PAX Standings as of 9-27-2011

[pj]

The attached document contains the PAX standings after Event 8, using the top 5 finishes of each competitor to calculate their current score.  The color coding shows the 7 drivers locked into the Moss competition.  3 drivers are currently in the top 10 but are at risk of being knocked out.  2 drivers are capable of reaching the top 10 up to 7th place, and 4 drivers can qualify in theory (although it's unlikely as they would need to guarantee no driver ahead of them improves).

If anyone sees any issues with the PAX list, please let me know!

[Jenna]

I have an issue with the Pax list -

Some girl named Jenna D'Amico has my first 6 events.....must be that girl that stole my fastest run at the last event!

[pj]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Forcednduckshn]

lol, thanks for posting the standings PJ . I lol'd when I scrolled down and saw a red bar with my name in the row, haha! Thanks   Looks like I would need to take top pax and have the others do poorly to even have a chance at the moss! Not going to happen in an STR car.

No worries, I'll enjoy watching the battle for the Moss win this year!  Should be epic. Can I announce it?

Next year, STR should have a proper PAX multiplier and allow them to really compete on index.  I think it will be/should be close to STS, but slightly quicker; both STS and STR need big adjustment on the index.  We saw this year just how well the short wheelbase, wicked light cars on street tires do; the STS results are a great example of this go-fast formula, showing how the big power advantage is mitigated because of said factors.  Still, STR got killed on PAX, STS not as bad but still not representative of the talent in the classes.

Just in case anyone is curious, where do you think I paxed on Day 1 of the Solo Nationals?  How far off do you think I was on pax time from the leader?

#157.  3.23 Seconds off of the lead.

So...I left more than 3 seconds out there in my driving?  Yeah, right....

It puts things in to perspective a bit.  Oh well.  The most important things is we have great competition amongst the platforms in the class.  And STR proved that without question this year.  The s2000's were a bit more developed than the Miata's overall.  Miata's were on average quicker on the west course (no suprises there), with the top raw time being dropped by the only MR2 in the field...pretty awesome.  We'll see how things turn out for 2011!

Best,

Nick

[crxmike]

Unfortunately, I do not predict any of the PAX numbers for the street tire classes improving in 2012.  At least they have not changed much compared to R comp classes in the last 3-4 years.

The main downfall to ST classes, crap PAX factors.  Just my opinion.

[greenmaxse]

I agree with Mike, and I don't expect the ST factors to change much relative to the R-Comps.  Unfortunately, it's very tough to guage the accuracy of a specific class's PAX factor based on just one event.  On any course there are elements that favour certain categories and classes, and its luck of the draw as to what you get dealt pertaining to your class.  On the East Course the highest PAXing ST category driver was Andy Hollis in 54th.  He's no slouch, and the top 10 is filled with mostly the Modified category drivers leading me to believe the course was a little adverse towards the ST category.  The West Course seemed even worse to the category, with the highest PAXing ST category driver was a cherry picker in STX at 98.  Nick, the West seemed tougher on STR as well with you at 349th and the fastest STR run of the day at 336th.  That's why the SCCA does not recognize PAX scoring.  That is also why Rick spends so much time pouring over the data from all the National/Divisional events and even the regional SCCA events to come up with these factors.  Of course it's not perfect and that's why they're constantly evolving with classing and rules changes every year.  ST category is probably the most difficult to rate a factor with such a variation in tire choices; where most other categories there is only one tire in the top 10.    There's always HS......

[Forcednduckshn]

I agree with Mike, and I don't expect the ST factors to change much relative to the R-Comps.  Unfortunately, it's very tough to guage the accuracy of a specific class's PAX factor based on just one event.  On any course there are elements that favour certain categories and classes, and its luck of the draw as to what you get dealt pertaining to your class.  On the East Course the highest PAXing ST category driver was Andy Hollis in 54th.  He's no slouch, and the top 10 is filled with mostly the Modified category drivers leading me to believe the course was a little adverse towards the ST category.  The West Course seemed even worse to the category, with the highest PAXing ST category driver was a cherry picker in STX at 98.  Nick, the West seemed tougher on STR as well with you at 349th and the fastest STR run of the day at 336th.  That's why the SCCA does not recognize PAX scoring.  That is also why Rick spends so much time pouring over the data from all the National/Divisional events and even the regional SCCA events to come up with these factors.  Of course it's not perfect and that's why they're constantly evolving with classing and rules changes every year.  ST category is probably the most difficult to rate a factor with such a variation in tire choices; where most other categories there is only one tire in the top 10.    There's always HS......

Agreed.  Even looking at NNJR's results, the National Tours, Pro's, etc. STR has been wayyyy off the mark this year.  I'm surprised they suck so bad at making an accurate PAX for the ST classes; STR I can understand since they didn't have a lot of data for last year.  I would think they could make it a LOT better with the results this year, but given yours and Mike's feedback, I won't get my hopes that high.  I was very ignorant to how bad it was, until I started competing in the ST classes this year.  Kind of interesting to me. Too bad.  Oh well.

RE: HS, I would love to run it.  Even GS, i think a new 2.4 Liter Civic SI could be nasty.  I just like them screamin' 2000's

When you coming back?

