Where the hell is a new Trans-Am Series?

"Fred (FreddsterExprs)" (freddsterexprs) 09/13/2014 at 09:45 • Filed to: IDEAS, TransAm, New

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The Challenger Hellcat has been dominating the Jalopnik Front Page, and rightfully so. Before that, there were all the stories about the epic Z/28 Camaro which even can rival Europe's best. And Ford launched the new Mustang in between all of this. Musclecars everywhere. So why on earth are the big three missing out on the opportunity to revive one of the most legendary racing series ever, Trans-Am?

The idea: modified, powerful, save stock cars

What is the problem with NASCAR? They don't do enough road courses and the cars look like oversized caricatures of the beigemobiles they imitate. WTCC on the other hand isn't that spectacular, now has too much aero and not enough power.

And that's where modern Trans-Am comes into play. The basic rules would look like this in my imagination:

I. The chassis will be left stock, and so will the subframe. A full cage matching FIA GT3 standards will be welded in. And of course all the other safety gear, like window nets, carbon shell seats and HANS. We don't want anyone to die. Minimal weight is 1400kg.

II. The sole aero/body modification allowed are brake ducts, a rear spoiler lip and a modest front splitter. Too much aero means losing grip when following another car closely, making it increasingly difficult to overtake.

III. Suspension may be modified, but the geometry needs to stay the same, and all the components that are being replaced have to be available on the market for customers to buy. Brake kits will have a maximum diameter of 350mm, be available on the market and are only allowed to be made of aluminum/steel/notcarbonceramic. Manufacturers love using phrases like "from track to street", so why not apply it for once?

IV. Tires will be supplied by one manufacturer and be pretty wide. I don't know how wide, but mechanical grip is key. Rims are free to choose as long as they are made of metal. And no tire warmers on the gird!

V. Engines are free to choose but are limited to 720hp at the crank, dyno tested and verified by an independent sanctioning body like IMSA. The gearbox can be any sequential, single clutch 7speed unit mated to a heavy duty clutch, operated by stick and not by flappy pedals.

VI. Balance of performance will be applied. This series is about close racing in different vehicles and not an engineering championship.

VII. All cars that are entered must be available for purchase at a ready-to-race maximum price of 150.000$.

The calendar: best of America

The US has some of the best, natural race tracks in the world. Let's not ignore them like NASCAR does and have some epic races on them.

1. Sebring – Tradition and stuff. Also, 720hp cars on a bumpy track? Yes please.

2. Long Beach – America's Monaco.

3. Laguna Seca – Is any racing series complete without a visit to Monterrey?

4. Mid-Ohio – A track that makes nearly every racing series have a spectacular race.

5. Detroit Belle Isle – Visiting the big three's home.

6. Watkins Glen – As part of the Sprint Cup event, and to show them how true stockcars should look like.

7. Road Atlanta – Probably my favorite track outside of Europe. Must have.

8. Circuit to the Americas – The F1 weekend could use a bit more support program, and why not have modern American icons entertain the fans?

The Race mode

Friday will only see one hour long practice session so that the series can be included in most major racing series events without messing up the whole schedule. On Saturday, only half an hour of practice, followed quickly by a 20 minute Qualifying 1, with the top 3 going on to a single-lap shootout. The first race of about 60 minutes of length is held on Saturday as well, and Sunday would be handled with the exact same sessions prior to Race 2. There are no mandated pit stops, but teams of course can chose to change tires during the race if they wish.

All of this offers a lot of action throughout the weekend without astronomical costs, exactly what possible participants and sponsors need.

The teams and drivers

Basically, everyone can enter, and everyone can either buy a car or build one. What I really want to see is each of the manufacturers having one or two guest cars, as Porsche does in the Carrera Cup. This way special drivers such as Dempsey, Loeb, Montoya, Keselowski and other big names can make one-off appearances without too much conflict between interest groups.

And that's pretty much it. Badass, cost effective Penske-Mustangs battling it out with Riley-Challengers and Hendrick-Camaros. Please Mr. France, can you make it happen, maybe as reconciliation for the horror and pain you put us through with TUSC?

Alfalfa > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 09:49

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I like this idea. It could be an American racing series that I actually care about.

claramag, Mustaco Master > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 09:52

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This would be great. Murica needs more Murican racing

vondon302 > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 10:18

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I was gonna point out ctscc but some one beat me to it. Best of all with ctscc you have about 50 plus cars out there cause they run st and gt at the same time and run on all the great tracks.

Sn210 > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 10:21

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Oppo needs to group-buy the rights to AMC and make a reborn Javelin!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 10:27

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The SCCA has been holding Trans Am races since 1966! It is still around, and the cars are still awesome!

Oh and the cars sound fantastic!

GhostZ > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 10:30

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Fuck you, gimme Group B and C instead.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Sn210 09/13/2014 at 10:31

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I'm in. I'll see how much I can find binding in the couch cushions

BrianNutter > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 11:38

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Have you checked out the ta2 and ta3 classes?

Sweet Trav > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 11:46

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Can we make them drop back down to 5l? I want an LSX based 302 DZ engine please. 8500 RPM redline and a solid roller lifter cam... yes please.

Also needs to run at Waterford Hills in Michigan, or maybe Detroit GP Road Course. We need a showing in Motown for this much Detroit Iron.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > BrianNutter 09/13/2014 at 12:06

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Nope, never heard of them. TA = Time Attack?

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > YSI-what can brown do for you 09/13/2014 at 12:07

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That's pretty cool, but at the same time faaaaaar from the stock car racing I would like to see. More silhouette than old school touring cars.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > GhostZ 09/13/2014 at 12:13

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Come on, LMP1 with Nissan, Toyota, Audi, Porsche and a fifth manufacturer is the closest we will ever get to Group C again. Also, the cars are closer together in terms of pure pace.

Group B? Signed.

GhostZ > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 12:29

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LMP1 cars aren't hitting 270mph. I don't care.

I am seriously looking forward to Nissan returning to prototype racing though.

The Transporter > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 12:58

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No VIR?

Also, this kind of already exists. The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge's GS class has Stevenson Motorsports racing two Z/28.rs with one of them leading the points. Also, the Pirelli World Challenge has a few classes where cars like the Z/28.r and FR-500 Boss 302R Mustang run against each other and European and Japanese sports cars. As for Dodge, except for the Viper, they seemed to have dropped out of racing over the past few years. They aren't even in NASCAR anymore. I think it had something to do with the merger with Fiat, not that Fiat said no to racing, but that they couldn't afford to spend any money until the merger was complete.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > GhostZ 09/13/2014 at 14:18

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Yeah, but Group C wouldn't hit 270 either with the new Mulsanne straight and its two chicanes. The fact alone that 2014 LMP1s are so fast compared to how much fuel they use amazes me. Not sure if Nissan will be able to compete.

JDIGGS > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/13/2014 at 15:32

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Belle Isle is shit.

Trans am had a maximum engine size of 5 liters back in the day, definitely would need something similar.

JDIGGS > GhostZ 09/13/2014 at 15:35

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They race prototypes in the lower class. They also had the delta wing for awhile that is now mazda powered.

Nissan will not be going back to lmp1 because they have zero hopes or money to compete with audi.

Shifty > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 09/14/2014 at 22:06

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I like this idea quite a bit, but I'd also like to see the return of Can-Am.