An Open Letter to Sports Car “Fans” Rooting Against the Success of TUSCC

"willkinton247" (willkinton247)
04/17/2014 at 12:08 • Filed to: TUSCC, Tudor, Sports Cars, Racing, Muscle Milk, Rants

Stop it. Stop it right now. I mean it. I know you're upset that you don't get to see LMP1s racing in the regional racing series since the merger. I know that the first two races of the inaugural season of TUSCC had issues. I know that P2s haven't had much success against DPs. You've said it. You've said it a thousand times. But you know what? It's time to put your big boy pants on and accept reality.

First off, LMP1 is not just dead at a regional level in the US; it's dead at a regional level around the world . In fact, it was on life support for the past several years in ALMS. Why? It's prohibitively expensive to run which tends to limit the field to manufacturer backed teams, and the exposure at a regional level isn't that great when you're trying to show the world the technology you've come up with (which is why OEMs go sports car racing in the first place). This is why Audi and Toyota bailed for the WEC, and why only 2 privateer teams were in ALMS last year. Do you know what a two car race is? Incredibly boring, that's what. It makes all of the sense in the world to cut LMP1 from the new series. This whole protest just reeks of American exceptionalism. Let LMP1 flourish in WEC where it truly belongs and enjoy regional racing for what it is.

And yeah, Daytona and Sebring both had issues with race management. But you know what? IMSA is actively listening to feedback, and is genuinely concerned about correcting issues. This series is in its infancy, there are bugs and quirks to work out, but the important thing is IMSA admitting that there are issues, and they are working hard to resolve them in a timely and effective way. They've updated their full course yellow procedures to reduce time spend under yellow, they've issued penalties for unsafe and bush-league driving, and they have implemented regulations that will help prevent people from making more terrible calls. Long Beach showed huge improvement, and if I recall correctly, I didn't see a single one of these issues rear its ugly head.

Speaking of Long Beach, you people who are complaining that BOP favors the DPs too much have are only paying attention to one statistic: who's won. Yeah, the DPs walked away at Daytona, but that was to be expected. I mean, Daytona is right there in the name; they were designed for that track. But at Sebring, P2s made up 3 out of the top 5 Finishers, and their fastest laps were on par with the DPs. Long Beach was won by the Ganassi DP because Scott Pruett was putting in amazingly consistent laps (1:16.5-1:17.9). Oak didn't get better than 3 rd , because Pla was just not consistent (1:16.3-1:20.0). It's not just BOP that determines a race; it's the experience and skill of the drivers and efficiency of the pit crews. Sure, I think DPs could use a bit less power (and that tweak is probably inevitable), but to say that the idea of a fair BOP is hopeless is to be ignorant of what's actually happening beyond who's in first at the checkered flag.

And for you people rejoicing about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! you can very politely shove it. Do you realize people have lost jobs for that? How can you possibly call yourself a fan if you are rejoicing on that? You clearly don't have the sport's best interest in mind and going back to Grand Am/ALMS is a definite step backwards. Remember, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." This is true in sports car racing too, and having two separated fan bases doesn't encourage consistent coverage on TV. If IMSA can iron their kinks out (which they will), the Tudor championship will be the best regional sports car series in the world, and you'll continue to be able to watch sports car racing on TV.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Which speaking of, increased TV coverage really the only noticeable aspect of the "NASCARization" of the series. I don't know about you, but I've watched NASCAR races, and I've watched the races of Tudor, and I can't really see that.

And finally, when the racing is going well, it's going REALLY well. There have been some really fantastic battles at all levels, from the Prototypes down to GTD. The variety in the fields has been phenomenal, and it's great to watch. Have you seen GTLM or GTD races yet? I'm on the edge of my seat every race so far, because every car has a completely different set of strengths and weaknesses. Even the DP vs. P2 battles have been fun, because it's two completely different solutions to the same problem racing against each other. When the BOP is finally nailed down, it'll be some really great racing.

As the great philosopher Jagger once said, "You can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need." And you know what? The American sports car scene needed a unified series. Sure, it's got issues and we can all pour out a forty of racing gas out for P1s, but we are on the right track. Tudor has potential, and people need to recognize that. Stop complaining, and help IMSA learn and grow, because if Tudor falters, we may lose sports car racing in the states completely.

I love racing and I love cars. I talk about that a lot on Twitter. Feel free to follow me at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . If you want me to look into a particular series or topic, or have any feedback, let me know. #shamelessselfpromotion

Photo credit: LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (100)

For Sweden > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 12:10

This may be the best collection of pixels that has ever congregated on Oppo.

willkinton247 > For Sweden
04/17/2014 at 12:16

Aww :)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 12:16

Kinja'd!!!

Dusty Ventures > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 12:23

THIS. EVERY WORD OF THIS.

willkinton247 > Dusty Ventures
04/17/2014 at 12:25

I felt it needed to be said.

desertdog5051 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 12:49

Great article. Points well made. +1 to you sir.

LappingLuke > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 12:57

"Which speaking of, increased TV coverage really the only noticeable aspect of the "NASCARization" of the series. I don't know about you, but I've watched NASCAR races, and I've watched the races of Tudor, and I can't really see that."

