposure benefits Continental. The large majority of people watching this series are very knowledgeable when it comes to the product, so much so that we know that the Conti tires are crap. I for one would never buy Continental tires knowing that they are a party to providing inferior products to a series they are strongly affiliated with.

3) Continue with the Fox Sports television package but have an option for PPV style viewing as well.

I am fortunate in that with Directv I have access to both FS1 and FS2 in HD, not everyone has that luxury. For those who don't but still want to watch the series give them the option (similar to what WEC does) to pay for a season pass or a race by race pass to view without commercials. As with the WEC app, I am happy to purchase the app so that I can forgo commercials when watching.

4) Bring back the ACO and ALMS pit rules.

Strategy, it's an important element and something that we all appreciate.

5) Rather than creating hurdles for non-regulars to join the GTD class, encourage unique manufacturers by giving them additional promotion.

This is tricky and I'm not sure where I am going with this, I'd just like to find a way to promote variety. Extra signage at the track, promotion of garage tours, highlighting the machinery? Encourage marks like Mercedes, Lamborghini or McLaren to race in GTD.

6) Figure out some way to make the schedule more economical for the teams, but not at the expense of the fan experience.

Maybe less races on the schedule, but more days at each venue. I don't know the solution to this problem.

These are just some random thoughts without a ton of research behind them, just something I felt like I needed to throw out there.

[David A Scott]

Thank you ATLFalconsFAN. That is exactly how I feel. I just hope the powers that be read that.

[jasonjessica09]

I'll do my own constructive idea list too:

1. Eliminate LMPC. Nobody cares about them and they ruin a good balance of speed that exists between P, GTLM, and GT3

2. If you do get lucky enough to have more than 20 full season GT3 cars next year don't cap them. Embrace it. Its ok to have split class events at some tracks.

3. Get involved in more popular culture stuff like cross promotion with movies such as Fast and Furious. Or even the WWE

4. I like the PPV idea as an alternative for people. Maybe even have a channel that for instance focuses the whole race on one class like GTLM. You have the sometimes with golf with a feature group coverage. Its a way to embrace the multi class/race within a race concept

5. Promote the hell out of the fact that the cars are the stars. Promote drivers too yes but sportscar racing appeals in multiple levels

6. Agree with previous post bring back ACO/ALMS pit stops

7. Bring in european Full course yellow/Code 60s

Motorsport fans in general are aging yes. But sportscar is the one form of racing that CAN appeal to younger people I think. Dang I have lost interest in indycar, nascar, and f1 but I'm a bigger sportscar fan than ever.

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by David A Scott

Thank you ATLFalconsFAN. That is exactly how I feel. I just hope the powers that be read that.

You're most welcome. Nice to know that I am not the only one with these crazy ideas!

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by jasonjessica09

I'll do my own constructive idea list too:

1. Eliminate LMPC. Nobody cares about them and they ruin a good balance of speed that exists between P, GTLM, and GT3

2. If you do get lucky enough to have more than 20 full season GT3 cars next year don't cap them. Embrace it. Its ok to have split class events at some tracks.

3. Get involved in more popular culture stuff like cross promotion with movies such as Fast and Furious. Or even the WWE

4. I like the PPV idea as an alternative for people. Maybe even have a channel that for instance focuses the whole race on one class like GTLM. You have the sometimes with golf with a feature group coverage. Its a way to embrace the multi class/race within a race concept

5. Promote the hell out of the fact that the cars are the stars. Promote drivers too yes but sportscar racing appeals in multiple levels

6. Agree with previous post bring back ACO/ALMS pit stops

7. Bring in european Full course yellow/Code 60s

Motorsport fans in general are aging yes. But sportscar is the one form of racing that CAN appeal to younger people I think. Dang I have lost interest in indycar, nascar, and f1 but I'm a bigger sportscar fan than ever.

Nice to see that we agree more than we disagree.

Dropping LMPC though, I don't think that will happen and not sure it is the best thing to do. If we were oversubscribed then that's a discussion we could have. I think I'm in the minority that I don't really mind this class, sometimes I even enjoy it, there are some top level drivers in the class and I can appreciate seeing what they can do with identical machinery.

