So what's the new special category for next year?

Engine swap class. Anything is fair game as long as it doesn't have a factory drivetrain

Different direction, but I think it'd help pull in more folks to the Challenge.  And could be a separate class other than the special category.

What about a "run what you brung" class that's limited to "as bought" condition.  The wrenching, swapping, fabbing, frankenmonsters are awesome and spirit of the Challenge, but I'd guess a lot of us don't have the time or skills to do that level of wrenching, but would still love to come to the Challenge and compete form something.

The idea would be a class limited to cars that don't have any (much?) work done to them, more about your ability to negotiate and shop for the best deals.  I'm thinking auction cop cars, stock performance cars, even cars bought already modified.  For me, it'd be chance to scour the auction sites and see if I can pick up a police Charger or something.  Or, find that one owner V6 Camry Coupe that the addition of sticky tires would make it a decent competitor.  Could you find that K20 swapped Civic that the guy just forgot to hook up the ground cables?  Or the Vette that "needs a rebuild" when in reality it was a clogged PVC valve?  It might end up being just a Miata class, but I'd like to think you'll see a bunch of really unique cars.  How cool would it be if someone shows up in that rich divorce punishment sell where the wife sells off the husbands (or vice versa) Porsche collection for $2k each?  :D

Plus, if gives those folks without wrenching skills or time to actually compete (alas in a smaller class) and feel like they've accomplished something and not feeling lazy by just buying and showing up. 

Basic rules would be:

1. Proof of what you bought it for and that anyone could have
2. You can make mods (still under budget), but are limited to typical things an average Joe can do. Tires, oil changes, battery, plugs, filters, etc.  Perhaps limited to stuff you can buy in a WalMart store.  That would keep it limited. I could see someone hacking together a CAI with  parts from the plumbing department and a motorcycle air filter. 
3. The standard safety budget exempt rules still apply.  If you buy a car for $2019 that just needs an oil change, bearing repacked, needs brakes and tires, then you've probably done some good shopping!
4. Lightness is allowed on the interior but not exterior.  You can pull the carpet, sound deadening, seats, sunroof?, spare tire, jack.  You cannot take off the doors, trunk lid, hood, fenders, etc.  I'm not sure about glass because I could see getting a cheap vandalized car that all the windows are busted out of, but removing good glass is probably beyond the "average" person.  Not sure.
5. Paint jobs are limited to rattle cans and masking tape. 

To keep it fair, we'd need to figure out "advertised price" vs. "negotiated".  Nobody will believe you talked the seller of that salvage title Camaro from their $10,000 asking price to $2019.  But a $4000 car that's been on Craig's for 6 months that you hit the seller up when their house payment is due and you offered $2000?  I could see that.  Maybe video proof?  Not sure how we could watch it. 

(I keep editing as I think of stuff)

-Rob

irish44j said:

$80 tire class doesn't seem like it would be very fair to various cars. Obviously the cars running 15" wheels like a Miata can get better tires for $80 than something that needs 17" tires, for example....

My 2002 Infiniti had 17 inch factory wheels but I ran 15 inch SM7 tires this weekend.  Nothing a little grinding of brake calipers can't solve.

In reply to rob_lewis :

That's a great way to create a market for used Challenge vehicles. I have a slightly used Q45 that's placed 11 overall for sale.  $2019.

Stampie said:

In reply to rob_lewis :

That's a great way to create a market for used Challenge vehicles. I have a slightly used Q45 that's placed 11 overall for sale.  $2019.

Yep, and still give someone a car to compete with.  Plus, keeping the limited mod rules, it would prevent someone from buying a Challenge car with a blown motor for $1000 and swapping a different motor in it.  They could absolutely run the Challenge, but not the "run what you brung" class.

-Rob

Another idea but kinda similar.  A class for cars bought last minute.  Limit it to 2 weeks before the Challenge to give time for basic stuff and travel.  Maybe put a range for distance on the time.  If you live within 200 miles of the Challenge, you have a week.  Tack on an extra day beyond a week for each 200 miles .  Someone coming from Portland would have about 3 weeks before the Challenge to get a car and get it there.