Increased TV coverage?? When did that happen? The first two races were barely broadcasted on TV at all and when they were on TV it was clouded by commercials. Half of the Long Beach race was commercials. 5 mins of race, 5 mins of commercials, repeat for 100 minutes. And as far as NASCARization, you didn't notice they added wavearounds? Literally the most retarded, mindnumbingly ridiculous procedure ever is now part of what was real life racing. Slower cars that are slow because they are less competitive can now go back to the lead lap during 40 minute caution periods so they can get in the way again. WTF? Not to mention picking winners and losers (ref Alex Job Racing penalty fiasco).

I want nothing more than sports car racing to do well in North America because I hate NASCAR and I'm growing a bit disillusioned with F1 (though this season is shaping up better than previous seasons) but pretending the series has IMPROVED since the merger is patently insane. Shit is fucked up right now. It does look like IMSA is willing to make some changes to improve the series but the only reason those changes were made was because of raging pissed off fans (like me) shouting about all the broken aspects. If we calm down now they will let it rot.

thebigbossyboss > LappingLuke
04/17/2014 at 13:00

Wave arounds were in ALMS last year. I should know, I literally just watched the 2013 Lime rock race.

BullManUGA > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 13:02

There is a distinct difference between running the same laptimes in a vacuum and those laptimes translating to racing. Right now, a DP has a distinct top speed and acceleration advantage over a P2 car. This means that even though a P2 might be able to brake later and carry more corner speed, they can't actually make a pass stick because coming off the corner, a DP will just accelerate back by. If a P2 is behind a DP in a corner, they're even more disadvantaged. The DP parks on the apex causing the P2 to slow even more, and the DP just drives away.

The racing has become "NASCARized," the series made it legal to fuel and change tires at the same time, they added the idiotic wave-around welfare procedure Grand-Am used, and they threw that bullshit FCY at the end of the Daytona race, and then turned around at Sebring and did something almost as stupid. The only reason the officials didn't screw something up at Long Beach was because they didn't get a chance to.

Baskingshark > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 13:03

I just got my tickets to the TUSCC race at Laguna Seca in a few weeks!

LappingLuke > thebigbossyboss
04/17/2014 at 13:03

That doesn't make them not the worst thing ever...

willkinton247 > Baskingshark
04/17/2014 at 13:07

I wish I could go, but there's about 3K miles between me and MRLS.

thebigbossyboss > LappingLuke
04/17/2014 at 13:09

I was going to say although that may be so, it does mean they weren't added to the series, but then I realized you may have been watching IMSA before (which I have never watched) and may not have had wave arounds.

willkinton247 > BullManUGA
04/17/2014 at 13:11

The BOP does need a bit more adjusting, but they're paying attention to it. And the biggest thing is IMSA isn't just saying, "Deal with it" - they're trying to improve.

As for the wave around procedure, they recently released updated regulations on it, that discourage it's use to try to cut down on yellow time. I attribute those idiotic FCYs to Hanlon's Razor:

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

They've realized it's stupid, and they're working on it. We just have to be a bit patient. Not everything can happen immediately.

willkinton247 > LappingLuke
04/17/2014 at 13:17

Dude, the fact that there are commercials are a huge deal. It means that companies are willing to invest in Sports Car Racing. Last year, there were like 5 commercials on repeat for the entire series.

As for TV coverage, no one is going to show an entire 12/24 hour race on TV. It was a huge deal that Daytona got as much coverage as it did, on a major network nonetheless.

As for the wavearounds, yeah they were there before, but IMSA has totally revamped their procedures for FCYs in order to cut down the amount of time.

As for Alex Job, it was just a mistake. They picked the wrong car by accident, and then couldnt figure out how to undo that mistake. They took steps to keep that from happening.

What IMSA needs isn't angry pissy people yelling at them, they need people to offer calm, constructive criticism.

desertdog5051 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 13:44

Holy crapola. If there isn't some COTD here, there is not anywhere. And the "C" stands for Confrontation.

Bakkster, touring car driver > BullManUGA
04/17/2014 at 13:54

Do you think it's getting worse, or are you just not giving it a chance to get better?

You can't possibly think that the FCY policy that allowed Pew to turn around after getting spun in the first corner is the same that threw a phantom yellow for a Porsche 40 feet off the racing line at Daytona.

SupersonicATX > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 13:56

This whole protest just reeks of American exceptionalism.

you're reaching. a lot.

Stef Schrader > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 13:57

I miss P1s about as much as anyone, but pretty much this.

I think there's some good feedback in with the complaints, though, but yeah—if this series does well, it'll be good. If it doesn't, well. Balls.

TheBaron2112 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 13:59

Agreed a thousand times. I hate to see MMPR go and TUSC has improved since the first two races. I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll work out the kinks in the series. It just needs time and support from race fans.

Aside from a BOP reduction of hp for the DPs and more scrutiny applied by the stewards, the broadcast team needs serious work. I think getting Radio Le Mans in to commentate the races instead of MRN would be superb.

The Transporter > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:00

I'm not rooting for TUSC to fail, but I do see teams leaving as a good thing in the long term, even if it does lead to short term collateral damage, such as the jobs of the people working on those teams. It's like hearing about layoffs in the auto industry. What would you rather hear, 20% of a company's workforce is being laid off to keep the company afloat, or 100% of the workforce lost their jobs because the company went under?

When we fans complain about what we see on TV and at the track, I imagine that it sounds like a whiny chorus of whining whiners whining in a very whiny fashion to the series ownership, but high profile teams leaving is a lot harder for the ownership to ignore because that's a significant loss of money that is easy to calculate. It signifies to the series owners and fans that there is something seriously wrong with the organization. This is what causes change, not us fans bitching on twitter, and it's better that it gets done now.

