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I have known Charles for a long time, and know he has always had a goal of having the fastest Z32 with stock motor internal parts and stock turbos, but adding as many bolt on parts as possible. I can tell you he has achieved this regardless of what class he ends up in. I think the classes might need to be defined with more specifics, and posted. I know the envelope is going to be pushed more and more especially as the times get quicker and closer apart. The stock class is always going to be surrounded with controversy. The creativity and pushing of the rules is what it takes to be in the number one spot, and is what racing is all about. The goal is to always go faster then the other guy. Rules are in place to make the game fair for everyone. In this case Charles did in fact make a 11.601 ¼ mile pass with stock motor internals and stock turbos, and without the NOS bottle being even in the car. How do I know that, because I saw it with my own two eyes? I personally witnessed the car leave the pit area without the NOS bottle in the car and personally watched the car make the run. I personally told him NOT to make the next run with NOS (after Greg told him to run the NOS), why? Because his second run was faster then his first run, and in my opinion why add NOS if you are continuing to lower your time without it. I thought he had a chance to make a quicker run then 11.601. The next run was a little slower, so both Greg and I told Charles to try a run with the NOS to see what she will do.
I guess my point here is the car did actually make a pass at the ET stated within the stock category rules. The fact that the car had some extra stainless steel lines and some solenoids in it doesn’t change what took place or change the true facts. Yes in retrospect the car had the potential to run faster then 11.601 with a device outside the stock category, but at the time of the record pass, that information wasn’t known, as the car had never made a pass with NOS on any track. Charles didn't just install the bottle and go either, the car had to be setup to actually run the NOS. The other point is the Rules weren’t known or completely defined at the time of the record pass. Ultimately it is up to Arnel since it is his list and his website. And whatever decision he does make, I am sure will be respected by Charles Park.My opinion is Charles should hold the #1 position in the stock class until it is either beaten or the year runs out. I think the classes should be defined and new classes developed; here is a draft of what I came up with off the top of my head: Stock Turbo Class:
No engine work including the throttle bodies all the way to the turbos, this includes the fuel injectors. Any mod requiring the motor pulled or the intake plenum removed is prohibited, all interior must be in place. NOS prohibited, any fuel is allowed, any ECU, any exhaust system, stock transmission, stock rear-end, stock drive shaft, any seat(s), stock rims or equivalent size or smaller, any DOT tire Street Turbo Modified:
No engine work including the lower plenum to the exhaust ports of the engine block, including the injectors, turbos must be stock, NOS allowed, all interior in place, any tranny, any rear-end, any drive shaft, any rim size, any DOT tire. All mods from Stock Class allowed Prepared Turbo Modified:
Pistons and block must remain stock, valves remain stock, any cams allowed, any turbo allowed, any tire allowed. All mods from Street Modified allowed. Unlimited:
All mods from Prepared Modified allowed. To be more defined by the group participants. This is a very crud list and intended to be a starting point, and designed to generate more questions then give answers, but I think it puts the cars into some natural categories or stages of mods that most participants could live with.
Jeff Kitchell
jkitchell@cox.net |
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