[s-cars] Re: S-CAR-List Digest, Vol 7, Issue 55 - mustang vs S-Car

[Larry C Leung]

As a former regional SCCA Solo2 Champion (5 years in a row)
and Regional Exec as well as current stock S-car owner, I would
have to say the following:

In SCCA stock, S-cars, until recently, were classed in F-stock, 
the same class as stock Mustangs/Camaro's etc. In 15 years of
either competing or administrating Solo2 events throughout the
northeast, never once have I seen an S-car beat nonetheless
even run competitively against GM F-bodies and Fox chassis
Mustangs, even those prior to the current SN-95 chassis, 
which are better than the earlier Fox platforms. 

So, statistically, stock S-cars don't run well against the 
'murican iron. 

In SCCA E-street prepared, (ESP) no National or even Divisional
class runners even bother to run an S-car. These people 
research their cars quite throughly before purchasing for their
cars for mod work. Again, statistics work against the S-car. 

So, one possible proposal, take a current F-stock or ESP 
nationally competitive driver such as Sam Strano (excellent
teacher BTW and generally all around good guy)or 
Shauna Marinus (who's now pro) driving a stock (if you 
insist, although I DO know that Taka was talking about 
the IRS Cobra's) Fox chassis Mustang, even pre-SN95,
and then have a current competitive Audi driver such as
Michael Galati or Derek Bell driving a stock S-car, you
pick the year (hmmmm, anyone say...uh, '92) and set up
a Solo2 and Solo1 course. Total the lap times. I think the
results will speak for themselves. Let us all put up our wagers.
I'll put my money on the Pony. My winnings will hopefully 
finance those suspension mods that'll bring it up closer to
but never up to the pony car.

Now, I love my S-car. But, in no possible way do I think
it'll outhandle a Mustang. I've driven a number of other cars
that will handlily out run the S-car, although many do not
feel as good doing it. I for one can say F-bodies don't feel 
good doing things, but boy can they turn, turn-in, brake as
well as go. Mustangs feel better, Audi's feel even better. 
Doesn't mean their as fast, they just feel better doing 
what is 9/10ths for them what really is closer to 7  to 8
tenths for the F-bodies and Fox cars. 

Final thought, until you run them head to head, don't 
make hasty judgements.  

LL - NY - no asbestos req'd

> Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 14:45:55 -0700
> From: "steve powers" <steve at thepowers.net>
> Subject: Re: mustang vs S-Car -- Re: [s-cars] RE:  Stebro
> To: "Theodore Chen" <tedebearp at yahoo.com>, "TM"
>         <t44tq at mindspring.com>,        "'matt ludwig'" 
> <matt.ludwig2 at verizon.net>,
>         "'//Scar //Scar list'" 
> <s-car-list at audifans.com>,        "Bill Clancy"
>         <clancybill at yahoo.com>
> Message-ID: <20040514214554.322211A813 at smtp-pf.nwnexus.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;        charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> Bill:
> 
> > I've owned a mustangs, a Z28, a T-bird supercoupe.   I like the 
> Audi 
> > because
> > it's all wheel drive and seats 4, and it's a bit more appropriate 
> when
> > taking a customer and your boss out for lunch.   But I have to say 
> it's
> > about the worst handling car that i've owned.   I'm sure it gets 
> better 
> > with
> > stiffer springs, a rear sway bar, 18 inch wheels etc, but stock it 
> handles
> > like an 87 Lincoln Town Car.
> 
> When did you purchase yours? and with how many miles? This may be a 
> factor 
> on how you judge the ride. In my experience, the S6/S4 handles way 
> better 
> than _any_ T-bird and probably most Camaros. Late model Camaros are 
> piggy. 
> Mustangs are much lighter and if well equipped, will perform 
> better.
> 
> For comparison I bought my S6 Avant in '95 with 7 miles on it. All 
> miles on 
> my car are mine. It rode great, though tended to roll a bit when it 
> was 
> stock. It's far from that now and has numerous suspension upgrades 
> since. It 
> performed very well at the recent club autocross event. It just 
> turned 105k 
> this AM.
> 
> Steve Powers
> anxiously awaiting an HRSB