NASA's new national autocross program..., New rules, new classing, and big plans - check it out! Options

[getfast]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2008
Richmond, CA


NASA Announces Autocross Program Expansion


The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) is pleased to announce the expansion of the NASA-X program to include new rules and new leadership for 2008. NASA veteran Jon Felton has been appointed to be NASA-X National Director. This is Felton's 11th season as a NASA official and he is also a very experienced autocrosser and NASA-X organizer.

"I have loved cone events since I drove at my first autocross in the early 1990's. NASA Mid-Atlantic was born from a handshake deal at one of them, in fact!" said Felton.

Felton's 2008 plans include streamlining all the NASA-X regions with a standardized national ruleset and vehicle classing structure. The 2009 season will see further development including a series of national NASA-X events culminating in the first ever NASA-X National Championship, patterned after NASA's highly regarded NASA National Championships presented by Toyo Tires held each September.

"We're extremely happy to have Jon on board to help us develop another facet of our competitive motorsports program" said NASA Chief Divisional Director John Lindsey. "Autocross is an important part of the grassroots scene today and we look forward to bringing some of our innovative ideas to the folks who enjoy dodging cones on the weekends."

NASA is not limiting opportunities to participate in the program only to regions currently hosting NASA-X programs.

"We want anyone and everyone who is interested in helping us put the best program in the country together to come join us," said Felton. "Independent clubs and affiliated groups alike, please help us make NASA-X the biggest and best it can be in 2008 and beyond!"

For more information, contact NASA-X National Director Jon Felton at nasa-x@get-fast.net

[getfast]

By the end of the week you should be able to find the following new documents at http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules.htm :

-'08 NASA-X national rules
-'08 NASA-X national classing
-'08 NASA-X national tech form
-'08 NASA-X national car classing calculator

Regionally pretty much nothing will change but the classing for some competitors.

As for future plans... a true national series is in the works for '09, with a big final NASA-X championship weekend probably right here in the Mid-Atlantic. Stay tuned for details!

Much to do,

Jon
EDIT: detailing the regional changes in a separate thread to be linked below

This post has been edited by getfast: Mar 13 2008, 06:16 PM

[NavyRS-t]

Thats amazing Jon! And congrats on the new job/promotion (I'm not sure what to call it).

I can't wait to see how this all develops over the next couple years.

[00Lude]

Thats amazing Jon! And congrats on the new job/promotion (I'm not sure what to call it).

I can't wait to see how this all develops over the next couple years.

+1, Congrats Jon! I can't wait to see what you're able to do.

NASA Championship in the MA, yeah, that sounds about right. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/checkeredflag.gif)

[tnd2]

Congratulations Jon, can I get your autograph? Theres about a hundred pics I need signed, one day you'll be eBAY material!

[prsrcokr]

Yeehaw! Congratulations Jon, long overdue for the work you've been putting in.
This sounds like a great step forward, from 06 to very few Richmond events to possibility of a 'big show' in our region soon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

A question on the new classing, how open is this to change/revisions? My car has been reclassed to D from E, it's 20 years old and I don't think any groundbreaking factory recalls were made in the last year. Was this a mistake or perhaps someone should drive one of these boats in stock form and they'd reconsider? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Brian

[Slantnose]

Very cool.
Congratulations!

Marc

[getfast]

Thanks fellas!!! It was truly an honor to be asked to take on something of this magnitude.

congrats on the new job/promotion (I'm not sure what to call it).

I like to think of it as a "project" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I can't wait to see what you're able to do.

"You" is definitely plural in this case. My intention is to provide structural management and guidance, with the blessing of (and assistance from) NASA's excellent west coast national staff, alongside the great team of officials we have assembled over the years, with many more like-minded people coming aboard along the way.

I shall hopefully continue to simply be the glue that holds a great bunch of gearheads together so we can have some fun with our friends (even the ones we haven't met yet), as I am with our regional program... where only a minor part of what goes on involves just me.

It's all quite speculative at this point, but the first step is the press release above and the four documents we've been drafting for weeks now. Hopefully they'll be posted on nasaproracing.com today, so everyone can check 'em out.