[Bob Davis]

Nick,

I understand that STR is still getting figured out, but why do you say that ST PAX is screwed up otherwise? As greenmaxse says, it's so course dependent that you can't draw any conclusions from a given event. Low powered r comp classes were way off the mark at Nats as well, but I've seen them place high at certain tour events, etc. Ben W. seems to be doing fine in STS in the NER PAX race...

[greenmaxse]

When you coming back?

When they
A) Allow a front or rear bar in stock class and allow camber adjustment for all cars [as opposed to those with FSM allowances only(strut cars)].
B) Reclass the EM1 to FSP
or C) I find something else inspiring to drive.

Also, Congratulations Nick on the performance at Nationals.  It was by far the most exciting class to watch.  Really amazing.

Pat Huxley
79HS (Retired)

[Forcednduckshn]

Nick,

I understand that STR is still getting figured out, but why do you say that ST PAX is screwed up otherwise? As greenmaxse says, it's so course dependent that you can't draw any conclusions from a given event. Low powered r comp classes were way off the mark at Nats as well, but I've seen them place high at certain tour events, etc. Ben W. seems to be doing fine in STS in the NER PAX race...

 I don't think it's nearly as screwed up as STR Bob, but glancing at how Andrew Canak paxed in STS, it just didn't seem right.  Totally agreed that it is course dependent, and Ben did a great job on Sunday.  Like I said, the other ST's seem more reasonable, but less than ideal, it's STR that needs to get a major overhaul.  I suppose I should reword my post to make that a little a more clear.

[Forcednduckshn]

When they
A) Allow a front or rear bar in stock class and allow camber adjustment for all cars [as opposed to those with FSM allowances only(strut cars)].
B) Reclass the EM1 to FSP
or C) I find something else inspiring to drive.

Also, Congratulations Nick on the performance at Nationals.  It was by far the most exciting class to watch.  Really amazing.

Pat Huxley
79HS (Retired)

Thanks Pat, I really appreciate it.

I have also been a big supporter of the camber allowances for stock class cars using basic hardware.  It's not fair that the FWD cars like yours blow up tires in 20 runs, something that could easily be solved with adequate camber.

[solo-x]

Pat, a rear bar won't help a front drive car. Hunt me down at an event and I'll explain why.

Nick, ST tires don't do well on concrete, so you can't take nationals results by themselves. Take a look at the gap between Ben and Ian at divs and then look at where Ben finishes on PAX regionally. The ST PAX numbers aren't off by much. Just look at where you are already in Justin's car without a diff!

[pj]

Pat, a rear bar won't help a front drive car. Hunt me down at an event and I'll explain why.

He'd have to come to an event to do so (but I do miss him battling it out in HS, I remember some epic battles)

Nick, ST tires don't do well on concrete, so you can't take nationals results by themselves. Take a look at the gap between Ben and Ian at divs and then look at where Ben finishes on PAX regionally. The ST PAX numbers aren't off by much. Just look at where you are already in Justin's car without a diff!

No diff, still on the initial spring rates, back and forth between sway bars, not dyno-tuned, stock exhaust mid section, heavy seats, and less than a year of adjustments on parts obtained so far (nevermind tuning the "final" setup).  I think another year full of development with a top caliber driver on-board for the entire duration will lead to huge improvements. 

[Forcednduckshn]

Nick, ST tires don't do well on concrete, so you can't take nationals results by themselves. Take a look at the gap between Ben and Ian at divs and then look at where Ben finishes on PAX regionally. The ST PAX numbers aren't off by much. Just look at where you are already in Justin's car without a diff!

I've heard people talk about that phenomenen with street tires on concrete.  Perhaps because R-comps are compliant with the surface irregularities, they work better, as opposed to "smoother" asphalt like Devens that allows less compliant street tires to work better comparitively?  I'm also not taking Nats just by themselves in the case of STR, where the class has been decimated in every tour this year on pax.

I still think STR needs a big change in the multiplier.  You're right, considering how close we are already (1.5s, 1.7s the past two events), the pace we have shown in his car without the diff is pretty encouraging, especially considering the multiplier.  I was just talking with Justin about it.  Matt Thompson has also been going quite well; his car is underprepped but running a factory torsen.  I really would love to drive Matt's car to compare the pace and feel difference.  I would speculate that his car, even with the factory torsen, is about as fast as Justin's car, though justin's car has more suspension development, but retains the oem open diff.

[Forcednduckshn]

No diff, still on the initial spring rates, back and forth between sway bars, not dyno-tuned, stock exhaust mid section, heavy seats, and less than a year of adjustments on parts obtained so far (nevermind tuning the "final" setup).  I think another year full of development with a top caliber driver on-board for the entire duration will lead to huge improvements. 

All true.  The diff by far is going to be the factor that determines if the car can win or not.  With a ton of seat time in the car right now, I know more or less what needs to be done (for the way I drive, and the way it needs to be driven in order to win.)  The car needs a diff, and then retuned from there.  I would bank on significantly more rear spring than what is on there now.  Definitely no rear bar.  Bring the ride height back up to where it was in the back.  Re adjust the shocks to compensate.  A max effort car with the right diff and power could be nasty.  I'll still give it to the s2k's in Lincoln as being the fastest car overall, but the right courses could see the MX-5 (or even a great driver in a well sorted MR2) decimate.

It's either Newt for next year (nickname for Justin's car) or a BS CR that will drop Nuclear Bombs across the world of solo 2