Watching this happen is tough because a lot of good people are going to lose their jobs and a lot of good teams are going to disappear, never to be seen again. The alternative, though, is for everyone to shut up and take what is given to them. That's what happened in NASCAR during its rise to popularity. Days of Thunder , the CART/IRL split, and Dale Earnhardt were making NASCAR a household name. For the sake of making money, drivers, teams, and diehard fans were told to shut up and take what is given to them. They were told that attracting more casual fans would be good for the sport as a whole. What ended up happening was that the sport was dumbed down (yes, NASCAR was dumbed down) to make it more accessible to casual fans. What we as fans got was a bunch of 1.5 mile cookie cutter tracks, 200 mph demolition derbies, grown men bitching like teenage girls on Twitter, drivers using their cars as weapons, fist fights in pit lane at almost every damned race, and all of this taking precedence in the race coverage instead of who actually won.

Seeing teams leave signifies to IMSA that things need to change now, lest more teams (and money) leave. Sports car racing is too technical and too complex to dumb down for a casual audience. All it has and all it will ever have is a core fanbase. The core fanbase can be strengthen by bringing in core fans from other forms of racing, but it can also be weakened. If IMSA isn't made to realize that it has a serious problem now, then it will continue on thinking everything is hunky dory until the TV ratings fall through the floor, sponsorship money dries up, and everything disappears overnight. It's happened before and there's no reason why it can't happen again.

I want IMSA to succeed. I want Pickett racing to succeed. I want sports car racing to succeed in the US. That's why I'm glad that Pickett racing decided to quit for the rest of the season. Pickett leaving is like a samurai committing sepuku to protest a controversial order from his master; it shows that you're really serious about what you say. And it's far better to go ahead and have the Airing of the Grievances now when something can be done about it instead of waiting for the next Festivus, after the season is over with.

And as for Long Beach being caution free, that's because pro teams were racing pro teams. You could have staffed race control with a barrel of rhesus monkeys and ended up with the same result. That's why I keep campaigning for every non-NAEC race to be split up like the next race at Laguna Seca will be.

G/O Sucks > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:03

I'm not rooting for failure so much as accountability. Make a crappy product, you get crappy results. I watched that Mazda's prototype get walloped by every GT and they still retired both, just like last year. They should not be on track at all and I hope they are shown the door. Same with this series — Get it together, fast, or you're fired. It's not worth my energy currently.

mikewballou > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:07

#gokimi

ZACHISGOD > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:08

But what about Lime Rock!? They screwed Lime Rock!!!!!

North > Baskingshark
04/17/2014 at 14:10

I'm up north and I'm pumped to go to Mosport in July!

G/O Sucks > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:10

Dude, the number of commercials KILL the sport! This years' spots are not generating any more revenue than before, yet they're playing them so much that I've literally had to shut the race off. Seriously, I'm a huge road race fan and I work in the media world — They are annihilating all interest in this sport with that policy. People have no interest in watching non-stop ads with some poorly covered racing between. This series is darn near dead.

Forgetful > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
04/17/2014 at 14:12

Kinja'd!!!

Axel-Ripper > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:13

Imagine that, the comments here are exactly what I expected: Just what they happen to be everywhere else on the internet when TUSC gets brought up. Looks like someone just said "You know, maybe gay marriage isn't that bad" on Fox News.

Cornbreadthethird > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:13

Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the VP is such a VIP, shouldn't we keep the PC on the QT? 'Cause if it leaks to the VC he could end up MIA, and then we'd all be put on KP.

Baskingshark > North
04/17/2014 at 14:15

After living in Monterey for an embarrassing amount of time this will be my first race at Laguna Seca. I'm excited about it!

RallyWrench > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:15

I agree with you, mostly. The WEC is great, and at least we get a round in North America. Increased TV coverage of TUSCC does not exist, however. 3 hours of Sebring? Long Beach on delay? Give me a break. I also hate the fact that most of the races are 2 hours long now. That's just a long sprint race.

I don't believe DPs deserve a place on the world stage because with the notable and welcome exception of Ford's Ecoboost engine they're technically irrelevant, but that's what I believe the Frances are angling for. I hope it doesn't happen.

They have some shit to sort out, but they're working on it. Regardless, and even though they ditched the fantastic 6 hour race into the night for split 2 hour races on Saturday and Sunday afternoon (right when everyone leaves, because jobs on Monday), I'll be camping at Laguna in a couple weeks, just as I have in the same site for the last 18 years, since we had the FIA GT Championship here. Looking forward to it, and the future.

ethanheisler > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:16

The DP/P2 assessment was hilarious. I'm not rooting for this series to fail but this is bullshit.

Here you can see fastest race laps at COTA for each series.....

Kinja'd!!!

Literally over a 2 second difference. Oh, also the slowest PC was less than two tenths off the fastest DP time and it had rained the day before the ALMS race.

This isn't quite 'racing' in my book, if I were a P2 owner I would've wanted to run for the hills once they announced you had to run DP tires.

DeltawingGothamDeserves > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:16

I'm just sitting and hoping that they will have this mess cleaned up by Petit Le Mans. One of my major problems is that the DP's remained the spotlight class. Why? They are similar to the Indy Cars, they look ungainly and lumbersome, but when they got to Long Beach, you saw they they actually COULD be as nimble as the P2s (about). I have no real reason for not liking the DP's other than asthetics. At least make them look like racecars.

