The WRL: A Seriously Jalop Racing Series

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
03/31/2014 at 11:49 • Filed to: None

I wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about the World Racing League, an endurance series built for versatility and ease of ingress. The Oklahoma race in October is only about 4 hours away, so hopefully I can get out there and cover an event live.

TL;DC - It's a bit faster/more serious than a crapcan series, but not nearly as serious as something like ALMS and far, far cheaper. It's something a guy like me could actually do. The classes are sorted strictly by power:weight, and the unlimited class, though welcome, can't win any prize money.

DISCUSSION (20)

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 11:50

How does this compare to Lemons racing?

Also I need to create a team and do this!

Slow4o > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 11:57

I heard about this series, and my buddy that runs a Lemons team is checking it out. I believe they might have been at MSR Houston last weekend.

Cebu > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 12:03

Hey, once I finish dev'ing a street-legal time-trials track, might check it out.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Slow4o
03/31/2014 at 12:11

They did indeed. It was the inaugural event.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/31/2014 at 12:12

There's no money limit like there is in LeMons. And you don't have to come up with some kind of goofy themed car, though goofy themes are still welcome.

tromoly > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 12:16

The biggest turn-off I have with LeMons was the whole penalty/destroy-your-car-on-a-whim thing. In contrast, this WRL thing sounds awesome, in the next couple years when they expand I'll have to make a few races.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 12:18

Now I'm really interested!

I hope to have a little bit of money saved up so I can go and do these things!

Also, thanks for the really easy and simple answer. I hate long drawn out responses that confuse me more!

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/31/2014 at 12:31

Yeah, the WRL's entire rule book is 16 pages long. They stress simplicity and clarity.

Wildstar > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 13:47

I was driving that SHO in that pic! I think WRL did a great job putting on that race. As it was the first one ever, things will only get better.

Slow4o > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 13:51

Very cool. Did all go pretty well from what you heard?

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Wildstar
03/31/2014 at 13:51

So awesome! It seemed like a good turnout for their first event ever. How did the class structure work out? Did you feel outgunned, or was it pretty fair?

Wildstar > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 14:00

I actually was supposed to be driving the other SHO, but we had engine problems and didn't really run. This car is the same, but not. No ABS, etc. My learning curve was rather high, and we had a tire delaminate. Not the mighty SHO's weekend...

Anyway. I think our class was pretty fair. We are good friends with the Mustang that won GP1 on Sunday, and depending on driver our lap times were similar. There will have to be tweaking of the formulas, to be sure, but I think it was a very good start. Had things gone a bit more our way, I think either SHO would have been in contention. Especially with the rain Sunday afternoon. So, none of us were complaining, and that's saying something! ;-)

Stef Schrader > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 14:57

Glad to see you went. Very good article, too. It's refreshing to see someone write about the new series without explaining at length how the others aren't "real racing" or whatever. That seems to be a frequent trap with these "we've got a new series!" write-ups and makes it feel less than welcoming for those of us who enjoy the existing ones, heh. Let's be honest: the more race dates my pile's eligible for, the better.

I may try to hop onto another team for one of these to try it out. Anybody running GP3? Hehe. The class structure, novice program and shorter rulebook definitely appeal to me.

Stef Schrader > tromoly
03/31/2014 at 15:01

Heh, even LeMons got tired of the destroy-a-car penalty. The other penalties they still do, albeit maybe not as over the top. I need to write up the last one we did.

Anyway, killing a poor, defenseless 944 that got cursed out of spite from those jealous of the 944's superior everything (...and position, well, okay—mostly position) was the turning point. Shortly afterwards, bye-bye People's Curse.

(Ahem, LeMons.... I could've used those parts, ya bungholes! )

tromoly > Stef Schrader
03/31/2014 at 15:06

Is People's Curse the one where they give sledgehammers to old ladies who beat the piss out of the car? Granted, the only real knowledge about the penalties I have were from a couple year old article I saw somewhere.

Stef Schrader > tromoly
03/31/2014 at 15:11

That's the one! The "you were unpopular enough in this paddock for people to vote for your car's destruction, therefore, we're gonna destroy your car somehow" penalty. When it went to the most offensive behavior, eh, that was its purpose. When it went to drivers who were just ahead, that's when it started to suck. Plus, they started noticing that in mandating a bit more safety, people put a lot more time and effort into the cars and it was becoming a bit of a turn-off for all parties involved.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Stef Schrader
03/31/2014 at 15:11

I completely agree. It's not better or worse than other series, just maybe more fitting for Joe Driver at a given station in life. I like the versatility and how many cars they accept from different series. Let's face it: all any of us wants is more racing .

Also, I didn't actually go, I just read about it afterward. But there is a nearby race in October, and I'll try to make it to that one.

tromoly > Stef Schrader
03/31/2014 at 15:14

Yeah, that makes sense. Personally, I loved the concept of LeMons until I read about all the destruction penalties, I mean BS laps and stuff I'd be OK with if they're legit, but destroying someone's racecar for random reasons is just dumb.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Wildstar
03/31/2014 at 15:14

Awesome! I'm hoping to make it out to cover the Oklahoma race in October. Maybe I'll run into you guys!

Stef Schrader > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2014 at 15:18

Do eeeeeet.