Not much you could do in that time other than the simple stuff, in theory.  Then again, someone might be able to do a caffeine induced 5 solid days of little sleep engine swap and show up.  Different from the parking lot build as that seems more like a team bonding exercise.

-Rob

Brougham class! 

Eligible cars must have any 4 of the following:

-Opera lights

-Vinyl roof

-Whitewalls

-Factory front bench

-Kitschy designer edition

-Horribly low-po V8

-A violently vulgar shade of velour for the interior

-More ashtrays than cupholders

In reply to Indy-Guy : British cars at least 50 years old!   

frenchyd said:

In reply to Indy-Guy : British cars at least 50 years old!   

 

I can do that. 

G_Body_Man said:

Brougham class! 

Eligible cars must have any 4 of the following:

-Opera lights

-Vinyl roof

-Whitewalls

-Factory front bench

-Kitschy designer edition

-Horribly low-po V8

-A violently vulgar shade of velour for the interior

-More ashtrays than cupholders

In reply to Indy-Guy :

Older stuff isn't my thing, but i think it would be a great to see more vintage metal at this event. 

A class for British classics would generate some editorial content for the sister publication as well. 

Is a sub-2k vintage racer even possible?

Dusterbd13 said:

Engine swap class. Anything is fair game as long as it doesn't have a factory drivetrain

That’s literally anything i build

i think the “special” class should be something that more than likely doesn’t have a chance to top 5 overall, or else it won’t be fun anymore 

CrustyRedXpress said:

In reply to Indy-Guy :

Older stuff isn't my thing, but i think it would be a great to see more vintage metal at this event. 

A class for British classics would generate some editorial content for the sister publication as well. 

Is a sub-2k vintage racer even possible?

Possible? Yes. Competitive for top five? Probably not. I'm exactly 2k into the TR4 pictured above and it came with a ton of spares that will max out the recoup limit of 1k. It's rough, but I can get it there under budget.

In reply to rob_lewis :

Umm... Both of those ideas already exist. 

There is a pretty sizable percentage of the competitors who essentially “run what they bring”, and NOTHING is stopping anyone from doing it. Heck, I’ve done it. 

And IIRC,there WAS an award for last minute Challenger. Didn’t seem to increase participation. 

G_Body_Man said:

Brougham class! 

Eligible cars must have any 4 of the following:

-Opera lights

-Vinyl roof

-Whitewalls

-Factory front bench

-Kitschy designer edition

-Horribly low-po V8

-A violently vulgar shade of velour for the interior

-More ashtrays than cupholders

Get to compete while traveling to and from the event in complete comfort perfect

How about a diesel subclass. Euro diesels allowed but discouraged.

Indy-Guy said:

British Cars ?

 

Nice.

In reply to Dusterbd13 :

I like the engine swap class idea. It would be even cooler if you had a engine swap, suspension swap class. Minimum 3 cars included to compete.

rob_lewis said:

Another idea but kinda similar.  A class for cars bought last minute.  Limit it to 2 weeks before the Challenge to give time for basic stuff and travel.  Maybe put a range for distance on the time.  If you live within 200 miles of the Challenge, you have a week.  Tack on an extra day beyond a week for each 200 miles .  Someone coming from Portland would have about 3 weeks before the Challenge to get a car and get it there.

Not much you could do in that time other than the simple stuff, in theory.  Then again, someone might be able to do a caffeine induced 5 solid days of little sleep engine swap and show up.  Different from the parking lot build as that seems more like a team bonding exercise.

-Rob

i prefer this to the bought and unmodified idea. The whole spirit of the event is to build..... Thus the ability to use pro drivers.... buy and give to a pro to drive seems like you are testing your ability to be a team owner.

French cars. They are out there. They are quirky. They are not worth anything. 

Pete

In reply to NOHOME :

I'd ruin my budget getting vinyl "Le Miserable" stickers cut in the Le Car font...

T-Top class. 

autocrossing 80s goodness with half the chassis rigidity, twice the weight and 1000x the roof leaks. Bonus points will be given to those who drive the car to the event as opposed to trailering it if they do so through a hurricane. 

Wagon class redux? There were only like 3 of us this year, probably because of no drags. Obviously I'm biased.

In reply to captdownshift :

Does a Bradley GT count?

In reply to Stampie :

Abso-freaking-lutely