PGas32

I'm surprised this hasn't been discussed already. What are the thoughts on the new ME1 class for 2.7L base Boxsters and Caymans? Proposed rule set here.

sbelles

The letter classes are pretty much gone and there are a lot of cars out there that fit the bill. Why not?

chartersb

Instead another class, PCA already has more classes than a small college, why not start combing classes.

winders

The goal should be to roll Spec Boxster into this class.....

LuigiVampa

SPC took cars from G, H and I. Won't the ME class steal cars from SPC?

PGas32

It’s only 2.7L cars, so no it won’t take any current cars from SPC. There’s hardly any 2.7’s currently racing (maybe E class?), so my guess is the target is new builds with 986 and 987 base Boxsters and Caymans.

dan212

Merging 2.5 and 2.7 cars brought howls of disapproval (mine as well).
It is at least a sensible class, but what happens to SPB?. A spec class is best IMHO.. Don't know if there is room for both..
I am glad I am not in charge here

/dan

BFT3.2

Another "affordable" racing class probably isnt a bad thing? Looking at the rules it seems on paper they wouldn't be much more to build/field than a SPB aside from the cost of the donor car. There's a ton of the approved cars available on the open market and very few are being raced already.

dan212

I agree 100%. But when SPB was conceived it was intended to be affordable. Engines and gearboxes were disposable. Nobody bothered ti fix them, When I asked about transmission cooling I was laughed at.
Now none of those disposable parts are so disposable.
In the end, they will wind up merging SPB with the new class. And nobody will be happy.
But its inevitable

jgiannone

For whatever reasons, car counts are down from ten or fifteen years ago. When I stand back and look at PCA Club Racing, I see SP1/2/3 and Spec Boxster at one end, Cup Cars and GTD at another, and GTB1 in between, without much in terms of competition I'm many of the classes that once used to thrive. I think this ME1 is a great step to build another class for high car counts that slots in performance and cost wise between Spec Boxster and GTB1. I also think that H, I, Spec 996, Spec 997 and Spec Cayman should be rolled up with BOP adjustments made. Roughly 315 HP plus or minus 15, and 3000 pounds plus or minus 150. Between ME1 and this other rolled up class, most of the steel bodies cars (easy to repair) built between 2000 and 2012 would have a class with lots of competition, while still running pump gas and DOT tires to save cost. As to my later suggestion, if one is confident of their driving ability, this should be welcome. Racing against one or two other competitors in class isn't racing. My opinion.

tgsmith4845

I think the main intent of the new ME1 class is to make a new relatively affordable class so more folks can come racing with us. That’s a good thing, especially considering the increasing costs to run a higher end car in PCA CR. Let’s be real; owning a Porsche ain’t the cheapest thing in the world. There are a ton of these 2.7l cars in the US with some being run in DEs and some converted to race cars. Up until now the only option for racing these cars was in the letter classes. PCA CR heard from a bunch of these owners that they’d like to have a class with similar cars so they can all race together, so the idea of a Mid Engine class was born. This new class is designed to capture those cars between the SPB and SPC classes. Hopefully the word will get out to the owners of these cars and attract them to PCA Club Racing.

To a point made earlier, yes, we have a lot of classes in PCA CR and we’re always looking for ways to pare that down. 911Cup is a very positive step in that direction. This ME1 seems like a good way to add one class that captures a lot of cars.

In short, the intent is to open up PCA CR to more Porsche drivers out there. Hoping this is a good way to do that, but who knows. We’ll see if ME1 takes off. Feedback is always appreciated.

NaroEscape

I don't like it and feel its absolutely unnecessary and here's why:
Right now, if you want to build a mid engine spec car, you have SPB or SPC. SPC is slowly growing, SPB is very established. There are only a finite amount of people that want to go the Spec mid engine route. By having only those two classes, you can decide which direct you want to go and it helps build both classes. Adding ANOTHER class right in the middle will pull potential racers away from either SPB or SPC into this new class. I see it hurting SPC most because it is still growing and trying to establish some level of critical mass.
Also...the leaders in SPB are nipping at the heals of the back of the SPC cars on some tracks. Adding a class in the middle will just confuse things more...

I talked to 3 E guys this past weekend that have cars that would qualify for ME1...none want to participate in it. A few hope it dies on the vine with no participation.

tgsmith4845

Huh. Very interesting

DDun911

Not long ago Porsche club could offer some relatively affordable choices to go racing. Now we have AER chump etc . Maybe cheaper should not be the goal.

letter classes have clearly seen there day. Perhaps a performance balancing class for era.

rhargy

I think it's a good effort for the health of the series.......

1) Our car counts are down markedly over the last couple of years.
2) Track rental costs are up markedly over last year (NJMP raised their rates by about 25%)

Anything to make it more attractive to a broader audience is welcome in my eyes. It's worth a shot. And if it doesn't take off, well at least an effort was made and we know what doesn't work.

PS I don't have a horse in this race, my class is completely unaffected. Just trying to look at the overall picture for PCA club Racing.