Whatever my point is lost on even me, maybe I need some sleep.

brell > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:18

Not a real fan of decreased performance, so if anything the LMP's should get more power not less for the dp's.

Daltonic > ethanheisler
04/17/2014 at 14:21

I don't think they slowed the P2's I think they sped up the DP's. Still needs adjusting but that's how BOP between 2 very different cars works

TheBaron2112 > ethanheisler
04/17/2014 at 14:25

You do realize that these laps are from last year, prior to all the BOPing that was done early this year for the TUSC series? Right?

Because otherwise, this is a perfect example of data that brings nothing to the current conversation.

No0bskywalker > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:30

Forgive my ignorance, what is BOP? A tried google, but I didn't get any relevant answers.

Forgetful > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:31

I want to see the DPs race at Le Mans. Does that make me a bad person?

SpiralZero > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:31

There are very few sports car fans that want to see this fail. To the contrary, most of us really want this to succeed. It just that we aren't seeing progress in the right direction. Why is it that IMSA seems to mis-step in some fashion everytime, whether that be officiating, tupidly long FCYs, poor use of commercials etc

Inexperience isn't a good enough excuse. These guys aren't fresh, they ran ALMS and Grand AM, they know what to do, but their execution isn't there. The commerical package, yeah, it's great they have managed to secure the deal, but WTF is the point of commericals being sold over a race package when you can barely watch the bloody race?

As for IMSA getting sh*t, make a mistake once, make it twice. Screw up for a third race in a row, and why do you expect fans and teams to sit on their hands and be nice? That's not how this world works.

Those who bash IMSA incessantly are as wrong as those who are apologists for them. Being overly critical isn't helpful, nor is ignoring the flagrant problems with TUSC.

At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words. The majority of fans aren't happy and nor are the teams, some of which have left. So like it or not, they need to get their shit together.

ethanheisler > Daltonic
04/17/2014 at 14:32

2013 HPD

Kinja'd!!!

2014 HPD

Kinja'd!!!

Slower.

The Transporter > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:32

I'm not expecting full TV coverage for Daytona, Sebring, or Petit Le Mans, but Daytona coverage this year was a shitfest where I live. The first segment covered by Fox was put on tape delay because an ACC basketball game between teams that weren't Duke or UNC (so nobody really cares) had precedence. The second segment was on FS2, which TWC has bundled in a sports package that I have no interest in buying just for one race. The overnight segment had MRN providing commentary, but they're used to covering NASCAR and didn't know shit about sports car racing. Why MRN and not Radio Le Mans? Because MRN is owned by the International Speedway Corporation which also owns Daytona and is in turn owned by the France family which, you guessed it, owns IMSA. The France family chose "the voice of NASCAR" over Radio Le Mans because they thought it could make them more money.

And as for the Alex Job SNAFU at Sebring, it wasn't the mistake that got everybody - fans, drivers, and team owners alike - pissed off, it was the mistake, the hours of indecision, and the second mistake which resulted in the offending car escaping punishment twice to nab a class win that got everybody pissed off.

ncasolowork2 > LappingLuke
04/17/2014 at 14:32

You realize none of the ALMS races were available last year? Well I think Sebring and Petit were but the rest were online streams only.

RyanTheTemp > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:35

Thank you for this, I was starting to feel like the only one that wants TUSCC to succeed. Have there been some bumps in the road, sure, but I fail to see how they are the "end of the world" catastrophes so many are making them out to be.

Also, I was under the impression that MMPR was just taking a hiatus, and would be back at Detroit, did something change? Are they out the rest of the season now?

KlBD > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:36

There is a difference between wanting it to fail because you hate NASCAR and holding TUSCC to what should be high standards for such an important sportscar series. Sure, there are plenty of people doing the former and shame on them for not adding anything productive to the fan environment, but honestly doesn't this article have a few shades of straw man in it? I'd think real fans would love to see it succeed, but they would also want things fixed. One improved outing at Long Beach is great, but we all have to wait and see at this point.

Soloburrito > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:38

Completely agree.

I am on-board with TUSCC becoming a great series. IMSA has fucked up this year, no doubt, but we're all adults here. It's time to move on and not keeping bringing it up like a scorned lover months after a bad breakup.

I'm convinced DP is not long for the series. Updates to the chassis ended up costing more than teams were led to believe. Moving to P2 just makes more sense. These first couple of years should just be a bridge for the DP teams to make the move. Getting that done will bring tremendous stability and competition to P-class and everyone will be happy.

rolexdpracer > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:38

Thank you! Someone who can see the forest from the trees and all the political BS in between.

ethanheisler > TheBaron2112
04/17/2014 at 14:39

Well they say 2013 on them and I specifically looked up the 2013 races so yes....The term BOP typically only makes sense when you remember the whole balance part. I'm not sure how that doesn't bring anything to the conversation. You can't drastically slow a car down and give it the wrong tires and call that balance. The point is that NASCAR was never going to allow this to be a fair fight.

RallyWrench > No0bskywalker
04/17/2014 at 14:40

Balance of Performance.

TheBaron2112 > ethanheisler
04/17/2014 at 14:41

I don't see why comparing DP and P2 numbers from last year is relevant when there are numbers for the classes this year.

rolexdpracer > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:42

Fantastic!

BrotherKWan > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:42

I can't say that I agree with all of it but I certainly do with this: "Stop complaining, and help IMSA learn and grow, because if Tudor falters, we may lose sports car racing in the states completely."

