American Trans Am Series Season III

  • Thread starter Kalmiya117
  • 563 comments
  • 22,546 views
GT5 is about a year old now and it doesn't help that some other big games are out now, i.e. COD & Battlefield. Not to mention PD keeps dropping the ball on good DLC.

I agree, racing 4 other people isn't as much fun as it sounds. I'm out of ideas on getting others interested. A part of me just wants the series to go back to the way it was. Just the vintage classes. I think people get confused on our setup with Modern/Vintage street/race, and shy away.

Since there's a lack of variety in classic American race cars, maybe consider letting foreign cars into the mix. Might appeal to more people.
 
The sets of regulations we are using currently worked very well at matching the cars competitively, but I think the amount of regulations may be discouraging to anyone looking to join a new series. Looking through the other threads, we are not the only series struggling with attendance currently, it probably is just a seasonal thing combined with all the new game titles. While the attendance was discouraging, I did have a very aggressive 15 lap battle with DTG88 in the first half of the Group 1 race last night. The week before I must have had the setup wrong, 'cause the ZR1 was seriously beating up that SS Camaro this week. I only lost him due to an error entering pit road.

I still very much enjoy racing these cars in our series and don't plan on giving up on it. I think some tweaking to the regulations to make them 'easier on the eyes' and just deciding on one set of cars or even one car to run all season may help spark interest.

Edit: by 'one set of cars' I'm referring to a group of cars such as "Group 1 Vintage", I am certainly not suggesting any sort of one-make
 
Last edited:
Yea I forgot to tell u I was takn my two weeks off that we r allowed to race. But I know what u mean. I did plan on racing this Sunday with u all. Time is a contrant as well n idk if I'm game for a series. 4 either. Plus I'm kinda frustrated with my race results, I pick a stupid ****** car n do impress myself but I still can't catch any of u. I was taking a lead on points mudd but that's like a long shot / long haul from here. Maybe if u select only a few really well matched cars, we can all be more competitive. Like I would hate to dsay this but for example a corvette never raced in trans am only until 2006. What I'm saying is the car selection is more along the lines of a ALMS series. And I kno how it feels to have a vfintage threac fall off the face of GTP as I have tried to host many. Sorry for the typos, usin a touchscreen phone right now
 
I've been thinking about it, and I think we should do some testing with a 'Trans Am vs. JGT' theme. I'm picturing our Group1 racers against the Japanese TC cars, the GTR TC's and the RX7 TC. I havn't done alot with them, but from what I've seen they seem comparable. If we can find some equalizing regulation it could make for some good racing and would certainly spark more interest.
 
Adding more of a selection to what we already have may or may not do anything. The main idea behind having Modern Vs Vintage to me was to perhaps interest more people. Adding more in the mix not only means we would have to revise possibly regulations, but what cars can be used.

And if we do different classes, well...We just do not have enough people for that. Personally I wouldn't mind going back to Season One deal with just using Vintage Only, Or just dropping the Group II cars and run only Group One cars.
 
Thats along the same lines I was getting at. I don't want to add more to what we have, but cut back to a single group, such as Vintage or Modern. If we weren't dealing with so many different regs like we are now, adding a car or two shouldn't hurt. It was just a quick idea though, nothing that had been thought through. Honestly, I'm still hoping its just a fluke and everybody will show up next weekend. :)
 
Been having freezing issues on my end for a couple of the newer Time Trial events earlier in the week. Hopefully, they won't hit me as we do tonight's races. Also, when would be a good time to set the room up for tonight's event? Maybe 7:30 so that it can give Kalmiya a chance to take part tonight?
 
I figured we'd be taking our time starting the races tonight just for that reason. It looks like we may have a slight 'rain delay' anyways, if this NASCAR race doesn't get back underway soon...
 
Holy crap! 15 laps to go and Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards are at a tie for the championship running 1st and 2nd!!! Unbelievable!!!
 
Looks like I have misplaced my flash drive that has the ACAD file of the scoreboard. I should find it by tomorrow.
Anyhow, looks like I'll be able to enjoy 1st place in G1 for one more week. Assuming Kal shows up for the next 2 weeks, it will be his to lose.

So I started giving some thought on next season, hopefully there is. The modern classes should go. I really like the G2 class on ss tires, but it kinda takes up a lot of room. Maybe we should turn the street class into a qualifier for G1? And be able to pick whatever car you want each week. G1 will remain unchanged.

I have no idea how to make the GT40 competitive, other then to turn off tire wear. Mudd mentioned last night that PD is going to have a '71 Camaro race car next DLC? That would add a little variety. Not that we need anymore Chevrolets in the field. Ford guys will just have to convert from the darkside.

With a simpler format + a new car + winter season will = more people interested.
There has been several vintage leagues posted on here, and this one is the only one I've seen that has made it through the first season. Keep it going.
 
