So now that we've had a whole season with the new combined BS/CS what does everybody thing about the merger?

MSR - Probably the best car in the class but is it too much of an overdog? WIll it end up killing the class by forcing out all the other cars?

Solstice - It has been proven to be able to win in atleast one driver's hands, but does it really have a chance against the others in the class?

370Z - Probably still the biggest question mark surrounding this car.

RX-8 - The old BS favorite but has it been outclassed by the CS cars and the 370Z?

Boxster - Probably the biggest underdog in the class but one managed to make it into the trophies this year. Is it fully developed?

I think this class can go one of two ways, if the balance between all these cars remains I think it will be a well subscribed class, kind of like a entry-level SS. However if one car starts overtaking the rest of the class, especially if that one car is a "rare, hard-to-find, cheater" car, I could see numbers falling off very quickly. The risk for all the competitors bailing on the class is even more real with the STX and STR giving several of these cars competitive places to play.

Allow me to clarify. I do not think the MSR is a cheater car, I also don't think that its all that hard to find the correct 2007 base car and build one, ala the shelby mustang. However some people have that perception of the car, hence why I put it in quotes. That being said I do not want to get into an argument about the legality of the MSR that has been beaten to death and the car is here to stay.

The Sol has won with Kevin and Ryan, no reason to call it dead at this point.

We have not seen the 370 or Boxster at the limit with a top driver yet. If I were buying a car for the class I would get the Boxster.

I know I did not bring an A game to the RX-8 this year. I only drove three events, none in an RX-8, and that was my first time in Coulson's car and on the 285 Hoosier. No doubt there was more left in the 8. I think BH could have still won in an 8 this year, he did not need the MSR.

I think it was the right move, neither class (old CS and BS) had enough numbers to warrant its own class.

So does this "mystery" driver plan on buying and developing his own car for next season or is he just going to co-drive occasionally and stick to his current car?

Sam doesn't own the 370Z so it would be up to the car owner to decide that. Oops, did I just give away the mystery driver?

No idea what his plans are for next year. Just saying that what he's done with a car that has an alignment, a bar and some Hoosiers has been damned impressive. Car owner isn't too shabby either ;)

not unless she slaps on a pair of hairdryers.

d

"could" take the top spot, yes. "can't be beaten by any other car on the list?" nope.

i think any of the listed cars can win, which is what makes the class so interesting.

I did not see any NBs to speak of in the National results.

A bit discouraging for this 99 sport owner.

I wasn't able to show up this year in my 350Z this year either, but with the 6-season-old clutch and rear diff, the car is still competitive.

Hopefully I'll be able to make it to Lincoln in 2011 -- with a fresh(er) clutch and rear diff.

You better be, I am really interest to see some head-to-head comparison data of the 350 and 370.

Similar weight, more power, more torque, wider wheels... Only thing the 350Z has on it is that it's not quite as wide. But any course that might favor a 350Z over a 370Z would favor the RX-8, Solstice, Boxster and/or MS-R even more.

I think the 370Z is the best CS car overall, certainly for me, but overall too. I thought the 350Z was competitive, and the 370Z is better in every way. I've driven all the cars in some form or another, RX8's, Solstice, MX5's, 350's, 370's.

I've decimated my own times in FS cars with a 370Z.... CS ran the very same heat as FS this year, in fact I think I was gridded almost directly across from the top 370 and we can directly compare times. I haven't once been as fast, let alone faster in an FS car (the 2011 or the Shelby) than I was on the same day, same course as the 370Z. Hell the last time I ran a 350Z I was quicker than I was in the Shelby!

I'd love to get a 370Z, but I'm committed to the Mustang and maybe a few rides in a Corvette... I did ask, and it's possible I might be able to hitch a ride in the 370 for a Tour somewhere, but it's TBD. I can't be everywhere, and until they let us run more than one class I have to make choices! :)

For those that don't feel like looking it up here are mine and Sam's times:

Sam

61.277, 62.395

Me

60.972, 62.554

Similar weight (350Z vs. 370Z)? No offense, but the 370Z is heavier than the 350Z, which negatively affects acceleration, braking, and cornering.

The 370Z should be able to dance through slaloms better (shorter wheelbase) but is going to have more problems keeping power on in speed-maintenance sections (a very common course design nowadays).

No shocks for the 370Z (yet).

On the other hand, certain 370Z drivers are scaring people. Deservedly so.

I'm still not feeling the CS/BS merge, just because I think the timing was all wrong to throw "spec RX8" under the bus. Once a few more of the old BS RX8 guys either go to STX or sell their cars, CS numbers look like...well, the old CS. RX8's made up something like 25-30% of the field at Nationals this year.

Sure, its likely they were on the downhill slope in the old BS, with the 370Z coming to the class...but, there was still a couple of decent years in the class (particularly with used RX8's well under $10k, these days). The one thing that really will make this whole merge deal difficult to swallow will be if the 370Z ends up being "the car" for CS.

I think it would have made more sense to bring the Boxster to CS and see how that worked out, while monitoring the Z cars performance in BS to see where it fit best, long term.

Having said that, I did write in support of the new AS...go figure. Classing cars just isn't obvious or easy...

It will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Lots of really fun cars in the class, I hope it ends up being as tight as many knowledgeable folks are envisioning.