I was at Sebring and portions of that race were exceptional...others were painful to watch. Having lived thru the IRL/Cart debacle... I'm keeping my finger's crossed. Indy Car never got it right and I think we're watching it's slow, slow death. There's still hope for IMSA as long as they clean it up ASAP!

petethickett33 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:42

I think I speak for the majority when I say that I really hope this series fixes its problems and continues for long into the future. But that's not to say I don't think they went about things in a slightly strange way.

As far as the P2s and the DPs are concerned, I don't understand why they required that they could race together. Some of the best prototype races in ALMS were for outright victory between the Audi P1 and the Porsche P2. That is proof that you don't have to be technically in the same regulatory group to race each other. They should have left the DPs and P2s alone for the first year and let the chips fall where they may. That would have been fascinating.

If they insist on grouping them, why not migrate the DPs towards a P2 compliant chassis. I know it would be a huge departure, but all of those DP adopters would suddenly be eligible for Le Mans among others. It would have been great to see a swathe of US based P2 class challengers taking on Le Mans.

Instead I feel like IMSA manipulated the situation to ensure that the main winners of Grand Am still win, and the P2s are just about close enough, all while forcing especially the DP teams to spend almost a comparable amount of money as it would to buy a P2 chassis/engine outright. It just doesn't make sense. And from a fans point of view, at Long Beach, I didn't watch a DP beat a P2, I saw a heavily modified DP, beat an aero restricted P2, this is because as far as I know (and I will happily be corrected) but aren't the P2 cars still being forced to run in the Le Mans, low d/f trim? Around Long Beach?? Good luck with that.

On the GT level, it's pretty clear that globally it would be great if there was some parity between the FIA and ACO specs. I think IMSA dropped the ball on ensuring that the GTD class, which as far as I know conforms to neither, still exists. I think their plan is to eventually phase it out, so this point may be moot. Whatever they decide, I hope they remain aware of the situation between FIA and ACO to ensure that teams racing in their series can still race in races abroad like Le Mans, Nurb 24 and Spa 24.

ncasolowork2 > No0bskywalker
04/17/2014 at 14:43

balance of performance or balance of power. Something like that. Basically trying to get the cars on equal footing with different technology.

willkinton247 > SpiralZero
04/17/2014 at 14:47

How did they screw up LB? There was a clear improvement there.

North > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:48

It's nice to finally see something defiantly positive being posted online about the Tudor Championship to at least try and detract the detractors. There's a lot to look forward to that will (IMO) help the Tudor Series over time. There are new GT and Prototype classifications coming which I think will benefit the TUSC so that (in terms for prototypes) we don't have a mishmash of "what everyone drove last year 2.0" but rather some cars that are more refined, fit to a single set of class specs, are fast, and cost effective which I believe is what the FIA is working on already if I'm not mistaken. As for penalty calls, officiating mistakes, and long caution periods, what's done is done and I believe IMSA is genuinely trying to make up for their mistakes by putting more effort into their series.

If people are just going to bitch and moan about it they can go find something else that suits their preference. Or they can suck it up and stick with it and constructively criticize it rather than be destructive, rhetorical, and negative about it. Seriously, some of you talk about NASCAR as if they're some racing Illuminati.

Just wear your damn mask... > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:48

Unfortunately you are shouting into the wind on this one. A good chunk of fans of the old American Le Mans Series are refugees of CART/ChampCar who bailed on or about the time the shell that was ChampCar was absorbed into the Indy Racing League to form IndyCar, and everyone started running Dallara Hondas. They were pissed and searching for something that even ChampCar had ceased being years before; a high tech and technically open formula of racing where anyone with the expertise and funding could build a car and compete. That was what ALMS was until it merged with Grand Am and became Tudor United Sports Car and became tainted by NASCAR.

willkinton247 > DeltawingGothamDeserves
04/17/2014 at 14:48

The DPs are actually...growing on me? At least the corvette ones, but christ, I never thought I'd say that.

JDIGGS > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:50

Unmanipulated race results? ARE YOUY HIGH ON DRUGS?

Sorry op NOBODY IS ROOTING AGAINST TUSC. TUSC Combined the 2 series and bought ALMS, we expect them to keep it as good, not fuck it up completely in every aspects.

5 hrs and 30 mins of cautions at sebring

manipulated race results at daytona and sebring

8 manufactures get together to rage on tusc and it's new shitty rules

Sorry the only one rooting against the TUDOR series is NASCAR and athertons puppetes. You're a tool OP who clearly didn't watch these series before. Stop acting like you know what you are talking about.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:51

I am not against the consolidation of North American racing in general so seeing the LMP1s go didn't hurt me none. Personally, I'd like to see it shrink in scope even more, dropping prototypes from UTSCC and opening it up to only production sports cars and top tier hypercars with real world equivalents; a series like that would become the envy of even Europe. They might be a touch more costly than spec DPs, but they would be factory supported. It would be better for manufacturers and probably more enjoyable to drivers who want some tie (no matter how tenuous) to whatever they might own.

SpiralZero > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:52

I couldn't see anything clearly because there were commercials on the screen half the time!

I like to think things are getting better, I really do, but like I said, there always seems to be something obviously amiss. I do expect things to get better, these are good guys (Elkins et al). I also didn't say this earlier but the BoP complaints are sh*t. They're trying to bring together two completely different cars and frankly, given this was the third race, they're doing really well. Pace at Daytona and Sebring was pretty balanced. Refinement comes with time.

