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News (08 July) - After significant initial interest, traffic to the PARDI site has dwindled! We are committed to our anti-spam philosophy so will not send out unsolicited messages to folks we don't know but we do need to spread the word. To help us maintain some momentum, please consider letting your racing friends in on the PARDI secret...

News (April) - As a true grass-roots initiative, PARDI is dependent on interested individuals to help make it happen. One recent visitor to the PARDI site asked if he could please be informed by e-mail when the series was up and running, as he was very interested in participating... Given the nature of what PARDI proposes, however, and the way that the business or racing works, we will never get off the ground without folks giving the initiative a boost. There is no deep-pockets, commercial interest promoting this series--if there were, it would not look like it does! If you think that PARDI sounds like a good thing, the first and most important thing that you can do is share the idea with other, like-minded racers. If you want to get more involved, contact us with an indication of how you might like to fit in. One next possible step is the creation of an e-mail-facilitated rules committee to hammer out the missing details--do you have the experience and knowledge to help make sensible, entry-level road racing a reality?

The Initiative | Questions | Sign-In | Guestbook

 


 

The state of entry-level professional automobile road racing in the United States continues to be pretty sad... The sheer size of the continent makes travel costs astronomical; the high purchase price of competitive cars is ridiculous; and the cost to prepare blueprinted, "stock" racing engines is potentially greater than would be necessary to build a true racing powerplant. These influences, and the lack of potential promotional value of most road racing series, conspire to put start-up and operational expenses far out of line of what even the most competitive driver and marketing-savvy team might hope to earn from prize money or commercial partnerships.

This is the gap intended to be filled by PARDI--the Professional Auto Racing Development Initiative. Professional, because its primary objective is to be commercially viable--for drivers, teams, manufacturers and promotional partners. Development, because it is intended to be an entry-level opportunity for a variety of stakeholder groups to advance in the auto racing business together. Initiative, because PARDI can only be made viable through the efforts of interested individuals. We hope that the "Auto Racing" bit is self-evident...

It is our goal that, before the beginning of the 2002 racing season, enough support for the PARDI concept will be demonstrated to allow this racing series becomes a reality. PARDI organizers are looking for your feedback. If you are interested in furthering conversation about the future of entry-level motor sports and the potential of this racing series, please contact Kirk Knestis with your thoughts. Let him know if you are a potential driver or team manager, or if you represent an eligible manufacturer or potential commercial partner.

Finally, if you find this concept intriguing, please forward the URL of this Web site to others who might be similarly interested. It is not a pyramid scam, costs nothing to become involved (yet!) and may potentially result in a road racing championship that actually makes sense...

Objectives

The Cars

Models listed are among the most affordable cars sold in the United States. Two- or four-door sedans, wheelbases between 94 and 105 inches, and an overall length of between 172 and 182 inches. The average manufacturer's suggested base retail price is about $12,700, brand new. Once prepared, these cars will generally handle well but be relatively low-powered, compared to most racing cars, and will reward drivers with smooth, accurate styles. It is not intended that they be fast--just extremely competitive. By combining the best qualities of SCCA® club racing, one-make "spec" series, the Toyota Celebrity Challenge and "claimer" stock car racing, a really unique and affordable championship series can be created, if there is sufficient interest...

Eligible Makes and Models

Manufacturer Model Power Torque Weight Balast, # MSRP
Chevy Cavalier Sedan 115 135 2617 -150 $ 13675
Chevy Prizm Sedan 125 125 2403 275 $ 14246
Daewoo Lanos S 4dr 105 106 2447 -200 $ 9779
Daewoo Nubira SX 4dr 129 136 2566 200 $ 12625
Dodge Neon Sedan 132 130 2559 275 $ 12970
Ford Escort Sedan 110 125 2468 -100 $ 12715
Ford Focus LX Sedan 110 125 2551 -175 $ 12540
Honda Civic DX Sedan 106 103 2359 -75 $ 13300
Hyundai Accent GL 4dr 92 97 2088 -100 $ 10059
Hyundai Elantra GLS Sedan 140 133 2560 450 $ 12234
Kia Sephia Sephia 125 108 2475 225 $ 10445
Mazda Protege DX 105 107 2500 -250 $ 12420
Mazda Protege ES 122 120 2550 75 $ 15490
Mitsubishi Mirage DE Sedan 113 116 2250 175 $ 14417
Nissan Sentra XE 126 129 2548 175 NA
Plymouth Neon Sedan 132 130 2559 275 $ 12970
Pontiac Sunfire SE Sedan 115 135 2606 -125 $ 14520
Saturn SL Sedan 100 114 2331 -175 $ 11125
Suzuki Esteem GL 95 99 2282 -225 $ 12849
Suzuki Esteem GLX 122   2282 350 $ 14349
Toyota Corolla VE 125 122 2414 275 $ 12873
VW Jetta GL 115 122 2891 -425 $ 17225


Initially, 2000 and 2001 model year cars will be eligible. Prior model years of car, of the same body style and drive train specification as eligible years, are also approved for competition. As the series develops, models will maintain eligibility as long as they are no more than one "style generation" old. Generally, either two- or four-door base models will be eligible. For some models, one or the other may be stipulated by the rules, to allow the maintenance of correction weight parity.

