Car Classification?

[Brian]

How do certain cars end up in a particular class? Who decides?
Is is possible to ask for a car to be re-classified into a different class?

My '99 Honda Prelude is in as a B car but wouldn't it be better classed in with the C class cars? It is by no means faster than an Integra Type R, yet it's in a faster class than the ITR? The SCCA recently moved the 5th gen Honda Prelude into the ITS racing class with Integra Type R's and modified Civics and such. Why would the Prelude be running against those here with here with inline sixes and either all wheel or rear wheel drive.

There are virtually no Preludes in the Solo 1 series here (I think mostly because of their poor classification). Am I doomed to be riding in a class bottom feeder?

[Dave]

Brian, you can download a copy of the Solo 1 rulebook at www.soloontario.com and see exactly how the classification system works. The system was developed by a committee of 5 Solo 1 competitors, including myself. We looked closely at other rulebooks including the SCCA's but the realities of Solo 1 in Ontario are quiet different than in the U.S. (where they have a lot more classes and a lot more competitors at any given event). Our rulebook is designed to reflect our series based on the known number of cars that tend to turn out each weekend.

In the case of your Prelude, it is in B-family because it's over the 2900 lbs cut-off for C-family. All cars in C-family (including the Type R) must be below 2900 lbs AND have an effective engine displacement (we add displacement for turbos and superchargers) below 2.4 litres.

One thing that's important to understand about the groupings in the Solo 1 rulebook is that A-, B-, and C-family do not necessarily represent a progression of speed potential. That is to say, the rulebook was not developed with the idea that C-family cars are the slowest and A-family cars are the fastest. Instead, we tried to group cars with similar design characteristics (thus the limitations based on engine displacement and curb weight) so that they'd maintain fairly similar speed potentials as they become modified. Of course we've also tried to recognize the difference within each family by having 3 different sub-groups that attempt to balance out the family via prep point allowance.

Having competed in a 1999 Honda Prelude for several years I can tell you firsthand that it is a competitive platform within B-family. Your main competitors are the 3-series BMW and the Eagle Talon turbo and in Stock class and SuperStock class I was able to beat both. In what is now SuperStock 2 my Prelude would have been a potential class leader, though the Talons and Bimmers become increasingly difficult to keep up with at higher levels of prep because of their greater power potential. But in relatively stock form (Stock or SuperStock2 class), the Prelude is a very competitive car. And hey, a turboed Prelude has huge power potential and could kick some serious butt in B-StreetPrepared too.

Furthermore, under the previous Solo 1 rulebook the Preludes also ran against Eagle Talons and 3-series Bimmers, so the competition the Prelude has had to face in Ontario hasn't really changed at all. Heck, I set track records for B-Stock on the Nelson configuration at Shannonville and for B-SuperStock2 on the Fabi configuration at Shannonville while competing against turbo Talons and Bimmers in my Prelude and Tony McGrath won the overall championship in a 4th gen Prelude not so long ago while competing against these same cars. This being the case, it's my opinion that the Prelude is anything but a bottom feeder in B-family. Quite the opposite, in fact.

So to make a long story a bit shorter, the Prelude is a B-family car because it fits our definition of the heavier, larger displacement Sport Coupes grouped in that family. If the Prelude was a 100 lbs lighter it would be a C-family car. These are the lines in the sand that all rulebooks have and there are always cars that end up with a more favorable or less favorable classing as a result. In the case of the Prelude, it's a competitive B-family car so it's very unlikely to be moved to C-family.

Hope this helps,
Dave

[JGraves]

Brian,

I suspect you'll notice a significant improvement in your lap times next weekend. Since your first event I have been at 2 lapping evenings at Shannonville with you and have noticed huge improvements in your driving. Didn't you also install a softer (stock) rear sway bar after the first Mosport weekend to settle the rear end? I predict you'll cut the gap between yourself and the class leaders in half this weekend based on what I've seen at Shannonville.

Jeff

[Dave]

Jeff makes a great point. It's really hard to compare your lap times to experienced veterans of the series in B-family, such as Victor DelCol and Chris Sorensen, when you first come out for Solo 1. It took me a full season of hard competition to get up to speed and start to realize the potential of my Prelude. I didn't get my first class win until the very last event of my first season and I had to work extremely hard for it. It wasn't until I had enough seat time at each track configuration and had maximized the car's race prep within the class rules that I finally closed up on the class leaders and eventually got my first win.

So please don't be discouraged by my earlier post, it wasn't meant to be a snub against you or anyone else who feels their car is unfairly classified. I truly loved my 5th gen Prelude and it would be fantastic to see a bunch of them out kickin' butt in B-family. If I can do anything to help, please feel free to e-mail me at dpratte4@cogeco.ca

Cheers,
Dave

[Brian]

Thanks guys. I think I was having a momentary doubt as to whther I should pursue solo 1 with my Prelude. But I'm sure that the car is very capable, and the slowest part of this equation is me due to my inexperience. I'll be sure to be out ther this weekend to learn as much as I can....