If anything, I'm more angry about the debacle that's going on with regards to the WEC right now.

Ugh so this is my life > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 14:56

Really I think the problem is that most of us who are sports car fans do not want to see any series "NASSCARified." And I don't mean just the dumbing down of the sport, and the technological stall (NASCAR still uses effing carburetors right?). I believe it is the commercialization of the sport, money makes the world go round right... but when did it become all about the money. Racing in general (with few exceptions) has lost it's way, it has gone from "I can build a faster/stronger/better car than you" to WWF style soap opera saga of drama. Drivers are no longer only courted by their driving skill, but how well they can talk to a camera. Maybe the real problem is that the adage of "What wins on Sunday sells on Monday," is dead, probably because the gap between showroom car and race car is so huge.

ethanheisler > TheBaron2112
04/17/2014 at 14:56

He was making the case that BOP has been handled fairly. It's relevant because they slowed the cars down and I fundamentally disagree with the idea of slowing down two classes nearly 3% in order to make an old, ugly, unappealing car appear dominate whilst alienating loyal fans. All the while continuing on with the charade that this series in it's current form is fair or even very appealing.

North > Baskingshark
04/17/2014 at 14:56

That's awesome and hey at least you're going now right? Plus Laguna is an amazing track from what I've heard, read and watched! This will be my second time at Mosport. I went there back in 2004 when I was 9 with my dad. I got to stand right beside Ron Fellows while he drove for Corvette Racing and got to look inside the #3 C5.R. It's something that was simply magic as a little kid to see and it's what made me love cars and racing in general.

No0bskywalker > ncasolowork2
04/17/2014 at 14:58

You and TFritch are both gentlemen and scholars, I thank you.

JohnClaytonsPonytail > RyanTheTemp
04/17/2014 at 14:59

Yep. Program done, effective immediately:

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/1028…

Forgetful > BullManUGA
04/17/2014 at 15:00

The only reason the officials didn't screw something up at Long Beach was because they didn't get a chance to.

See, but that's what the OP is getting at. You're ignoring the fact that they have addressed the officiating issues they've run in to. You didn't get to see them do a better job this time around because they didn't get a chance to. It's up to you to decide how to perceive it, but so many people are doing so without paying attention to what they're doing to make it better. No, instead it's just more fun to pile on with all of the other cynical assholes who's analysis goes as far as 'this sucks because NASCAR'.

MisterTrick > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:02

I wouldn't say top level LMP1 is dead, maybe just mostly-dead, after Peugeot left to deal with their own matters, Toyota flush with cash swooped in and got many of those drivers like Sarrazan, Wurz, Davidson and Lapierre. This year Porsche making huge waves bringing their works drivers Bernard and and last years Le Mans GT Winner Lieb to the 919, and hiring Webber was just beyond huge, he is now the biggest face of Protoype racing this year.

While yes this is only WEC and their only American appearance is in Austin this year, the future is what intrigues me. Ferrari have said if cost caps were to be introduced to F1 they'd consider a run at LMP1. if Ferrari would join it would make it 4 manufactures, 8 full time cars and 24 drivers, and that's only with just Ferrari publicly acknowledging interest, between those 4 and many with history and the cash to do it, never say never to North America, Audi and Porsche have their own American teams, Ferrari historically has had NART, even if it served as a feeder series for their primary WEC efforts I could see happen maybe in the next decade

SirRingo > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:08

You deserve a standing ovation for this. Fantastic post and long overdue.

I have a lot of confidence in Scott Atherton and the team he's assembled - read any of the articles about him, any of the interviews he's done, and it's obvious that he's passionate about this sport and incredibly determined to do it right . Not one of the armchair CEOs spewing their hate from behind their keyboards has even the slightest idea what a herculean task it is to combine what were two very separate racing series, and while there have certainly been inexcusable mistakes made there has also been some amazing progress and some thrilling racing. Most importantly, Atherton's comments have made it crystal clear that he is both exceedingly aware of the issues in the series today and focused on fixing them immediately.

willkinton247 > G/O Sucks
04/17/2014 at 15:11

But the thing is, commercials are a necessary evil. They are what allow it to exist.

LastScene86 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:13

While my inner cynic scoffs at your ultimate levels of optimism, thank you for writing this. I loved ALMS, they came to my area every year before Petit LeMans just because Michelin is based here and I got to meet a ton of drivers, teams, crew, cars, etc. A fantastic, dedicated group of women and men.

I totally hate that people are glad to see Muscle Milk leave. That is just incredibly stupid. Every competitor counts, and they employ VERY qualified individuals who now have to look elsewhere.

I was nonplussed with the first two races but as long as they continue to listen to fans and implement changes to adhere to better racing I am willing to give it a season. Look at the outcry in F1 right now over "noise" and "the show." Yeah one good race in Bahrain eliminated that for a lot of fans. As you said; the racing is great when they are racing.

It is a sport, it is a spectacle, it is entertainment. When the politics of merging two different series can sort themselves out with fan feedback it will grow into a competent series.