Preparation

Unless stated otherwise, all cars will be prepared to SCCA® Improved Touring (IT) road racing regulations.

SCCA® technical inspectors and competitors will be familiar with preparation rules, rules are well-established and relatively economical, and a potential market for used PARDI cars will exist. However, components of the drive train will be defined as "Controlled Items" and will not be allowed even the level of modification permitted by the IT rules. The Promotional Car and its Controlled Items will provide comparative specifications for determining legality of other cars of that make and model. It is entirely possible that a car's legality for public road use can be maintained. Exhaust systems downstream of the catalytic converter are free. Exhaust noise must not exceed 90dB, as measured by standard SCCA® practices.

Drive train

Controlled Items in the drive train must remain "as delivered" from the manufacturer and will be swapped at random.

Engines, transaxles, exhaust systems through the catalytic converter, electronic control units (ECUs) and all other devices controlling engine performance are considered Controlled Items. Controlled Items will be sealed and marked by the organizers when each car is first registered for the series. At the end of an event, the "winning", "most laps led" and one "wild card" car (drawn at random) will swap selected Controlled Items with other, randomly selected cars of the same make and model (including the Promotional Car). Seal numbers and serial numbers (if applicable) will be recorded by series organizers and these Controlled Items will be required to stay with the car to which they are swapped, until such time as they are swapped again. Any driver entering a car without the registered Controlled Items (or with required seals absent or tampered with), will lose all previously accrued Driver's Championship points. Additionally, if at any point during the season it is determined that the specifications of any Controlled Item is not in "as-delivered" condition, the entrant of the car from which those components originated will lose all accrued Driver's Championship points, assuming that required seals are intact.

Weights

Correction weights will be varied to establish parity between makes.

Corrections are plus or minus weights (in pounds) applied to the manufacturer's published curb weight to achieve a 20.5 lb/hp weight-to-power ratio, given the manufacturer's published power figures. This ratio is the benchmark for beginning the correction process and may be adjusted--all figures are preliminary and will be revised as actual car weights and power ratings are determined. Corrections will be effected by the addition of prescribed ballast materials, the installation of otherwise legally removed items (like passenger seats), or the removal of otherwise required items. It is the intent to achieve and maintain weight-to-power parity of all manufacturers' cars but the limitations of applying correction weights may leave some approved models less competitive, and some models may have advantages at some tracks. If necessary, the weight-to-power ratio may be adjusted to "recurve" the entire field, should it prove necessary to establish greater parity by limiting performance on the "light" end of the correction weight scale. It must be noted, however, that it may not be possible for "the curve" to be shifted far enough to allow all models at the extreme ends of the correction weight scale to be competitive.

Wheels and Tires

All makes will use 185/60-14 tires on 14 inch diameter street-legal alloy wheels with stock offset dimensions.

Heavier (more powerful) cars will be "under-tired", helping to offset top-speed advantages. Different models will be fast on different courses or on different parts of any given course, making for interesting racing. Generally, SCCA® Improved Touring tire rules will apply. Cars will have five tires marked at prerace technical inspection (four on the car plus one spare) and must use only those tires for the duration of the event.

 

Controlling Tire Costs?

  • Tires as Controlled Items?
  • Minimum number of teams provided for by registered manufacturers?
  • One brand series sponsor?
  • Tire Manufacturer's Championship?

 

Manufacturer's Championship

Only registered models of car may earn Manufacturer's Championship points.

Manufacturers with more than one eligible model must register each model separately. To register a model for the championship a manufacturer must pay a set registration fee, a majority portion of which will be the amount necessary for the organizers to purchase an example of that model from a randomly selected dealer, install required safety equipment and prepare it for competition. The Promotional Car will be purchased in the manufacturer's choice of color and the manufacturer will make provisions to outfit it in the competition livery of its choice. A registered competition number will be provided for promotional cars. Promotional Cars will be available to spectators for examination, photographs, "seat fittings" and similar activities during the race weekend in the public area of that Manufacturer's Paddock. Promotional Cars will be transported to events by the organizers, on open car transporters. Manufacturers must reregister each year. The previous year's Promotional Car will be sold and the proceeds will enrich the subsequent year's prize fund.

Manufacturer's Paddocks

Each registered manufacturer must provide an awning structure with identifying graphics.

This will be the focus of each "Manufacturer's Paddock", in which all teams of that manufacturer will be located. Each Manufacturer's Paddock will have a public area in which that manufacturer's Promotional Car will be parked and promotional material will be distributed, and from which activities in the teams' area of the paddock will be visible.

Manufacturer's Guests

Each registered manufacturer will arrange for a number of local service technicians and marketing staff to attend each event.

These people will be admitted as guests of the event and will lend their expertise to each Manufacturer's Paddock. Manufacturers are encouraged to be creative with this option, involve dealers local to events, and to provide hospitality at the track for guests and teams.

