By and large, we're not drag racers. I would venture to guess that a very low percentage of GRM readers are regular participants in drag racing, but a much larger percentage either autocross or road race, or even track days and time trials. So why do we include a drag race in the challenge? In my view, we should keep the autocross but replace the drag race with a lap of the FIRM in a time trial format.
There's a small road course at the Gainesville raceway facility. Drag racing certainly isn't my thing either, but I'm guessing it's part of the Challenge because of the relatively simple logistics and basic test of how "fast" a cheap car is. I'd prefer some road course action, but I highly doubt it's in the cards.
I disagree. Drag racing is an essential performance benchmark, a valid test of driver/builder skill and as American as apple pie. If you are not doing it, I urge you to start because it is also a lot of fun with a low barrier to entry.
I spent a lot of my youth dismissing the 1/4 mile in favor of road racing and hillclimbs, etc. but that was my mistake.
tb said:I disagree. Drag racing is an essential performance benchmark, a valid test of driver/builder skill and as American as apple pie. If you are not doing it, I urge you to start because it is also a lot of fun with a low barrier to entry.
I spent a lot of my youth dismissing the 1/4 mile in favor of road racing and hillclimbs, etc. but that was my mistake.
^ this. The challenge is about builders not drivers. A bad build can still shine in an autox or road course with the right driver, but a drag will let you know real quick if your build is crap (not discounting that this also requires driver skill as well)
In reply to JThw8 :
Since I'm pretty sure I hold the record of the fastest Challenge 1/4 mile by an 85 Buick Riviera I'll take your post as a compliment on my builder skills.
Add a rally-x event... That would really mix things up.
A drag race is different enough from the autocross to highlight two separate performance *things*.
A time trial is just a fast autocross- so it's a measurement of the same characteristic- mostly. The whole power addition between an autocross and TT is more directly measured via a drag race.
The challenge format has pretty direct measurements of how good it look, how well it handles, and how fast it is- and the measuring stick is pretty darned direct. The only reasonable "how fast it is" change would be a top speed challenge- which is a whole lot harder to set up and do than a drag race.
So as it is, it's a great measurement of a car.
It's a magazine, if you write a headline "$2000 car turns a 1:59 at _______ road course!" maybe 0.5% of the population will give a damn and think that's impressive.
If you write "$2000 runs a 9 second quarter mile!" a good portion of the population will register that as an impressive feat.
Jesus berkeleying Christ not this again
Stampie said:In reply to JThw8 :
Since I'm pretty sure I hold the record of the fastest Challenge 1/4 mile by an 85 Buick Riviera I'll take your post as a compliment on my builder skills.
That is the most useless record I've ever heard...and if you'll excuse me I need to go shopping for a Riviera and enough nitrous to break it.
When was the last time you read about a drag racer (other than Challenge coverage) on the pages of GRM?
Conversely, how well-known is the $2000 Challenge in the drag racing world?
I hear your point - drag racing doesn't really match the rest of GRM magazine content. But I think what appeals the most about the Challenge to competitors is the multi-event formula. You can choose to excel in one event or the other, or try to be well-rounded in all of them. Sort of like Formula SAE for cheapasses. Or a triathlon of E36 M3boxes. With that in mind, I'd love to see more "events" added to make it pentathlon of E36 M3boxes. But there are logistical limits.
Mndsm said:Stampie said:In reply to JThw8 :
Since I'm pretty sure I hold the record of the fastest Challenge 1/4 mile by an 85 Buick Riviera I'll take your post as a compliment on my builder skills.
That is the most useless record I've ever heard...and if you'll excuse me I need to go shopping for a Riviera and enough nitrous to break it.
I can tell you from experience that they'll take a 100 shot and according to Andrew Nelson's calculations that doubled the horsepower.
In reply to maschinenbau :
Well enough that the roadkill boys are scared and (iirc) accused Andy nelson of cheating.
In reply to jstein77 :
That is a valid point, but also brings up a major issue within our beloved magazine in general.
It does not cover drag racing at all, this is correct. I don't recall much mention in decades of readership.
The mag isn't really just grassroots specific anymore. There is a lot of pro racing coverage, big mega company products and new technology usage.
Keeping print alive isn't easy these days and inclusiveness is a successful strategy where excluding some groups may not be. I say welcome the drag racing (and other motorsports that aren't for you, but are cool to somebody) because gearheads are all valid.
Thanks for the feedback, everybody, but we're not planning on changing the $2000 Challenge format at this point. We are planning to make it more of a giant car party, though, so that's something to look forward to.
Also, I see posts in here from people who haven't registered for the $2000 Challenge.
What are you waiting for?
alfadriver said:A drag race is different enough from the autocross to highlight two separate performance *things*.
A time trial is just a fast autocross.
+ many many.
In reply to Tom Suddard :
Bringing Godzilla for the unlimited class in 2023 since i shot my budget this year on education expenses
Tom Suddard said:What are you waiting for?
For my neighbor to decide to sell me the crap box he's had parked in front of my house for the past year, so I can gut it, stuff it full of nitrous and cheap race tires, and see what happens.
Patrick said:In reply to Tom Suddard :
Bringing Godzilla for the unlimited class in 2023 since i shot my budget this year on education expenses
Godzilla vs. Lazarus 2023?
Mndsm said:Stampie said:In reply to JThw8 :
Since I'm pretty sure I hold the record of the fastest Challenge 1/4 mile by an 85 Buick Riviera I'll take your post as a compliment on my builder skills.
That is the most useless record I've ever heard...and if you'll excuse me I need to go shopping for a Riviera and enough nitrous to break it.
Well, it's at least the record for fastest E36 M3-brown colored 85 Riviera. I have named that color Urgent Diarrhea. 
jstein77 said:When was the last time you read about a drag racer (other than Challenge coverage) on the pages of GRM?
Exactly! That's why I love it. Drag and AutoX are about as opposite as you can get. It's the crucible of how good the BUILDER is which is the whole point.
Next we'll start talking about ditching the concours because "we're only allowed to spend $2000." Exactly. That's the point. Take a pile of E36 M3 and find creative ways to make it look good.
The whole idea is that the entire concept is based in antithesis. It's supposed to turn well, but go fast in a straight line, and also look good.... for $2000. That's the "challenge" part. If we take out the drag race we could just call it... the GRM Cakewalk.
Speaking of drag racing, I would think an article on drag and drive events would be an interesting read since they are getting so popular. Now that there is one in Florida (Sick Week), covering it might not be too difficult for GRM staff.
I am tempted to enter the challenge this year, but I don't have anything yet. Could bring something from the fleet to run unlimited, but that'd be my last resort, not my first choice.
I'd definitely be interested in coverage of things like Sick Week.
I was thinking more along the lines of moving the event to a centrally located State like Kansas so more people have to drive fewer miles to get there.
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