I may not be as confident as you but the series had to merge to preserve sports car racing in the US. In time they may get it right and I hope they listen enough.

thebullfrog > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:14

The lack of P1 sucks, but isn't the problem. The problem is both the top classes are spec, which is boring. Add on about the most incompetent officiating ever, and crap like the forced FCY. I don't want TUSCC to die, but if things don't change, it will anyway. There's no real reason for manufacturers to get involved in the top spec classes, and one of the GT classes. GTLM, is the only part of the series that's truly relevant to their global motorsports' programs. So now you have a lot of privateer teams with amateur hour drivers (See: Sebring) competing for a championship that is quickly digging it's own spec grave. A lot of things need to change if TUSCC is going ever be relevant even on a national level. This is all my own irrelevant semi-informed opinion, but it feels like a lot of people agree. I would love nothing more than to see TUSCC become great, but in it's current state, and the looming shadow known as WEC, I am less than hopeful.

TheBaron2112 > ethanheisler
04/17/2014 at 15:14

Compared to their old incarnations, yeah, they're slower. But they aren't racing against 2013 spec LMPs. It's moot. Stop watching it if it's so offensive.

Autolegend86 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:23

Im gonna come in from the other side. I paid money to go to Daytona and Sebring. In the case of Sebring, i want my money back.

Many sports car series have died before, in their ashes, something else began. If TUSC continues to be NASCAR's puppet, i'll give my money to SCCA Trans Am, PWC, or anything else i want. There will be fans who do so as well.

You don't just support something you don't bbelieve in cause its the thing to do.

Incorrect comments in your article. SuperGT in Japan and British GT are full of cars. And, the fans aren't hating on the series like TUSC fans are.

ethanheisler > TheBaron2112
04/17/2014 at 15:23

Well I work for a team in the series so I probably wont do that.

I'm airing my issues and giving data to support why I have them, are you happy with this series at this point? Whats wrong with voicing concerns?

willkinton247 > Ugh so this is my life
04/17/2014 at 15:28

That's what makes Mazdas P2 car so awesome. They're trying to use around 70% street car parts. It isn't working, but once they figure it out, it'll be awesome for their street cars.

willkinton247 > G/O Sucks
04/17/2014 at 15:32

Mazda is doing something pretty remarkable though, they're trying to use all road technology, the idea being they can improve their road tech through racing.

Autolegend86 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:32

I've listen to Marshal Pruett interview Scott Atherton and it was loaded with political walking around the issue. I took that not as a deal with it response, i took it as we don't even care.

TheBaron2112 > ethanheisler
04/17/2014 at 15:33

Voicing concerns is well and good, which is what the OP did. I have my own concerns (see elsewhere in these comments for what I think needs attention).

Cars are slower this year. (But do we know that? Have the current spec LMP2/DP run COTA?) Fine. You think they shouldn't slow down any car from year to year. Okay. That's fine. Last year vs. this year, I completely see your point.

I don't see how any of that is relevant to the analysis of the DP/P2 BOP mentioned in the OP.

willkinton247 > MisterTrick
04/17/2014 at 15:34

I actually wrote about this earlier, LMP1 is dead on a regional level, but has consolidated at the WEC, and is doing even better. A golden age of LMP1 is upon us.
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/are-we-on-the-…

willkinton247 > SirRingo
04/17/2014 at 15:35

Thank you! That's exactly right.

Autolegend86 > Bakkster, touring car driver
04/17/2014 at 15:43

If it dies, that's fine. Something else will replace it. And when that dies, something else will replace it.

WSC after IMSA GTP had the Ferrari 333SP, Riley and Scott MKIII. The racing was good too.

As fans, we have choices. This isn't NASCAR stock car where they eat up the competition. As fans, we can support another series with our money. Not with our internet arguments.

I attend 5-6 events a year. If i want to replace a TUSC event with another, i can do that.

I don't believe in what TUSC is. So far, there is no BOP. For starters, i don't mind the DP. I do mind the DP as a premier class. In the IMSA GTP era, motorsport should push tech forward. The DP is a way of saying we refuse to improve. That is ok for an entry level class. Not for the cars winning outright. The level of tech in modern DP is IMSA lights of 1986 in 2014.

Even if LMP1 isn't the top class in the USA, it needs to be something else.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a different structure and more importantly supporting a different structure with my $.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Soloburrito
04/17/2014 at 15:43

You're in luck, they're already working with the ACO on a new prototype spec that will replace both P2 and DP everywhere in the world.

Autolegend86 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:44

That's like saying be happy you were able to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich after horrible screwing up steak and eggs.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Ugh so this is my life
04/17/2014 at 15:45

NASCAR Cup cars went to fuel injection a few seasons ago.

Bakkster, touring car driver > petethickett33
04/17/2014 at 15:51

Short answer: the DP owners wanted to be able to compete for overall victory, both classes of cars had teams bringing in new equipment that needed to be eligible to keep them financially viable, and there wasn't enough time to build a new common specification. In 2017 DP and P2s will be merged to a common set of regs with the ACO so everyone will be running the same cars.

Also, the P2s are in their standard high df package. They're only running Le Mans aero at Daytona and possibly a few other tracks where the top speed gap is a concern.

petethickett33 > Bakkster, touring car driver
04/17/2014 at 15:54

So are you saying that the 2017 DP would technically be able to enter Le Mans? That would be awesome.

Also thanks for the info on the df package - I was wondering if that was the case as it would be a little harsh to force them to run low df.

Do you know why the Deltawing wasn't at Long Beach? Are they running a partial schedule or something?

Bakkster, touring car driver > petethickett33
04/17/2014 at 15:56

There won't be DPs in 2017, just a set of FIA/ACO/IMSA joint prototype regulations defining the TUSC P class and ACO P2.

Deltawing is running a partial schedule like last year.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 15:58

Finally. So much truth in this post.