John Lindsey used the word "innovative" in the press release, and that's really what this project is.

I can't wait,

Jon

[getfast]

A question on the new classing, how open is this to change/revisions? My car has been reclassed to D from E, it's 20 years old and I don't think any groundbreaking factory recalls were made in the last year. Was this a mistake or perhaps someone should drive one of these boats in stock form and they'd reconsider? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It is definitely open to change/revisions and we're only human. Email nasa-x@get-fast.net if you want the base class double-checked and we'll go from there. Although D to E is a step slower, not a step faster, so it can only help the car's chance to be competitive. Or are you saying it belongs in F? Yes the Supra T's of your vintage were a bit heavy and soft and under-tire'd in stock form, but you can fix much of that with 19 points worth of modifications. They aren't slow cars by any means, then OR now...

On a larger scale, the best thing I can say is that everyone should check the documents once they're posted at http://www.nasaproracing.com/rules.htm and make sure their cars haven't been re-classed for '08. Especially anyone on the high or low end of the spectrum. Many hours went into the base classing for everything on the list by a pretty specific formula, but the nature of only having 12 car classes does unfortunately mean that not everyone's car will always be competitive. Although we can't know what might need adjustment until people come out and get on the results sheets! It's all about the mentality. Take "I won't go play with NASA, my car won't be competitive" and turn it into "let's go play with NASA and see what it takes to make this car and driver competitive." (Not you specifically Brian, I mean that in general for everyone.)

You'll hear me repeat this phrase a lot in '08... "please sign up early and often"... so we can get some data and make changes as necessary for '09 and beyond! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yesnod.gif)

Jon

[svann]

Congrats Jon, I've seen how much you've put into this from the early days and you deserve a lot of credit. There not many persons who have the dedication or ability you've shown. Although I need a course in the NASA classing system.

[eclricochet]

It is definitely open to change/revisions and we're only human. Email nasa-x@get-fast.net if you want the base class double-checked and we'll go from there. Although D to E is a step slower, not a step faster, so it can only help the car's chance to be competitive. Or are you saying it belongs in F? Yes the Supra T's of your vintage were a bit heavy and soft and under-tire'd in stock form, but you can fix much of that with 19 points worth of modifications. They aren't slow cars by any means, then OR now...


You'll hear me repeat this phrase a lot in '08... "please sign up early and often"... so we can get some data and make changes as necessary for '09 and beyond! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yesnod.gif)

Jon

I think he meant that he was in TTE and now he will be classed in NXD. I can agree though that you will never have perfect classing for all. Too fast for one group and too slow for another.

Congrats Jon!

--Doug

[getfast]

I thought he meant it should be in a slower class, but I barely had any coffee in me at the time.

I can confirm that Brian's '87-to-'91ish body style Supra Turbo is a NASA-X E car in stock form for 2008. I know he runs his in D, but it has some modifications.

Paperwork,

Jon

[prsrcokr]

Yall clarified this before I even had a chance to read the first response. Just wanted to make sure it was listed incorrectly. Cool, should be TTE/NXE base class like last year (I was concerned because I am prepping with time trials under the TTD classing in mind too)

How about the tire points system Jon, was this done away with or will it differ for Nasa-X and time trial (didn't see the width based points and points for sub 180 tread rated tires.
No offense taken Jon, if I had a dollar for everytime I've been told this car is not competive...just glad it wasn't getting less competitive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


Can we start using this new list in figuring our points based classes or is it expected to change a little?
Of course, I'll gladly swap out a strut bar for good brake pads if a point is needed later on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
Brian

[getfast]

It's go time! All the new NASA-X paperwork is here:

http://www.autocross.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=3945

Please ask specific questions in that thread not this one.

Thank you,

Jon

[maacodale]

And to think, We knew you when..........

[prsrcokr]

On my questions above, it looks like some older docs had been posted earlier that I was reading. The new ones addresses tire points and classing much like last season's did.

Thanks for clearing this up.

[getfast]

This release is now posted on the main page at http://www.nasaproracing.com/

Enjoying my 15 minutes of fame hahaha,

Jon