From Way Out There
By Tommy Brolsma
Oh no, a dirt short track writer babbling about sports cars, that's all we need. Yup, that's what I am, but I'm also a road racing fan. I know, interesting mix, but it's one I'd like to see more of.
Grand-Am has stated that they are after the non-traditional sports car fan, and made their changes to do so. This is a brilliant strategy, as there are so many race fans out there who want to see good, close racing, not the high end technology. There are some (like me) who like both, but sports car hasn't always done the greatest job of providing close racing that is marketable for the masses.
That is why I'm a part of the Cognoscenti. I like the direction of Grand-Am, and don't understand why many "traditional" sports car fans stand in line to slam it. I guess it comes down to where your racing tastes lie, in close racing or high tech speed, and some people only like one or the other.
Now I like both, but I think that it is rare to find the two together. When you bring in today's high technology, it is by belief that the cars are too fast to have the great, close battles that make races more entertaining. Technology equals speed, both down the straights and in the corners, resulting in less reaction time for the drivers. If there's less reaction time for the drivers, it's less likely that they will pull out for a pass since there is less time to react if something goes wrong.
Plus, the faster cars go and the more they rely on downforce, the more the dreaded aero-push rears its ugly head. That hinders drivers from passing, or even getting close to another car.
That's where Grand-Am got it right with the DP's. They may not be as fast as LMP/SRP's but that can be a good thing. They don't rely on aero as heavily as LMP/SRP's, either. That and the engine rules lends to closer racing.
I just wish people would stop trying to compare their speed to LMP's or other sports cars from other areas or eras. Why does this matter? The cars are still racing, still going faster than anything most of us have driven, and they are putting on a great show. Speed is a relative thing anyway, and if people would stop trying to compare, they might find that the DP's are quick and put on a great show!
About "From Way Out There." This will be a sporadic column on this site as it grows, as I'm the "webmaster" and will be concentrating on getting everyone else's stuff onto the site. So why do I call it "From Way Out There?" Because I haven't been to a live sports car racing since the 80's, and come from sprint car and dirt late model racing. A bit out there for a sports car column, but I'm hoping to change that!
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