A few things I want to add: a) after some time, the quality of the field will improve. Also the class structure will, as the TUSC guys admitted that by 2016/17 only LMP2 and whatever the new FIA/ACO merged GT class will look like are scheduled to run. Currently they are trying to build a solid financial base, and if it all develops nicely, maybe even P1s could make a comeback at some point.

The Rusty Hub > The Transporter
04/17/2014 at 16:04

Well said. Because the sanctioning body seems to understand best what the bottom line is, the only way for teams to effect real change is to take their money elsewhere. Pickett will resurface somewhere.

That extends to the fans, too. If you don't like the product, vote with your dollars: Don't buy race tickets and don't participate in the broadcast by TV, live timing, downloading the app, or watching it on the TUSC YouTube channel (Which all generate revenue).

If you paid attention before the season, you knew you were in for some drastic changes. The scope of them has perhaps been unexpected, but I expect the series might just figure enough of it out to re-engage their past audience.

The Rusty Hub > Stef Schrader
04/17/2014 at 16:07

It's the only American endurance sportscar series. The only real threats to it are (A) World Challenge, which is not an endurance series, and (B) the series itself.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Autolegend86
04/17/2014 at 16:10

Don't ever let me stop you from supporting something else. That's my preference, that people vote with their feet and dollars, rather than arguing online.

The issue is with people hoping that it dies instead of improving, or trying to convince others that it should die. That is not productive, and we have no guarantee something will take its place (at least not short term). We went two decades without a world sports car championship, let's not hasten the end of TUSC if effort is still being made to improve it.

You said it yourself: "so far". I'm not asking anyone to push through the growing pains, and I don't blame you for thinking things should have gone better. But there are others who rant and rave about the series every chance they get instead of just leaving it be and waiting for it to either die or get better.

It has gotten better. Not fast enough, IMO, but acting like things will never improve doesn't help anyone and is disingenuous. There will be improvements to BoP, and DPs will be replaced. For anyone unhappy with waiting until 2017, being relentlessly negative and critical is only going to make it less likely we have a future successful series.

FormerInstants > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 16:10

I'm not rooting for TUSCC to fail, I'm rooting for something better to take its place, but I guess that requires TUSCC fail, and I'm ok with that. I watched Daytona and Sebring, they were both farces. They had two months to get themselves sorted after Daytona, and Sebring was still a farce. Why would I bother to watch the Long Beach race? The Blancpain Endurence race at Monza was on last weekend. So was WTCC and IndyCar. And BTCC, V8 Supercars, Formula 1, PWC, and SuperGT in the two weekends before that. And next weekend there's WEC with its P1 cars, and ELMS with its better officiating and nobody pretending DP cars are supposed to be top class, plus more BTCC, WTCC, and F1.

The point is, if TUSCC wants me to watch their racing, they need to make it worth watching. They can't pretend they're filling a vacuum, or that Americans owe it to them to watch, or that they have a monopoly on sports car racing. They're not, I don't, and they don't. They have too much competition to make these kinds of mistakes. I never understood why we needed a "unified series" in the first place. Europe doesn't.

HellPhish89 > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 16:16

No. IMSA is a bunch of lying, incompetent, lowlife, non-racer, shitbirds. Teams are leaving because of their failures and their continuous lies and intimidation. It wouldnt be a fucking problem if they had actually kept their word but no, they had to artificially create a dominate DP class so that fuck tard france could keep his slow, awkward, flaccid 'Daytona Prototypes' winning. The P2 cars without the ~300kg weight increase would be DOMINATING the DP's. Im unsure about the changes to GTLM by IMSA but it may be why the C7 finally won a race. TUSSC is a joke and a fucking embarrassment. It needs to die so a real race series can come about. Dont be surprised if the ACO takes away their endorsement of the series.

The Rusty Hub > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 16:19

For what it's worth, the series will stick around so long as they keep the manufacturers involved in GTLM; that's the real gem; the rest is window dressing. Sportscar racing thrives with manufacturer checkbooks involvement and TUSC currently have four GTLM manufacturers. That's why it's the only class they didn't mess with. These aren't GT3-spec cars*, so their options are really limited if they want to play elsewhere. They're not going anywhere (Though I suspect PWC would make room for them if, given the opportunity).

The Corvettes in particular are not going anywhere; that's an American team partnering with an American manufacturer to sell American cars in America. Le Mans is part of their program, sure, but I don't think they could rectify their marketing angle if they're running a national icon in a series outside of North America.

* Yeah, the BMWs are modified GT3-based, but I don't think they can be retrofitted to GT3-spec. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

The Transporter > The Rusty Hub
04/17/2014 at 16:22

Money talks and bullshit walks.

willkinton247 > The Rusty Hub
04/17/2014 at 16:22

The BMWs were based off of the GT3 spec cars, but are full on GTE spec, and eligible for Le Mans.

John J. Wedding > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 16:27

my buddy's sister makes $80 an hour on the laptop . She has been laid off for 8 months but last month her paycheck was $13644 just working on the laptop for a few hours. go to this site

www.keptmoney.com

The Rusty Hub > willkinton247
04/17/2014 at 16:28

Thanks. I thought that was the case because there's at least one running GTC in ELMS or GTE-AM in WEC (Can't remember which off the top of my head).

willkinton247 > John J. Wedding
04/17/2014 at 16:33

Really? WOW

The Rusty Hub > The Transporter
04/17/2014 at 16:37

A good tl;dr summary if there ever was one.