I'm coming around to the split races. I used to feel that it needed to be multiple classes (more than just two), but I think I'm beginning to see the benefits of the split races, I'd just like to see them kept to a minimum.

Wholeheartedly agree on the cross promotion idea. I've always felt that there should be a direct tie in with the manufacturers that are racing in the series. Buy a car from one of the series manufacturers, get a free weekend ticket or two for the race nearest to your market. Test drive a car get a discounted ticket. Buy a set of Michelin or Continental tires get a discounted ticket. Drawings or contests for VIP access or hot laps, those sorts of things. People just need to be introduced to the sport, and free stuff is a great way to get them there.

Cars are abso-freeking-lutely the stars!

Agree on Code 60, good point. No reason to not do it, other than the stupid LDWB.

[Matt]

Why is there never any complaining about the lack of P1 in ELMS?

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Matt

Why is there never any complaining about the lack of P1 in ELMS?

Probably because our European friends have the ability to go to 4 races plus a test with P1 cars within driving distance of where they live.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Probably because our European friends have the ability to go to 4 races plus a test with P1 cars within driving distance of where they live.

There should be the same amount of outrage about the lack of P1 in the AsLMS(just run with it) too then, right?

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Matt

There should be the same amount of outrage about the lack of P1 in the AsLMS(just run with it) too then, right?

There may be if there was any interest in the AsLMS to begin with.

[Matt]

The AsLMS is one of those series I really want to succeed because there's so many great tracks in the area, especially if you throw a round down to Australia(Phillip Island anyone?).

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Matt

Why is there never any complaining about the lack of P1 in ELMS?

Pretty sure Chiana has discussed this to some extent.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Matt

There should be the same amount of outrage about the lack of P1 in the AsLMS(just run with it) too then, right?

Not really, because the aslms never had P1, but IMSA used to have it. So people want it's return.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Matt

There should be the same amount of outrage about the lack of P1 in the AsLMS(just run with it) too then, right?

No, the only outrage allowed is that the series in N. America is not a (better) copy of the WEC (as the P-2 class in WEC is going to be a turd in 2017)! Forget that P-1 died a very gaunt specimen in the ALMS prior to any merger thoughts. But I guess it takes a while ....






L.P.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by joeb

Not really, because the aslms never had P1, but IMSA used to have it. So people want it's return.

All series on the lowest rung have P2 as their highest class.

[CyberMotor]

Rather than griping, I will point out some examples of what I would like to see (again). These pages are from 2011. It was a small P1 field but it was a good one. Cars like the Audi and Peugeot made up a special class by themselves.

This is all I want to see again.

http://www.lasersol.com/CyberMotor/p...n_testing.html

As for privateers, Muscle Milk's Aston Martin made up a whole class by themselves.

http://www.lasersol.com/CyberMotor/p..._2011_mom.html

All we need in IMSA P1 are a couple of manufacturers and then get teams like Dyson back again and urge WTR, Ginassi, etc. to join the fun. Get that going again and the European teams would be happy to join in, I think.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

No, the only outrage allowed is that the series in N. America is not a (better) copy of the WEC (as the P-2 class in WEC is going to be a turd in 2017)! Forget that P-1 died a very gaunt specimen in the ALMS prior to any merger thoughts. But I guess it takes a while ....






L.P.

Touting your opinion as fact isnt going to change anyone's mind.

But a couple of facts; new regs for p1 were decided on before TUSC decided to drop lmp1. There were as many p1's as p2's in ALMS's last days.

This makes it look like TUSC dropped the class because they catered to DP teams desire to win races. Now look, nothing but DP's have won races this year and there's but one lmp2. So tell us again, which class died? Or was it actually 'killed'?.

[CyberMotor]

I think IMSA should at least be able to support the privateer level of P1. P1-H may be too advanced, at this time, but shooting to match the P1 privateer class should be achievable. Later, if the P1-H teams want to join the fun, let them.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TF110

Touting your opinion as fact isnt going to change anyone's mind.