I see. That will probably take a while. Damn. Looks like it would be similar to the 60' Morrison Vette, & the Trans Cammer. It probably won't show up until GT6, 5 years from now.
 
Regardless, I agree with going back to focusing on Vintage G1 cars for a season. The Group 2 cars are fun, but there is plenty of room to experiment with the class as Skeletor suggests. I honestly don't even practice with my G2 cars, only practice with G1 and then when I hop in G2 on Sunday I just make sure I'm a gear lower entering the turns. Lol.

Add: While I'm thinking about it, the Vintage and Modern G2 cars didn't seem all that different at 530pp. I suggest opening G2 up to any year American Muscle, along with allowing car choice from week to week. If nothing else, it will make some great pics!
 
Last edited:
Mudd
. . . Add: While I'm thinking about it, the Vintage and Modern G2 cars didn't seem all that different at 530pp. I suggest opening G2 up to any year American Muscle, along with allowing car choice from week to week. If nothing else, it will make some great pics!
Click to expand...

I like it. Maybe take a few laps off, have it only count as a qualifier for the main event. Put small point value for it, i.e. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, for the top 5 that will get added to ONE scoreboard.
 
How about G2 being a 8 to 10 lap 'Heat' race that will decide the running order for G1, which we will line up during the pace lap. In an effort to keep the points closer, I'd say only one championship point to be awarded to the winner of the G2 race. I'm also thinking, (since car choice can be changed each week), the winner of the G2 race will be forced to retire the winning car for remainder of the season. (As in if I win in the '69 Z28, I cannot use a '69 Z28 again for the rest of the season, everyone else is clear to use it until they win with it). I think that would help shake things up a bit.

Would like to hear from the others about this too, guys. I can see you reading this! :)
 
I think those are great ideas! I like everything Mudd and Skel came up with....open selection in G2, can change up cars week to week in both Groups, G2 run as a qualifier race with minimal laps and count as only 1 point for championship, let that decide the grid for G1. And whoever is dominating in one particular car has to drop it next season, opening the championship for another driver to try to dominate.

I think it will help with a closer championship battle. Also make the points system simple. That will help out too. Honestly I feel like I could be more competitive if I choose simpler cars to drive such as the camaro(ss & z28 rm's), as its a great overall car. But I choose to tune some kinda car that turns like the titanic thus giving me horrible points.

Example, don't drive the GT40 or the Corvette unless you want to get frustrated and loose it on tires and in turns.

And I like the idea of winners being banned from that car. Simple fact the best drivers, Skel & Titus pick the Camaro (the easiest car to use IMO). And they should be banned from them effective: IMEDIATELY!!! Put it this way I wouldn't be racing with you guys if I didn't feel like I had a shot at winning. I just have to get into the right car (camaro) and put some guys (Skel & Titus) in a GT40 or Corvette. This would be funny to watch them suffer a half hour race in last place with no one in sight. I would like to see how they handle it. To see if they would improve the following week or get even more miserable the following. Or give up which I pretty much did for the remainder of this season, until next series when car selection is open and I pick the obvious choice (camaro).
 
Ken, I drove the Corvette Z06 in season I (and won), and the GT40 in season II (lost badly). I chose the Camaro this season to give myself a break from the ridiculous cars.

I really like the idea of once you win a qualifier, you can't run that car again. And since I'm giving 3pts for pole right now anyway, we should do 3, 2, 1 for the top 3.

I think G1 should remain as it is for now.
 
I was actually thinking of sticking with one registered car for the G1 series, otherwise I'm afraid we would end up with a field full of Camaro's at a track like the Forest and a field of Chally's at Road Daytona. But, that's why I'm asking for opinions, we've got a few weeks to figure this out, yet.
 
I agree, leave G1 as it is.

I think we're going in the right direction on what to do with the G2 class. This will simplify things up a bit, and make the series less cumbersome, and more fun overall. With free selection for the qualifier car, this will allow anyone to try out odd-ball cars without having any consequences.

Very good ideas so far.
 
Skeletor27
Ken, I drove the Corvette Z06 in season I (and won), and the GT40 in season II (lost badly). I chose the Camaro this season to give myself a break from the ridiculous cars.

I really like the idea of once you win a qualifier, you can't run that car again. And since I'm giving 3pts for pole right now anyway, we should do 3, 2, 1 for the top 3.

I think G1 should remain as it is for now.
Click to expand...

Well thats what I'm referring to: you in a vette is a scary thing for us because you kill with it and no one else has proven they can. And the Camaro is an obvious choose and thats where I'm headed. Its a sigh of relief to know you drove the Gt40 and suffered the consequences of it. But Yes I do agree to leave G1 as is.

Down the road I can see other drivers catching on to this method of picking the Camaro or Challenger as they are the hands down easy car to drive and real competitive. Like in real vintage racing, competitors where eventually filling the field with Dodge's and Camaro's. Check this out: http://www.trans-amseries.com/results/1970.pdf try typing different years in the address to see other seasons as well.

