CORSA 2012: Economy Run and more

[Bryan Blackwell]

Hi Roy,

On Mar 8, 2011, at 10:01 AM, rbuckridge at comcast.net wrote:
> 
> From what I have seen in the past, drivers try to stretch the rules where they can in either a rally or econo run. While "some what legal" it goes against the spirit of the event. The MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT in either event is to HAVE FUN with the car and not a WIN AT ALL COSTS type of thinking. 

Just because someone is looking for a competitive edge doesn't mean they are win at all costs.  Beyond that, it's a COMPETITION.  You're involved with racing - if your driver could gain a tenth of a second per lap would that be 'win at all costs'?  Sure, putting someone in the wall is wrong, as is going 10 MPH on the highway.  But shifting to neutral on a steep downhill seems like a smart idea, just as using a proper line through a corner is smart.  In my view, it's not FUN if I can't COMPETE.
> 
> Even if the rally were a TSD rally, you could still incorporate an econo run as part of the TSD rally. OK drivers, here is your TSD rally, we will award trophies for the top 3 cars in class for being on time and also the top 3 cars in class for the best fuel mileage. It is really that SIMPLE. 


I'd contend that what will happen is you'll have one group of drivers focus on the rally, and one focus on the econo-run.  In fact, unless you make it one entry cost (likely making it a lot more expensive since you're buying two sets of trophies) you'll have a lot of people enter one or the other but not both.  Of course there will be a group who does both and views the whole competitive part as silly, but speaking from the perspective of a COMPETITIVE rallyist I'll bet I'd find the folks on the course who are focused on the econo side of it a bunch of moving roadblocks, and they'd probably be unhappy with me adjusting speed to maintain CAS.

--Bryan