But a couple of facts; new regs for p1 were decided on before TUSC decided to drop lmp1. There were as many p1's as p2's in ALMS's last days.

Facts? I suggest you go back and review just exactly what KILLED P-1 in the ALMS! It is not my opinion that the WERKS cars pulled out to join the ILMC > WEC which was the death knell of P-1 in the ALMS. What happened after that was the ALMS trying to regroup and build a sustainable prototype class, but hey, don't let those pesky facts get in the way of it being implied that it is strictly my opinion.






L.P.

[Akrapovic]

P1 in ALMS wasn't exactly overflowing with entries before ILMC came along. Audi spent years running in ALMS and they had their cars pegged back so that teams with cheaper, less developed P2s compete. Of course they were going to leave for a series where they could fight with big teams on a more level playing field.

As for the current IMSA series, P2 doesn't appear to be the top class, frankly. They're second in line to Daytona Prototypes, and are slowed down to let them compete (history repeating itself?). Slower than other P2s, and slower than the DPs.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Facts? I suggest you go back and review just exactly what KILLED P-1 in the ALMS! It is not my opinion that the WERKS cars pulled out to join the ILMC > WEC which was the death knell of P-1 in the ALMS. What happened after that was the ALMS trying to regroup and build a sustainable prototype class, but hey, don't let those pesky facts get in the way of it being implied that it is strictly my opinion.






L.P.

That makes no sense. ALMS didnt drop p1, Tusc did. How did they regroup and build a sustainable prototype class when none of the prototypes (teams) that ran in ALMS run now? All there is now is DP's and one P2 ran by someone who used to run in DP. Factual info there. Not a guess as to what the intention was. There is no 'ALMS' left in prototype. Even ESM gave up and they were all that was left.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

P1 in ALMS wasn't exactly overflowing with entries before ILMC came along. Audi spent years running in ALMS and they had their cars pegged back so that teams with cheaper, less developed P2s compete. Of course they were going to leave for a series where they could fight with big teams on a more level playing field.

As for the current IMSA series, P2 doesn't appear to be the top class, frankly. They're second in line to Daytona Prototypes, and are slowed down to let them compete (history repeating itself?). Slower than other P2s, and slower than the DPs.

As the first part of this is moot, as you do say that in fact they left.

The second part is empirically incorrect. COTA 2014, WEC P-2 pole- G-Drive Ligier JSP2 1:56, TUSC P pole- Oak Ligier JSP2 1:57.
As well as Pew (Am) qualifying the MSR JSP2 a full second faster this year than Negri (Pro) qualified the MSR Ford/Riley last year at Mosport.







L.P.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

As the first part of this is moot, as you do say that in fact they left.

The second part is empirically incorrect. COTA 2014, WEC P-2 pole- G-Drive Ligier JSP2 1:56, TUSC P pole- Oak Ligier JSP2 1:57.
As well as Pew (Am) qualifying the MSR JSP2 a full second faster this year than Negri (Pro) qualified the MSR Ford/Riley last year at Mosport.







L.P.

Another way of saying they "left" is they were pushed out. Spending lots of money on big expensive cars, then slowed down so others could beat them. When ALMS did have P1 cars, they slowed them down to P2 speed. So whats the point in even having P1s?

And you just need to watch the coverage and see the results to see what the favoured class in IMSA is, frankly.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TF110

That makes no sense. ALMS didnt drop p1, Tusc did. How did they regroup and build a sustainable prototype class when none of the prototypes (teams) that ran in ALMS run now? All there is now is DP's and one P2 ran by someone who used to run in DP. Factual info there. Not a guess as to what the intention was. There is no 'ALMS' left in prototype. Even ESM gave up and they were all that was left.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2012/1...t-sebring.html





L.P.

[Jaguar4]

Originally Posted by TF110

Even ESM gave up and they were all that was left.

Ed Brown stated they didn't leave IMSA because the BoP or anything like that. Patron wanted to expand their reach globally. You can find his interview on MWM.

[Rodger Davies]

I'm wondering if they will finally be able to separate refueling and changing tyres once there is not BoPping of DPs and P2s going on.