And Skel, you are the only person I have met that can actually drive the C2 race car. I have seen many FAILS in that ride.
 
Thanks Ken, I would like to add the fact that in Season I, we were only running about half the laps as we do now. It was a handful, there's no doubt about that, but at least it had HORSEPOWER, and lots of it. The GT40 just sucked all the way around.

Camaro & Challenger are the bread & butter of this series and is what the series is based on. If we just had a Mustang RM, it would be a perfect world. And would be a true Trans-Am series. The limited selection is what it is.

And instead of PD giving us a Mustang race car, they keep giving us GTR race cars.
 
Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing Skel drive the Z06 Race Car again. He is fast with it, but so was I (a pole and two 3rd's), the difference is he had to run it fast for about 6 laps to win, I tried to run it 15 laps at a time. :P
 
Ahh, yes...was waiting for the response. :) 12 laps was on the schedule, but think back, the lap count was lowered on Sunday. I remember because I started the season late and was confused.

Before Skeletor and myself are forced to settle this on the the track, I'll add that I'm certain he is capable of driving the Z06 extremely fast for 15 laps as well, I was just pointing out that he's not the only one who has spent the time to tame that particular beast.
 
Well, Don't be hating the GT because of the performance of the Ford GT in Modern Group One. I've enjoyed them and have them well tuned, just one bastard child with tire wear is just a pain. I also show they are fast in Street rooms with titus as well. The Vintage GT40 is a pain in teh royal but, and I knew this. I also felt the Modern Ford GT would more than make up for it for that class. So I cut my legs in Vintage and made up for in Modern. That is how I played my cards and worked my "team"

I've have done well in all the cars I've driven, but I change them every season to try new ones. Next Season I do Corvettes, Then I would have done the four major group cars.

Here is the idea, if we go back to the Vintage only, (which I like modern classes though) I suggest we up the laps run. If anything run just vintage Group One and do 1+ hour long races with tire wear on. If you leave it off the Challenger, and Corvette will just run away easy peasy. The Challenger is not easy to drive, it requires proper tuning to ensure tire life and ability to use the weight and high horsepower to your advantage. Just because some one did well with one car does not mean it is easy. The ford GT really performs, but they are way less forgiving when a mistake is made. The Camaro, is kinda easy but has to do with less HP and so you have to perfect corning to keep up.

Also, under any circumstances do I vote for tire wear being off, regardless if it makes some cars absolutely horrid to drive.

I was going to throw out that Group One modern have the same restrictions as Vintage Group One. 640 PP cap. I believe the Challenger TC could compete, but still without a LSD it is hindered. (I would still rock it)
 
I don't hate the GT, I just realized that the Modern G1 cars are not created equal. Having 1 minute separate 1st & 2nd, then another minute separating 2nd & 3rd & so on isn't how this league should be going. I believe the Vintage class was/is more competitive. Except for the GT40. I like the modern class too, but there's other leagues (several) that do GT type racing, and we shouldn't be trying to compete with that.

Edit:
Kal, we just bounced around a bunch of really good ideas on what to do with the street class, we shouldn't throw it away. Hour long races are fine with me, but don't want to do hour races where the last half-hour is everyone on cruise control in their own world.

Oh, and I wasn't serious about turning tire wear off. Just mentioning that is the only way GT40 will ever be competitive in this league. It was put there to give the Ford guys something to drive. Turns out they still don't have anything to drive. Oh well, we tried.
 
Last edited:
Come to think of it, maybe we should try a PP restriction instead of the HP/KG limits for this weekend, see if we can even them out better. If any of us have a chance to get together and test a couple of the cars, I would think test runs at 640pp and maybe 625, 650, see what we get of it.

As far as the race length, with the attendance as of late, I'm looking at next season as a bit of a restructuring to gain interest. I believe the 25 to 30 lap format would be better for drawing in new racers. I would certainly be up for a longer race format once we were back up to eight or more regular racers showing up each week. Racing against you all is one of my favorite 'escapes' each week, but you guys have seen how frustrated I get when there's no one to race against for 15 strait laps just because the only other four drivers in the race are on the other side of the track. If we had more racers, it won't be an issue, but I don't want to run longer laps until then.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SlowFWD84VT
V8 Street Car Trans-Am Series
Replies
0
Views
1K
SlowFWD84VT
SlowFWD84VT
05XR8
Trans-Am Street
Replies
0
Views
1K
05XR8
05XR8
The359
Mercedes-Benz SLR Trophy - Nov. 16
Replies
3
Views
284
bloodyboyblue
bloodyboyblue
TUSMBOX
Money Talks Time Trial Series | Starting 5/19
Replies
1
Views
722
TUSMBOX
TUSMBOX
Zolon32
GTEs are Ace, but Aces drive GTOs, from Monday 6th November
4 5 6
Replies
160
Views
13K
IfAndOr
IfAndOr

Latest Posts

Back