Promotional Drivers

At any given event, each manufacturer may nominate a Promotional Driver to run its Promotional Car (or cars).

This driver may be any holder of the required competition license. Manufacturers are encouraged to arrange for celebrity, corporate or contracted drivers from other series to drive the Promotional Car. No individual may drive a Promotional Car more than once and Promotional Drivers are not eligible for Driver's Championship points, though they are eligible for Manufacturer's Championship points. Manufacturers will repair (or pay for repair by the organizers) any damage incurred to their Promotional Car in an event, pursuant to the Incident Damage policies defined elsewhere. Promotional Drivers' names will be applied to the rear side windows as well, but in yellow lettering.

Manufacturer's Championship Points

The points structure will encourage manufacturers to support a number of cars rather than just one or two.

The points structure will be such that five low-finishing cars will score more manufacturer points than one or two high-finishing cars. Registered Manufacturers' cars must clearly display corporate logotypes of a specified area on the front of the hood and on both rear quarter panels.

Driver's Championship

Unlike Manufacturer's Championship points, the Driver's Championship will encourage leading and winning races.

High points will be awarded, not only to the winners of both event races but also to the event's fastest qualifier, the leader of the most laps in each race (with ties splitting points), the leader of a "wild card" lap in each race (selected at random during the awards ceremony), and the driver who gains the most positions during each race (between her or his starting position and finishing position). Points will be awarded to subsequent finishing places but a premium will be placed on leading and winning the race. A champion will be crowned in each Division of the country in which the series runs and a National Points total will be maintained, allowing drivers to compare themselves with others in different areas of the nation--points will be corrected based on the number of events in each Division. Drivers may race out of their Division but Driver's points will not be awarded to out-of-Division drivers. Manufacturer's points may be earned by out-of-Division entries.

An invitational bonus-points National Final event will then determine a National Champion, with points accrued during the "regular season" determining invitation and factored into the final National Championship tally--it will not be mathematically possible to be the National Champion without running a competitive season-long Divisional campaign. The National Final will be located in the central United States. The entry fee for the National Final will include a contribution to a tow-fund, which will be apportioned to drivers based on the distance each traveled to this last event, from their registered Division address.

At each event, additional Driver's Championship bonus points will be awarded to driver of the car adjudged (by a panel appointed by the organizers) to be the "Most-Nicely-Turned-Out Car"--considering detail preparation, graphic design and cleanliness. Lastly, an additional one-time award of a small number of points may be earned by any driver demonstrating that he or she has participated in an "autocross" type event with his or her registered car in PARDI trim--the intent of this award is to improve visibility of the series to other potential entry-level motor sports competitors.

Driver's Championship Registration

Each registering driver will enter an individual car, identified by its manufacturer vehicle identification number (VIN), and will be assigned a season competition number.

For a driver to be eligible for Driver's Championship points, her or his car make and model must be registered for the Manufacturer's Championship. That driver will then be eligible for Driver's points only when driving that car. Changing cars (by choice or otherwise!) will result in the loss of accrued Driver's points, effectively preventing teams from switching drivers to superior cars and (hopefully) discouraging drivers from sacrificing their cars in efforts to win at any major cost to equipment. Any attempt to circumvent this expectation (changing VINs, for example) will result in exclusion from the series.

Drivers of registered models (who are therefore eligible for championship points) must display their first initial and last name in the rear side window of their car, in 1.5 inch high, white Helvetica Bold letters, which may be condensed horizontally to fit available space. No additional signage is allowed on rear side windows. Drivers of non-registered models may not display any driver's name on their car. Competition numbers must be 10 inch black Helvetica Bold numerals on a rectangular white background, with a minimum of 1.5 inches of space outside of the numbers. Numbers must be displayed front, rear and both sides, as required by the SCCA®. Competition numbers on Promotional Cars will be identical but white on a black rectangle. Promotional Cars are required to display the driver's name in the same fashion as other entries, but in yellow rather than white. A driver's registered Division will be indicated by a smaller letter designation following the competition number on the doors. The competition number "1" will be reserved for the previous year's Driver's Champion, if registered.

Non-registered Models

Non-registered models of car may be entered for competition.

Non-registered but otherwise eligible and legal models may compete in any event but may not accrue Manufacturer's Championship points. In addition, drivers of non-registered models may not accrue Driver's Championship points (though it may be determined that this prohibition will be suspended for the inaugural year of the series). Manufacturers may register models at any time during the season but neither Manufacturer's nor Driver's points will begin accruing until such time as registration is complete and the Promotional Car has been completed. Non-registered models will be not be allowed any corporate identification (manufacturer or model) beyond that provided by the stock badging. All competing cars, registered or non-registered, must display the required PARDI signage package, including any series sponsors' logotypes--some areas of all cars will be reserved for this required signage. The commercial use of the PARDI series title, logotype, images of cars bearing the logotype, or event results is licensed only to registered manufacturers, their agents, and officially recognized entrants of registered models.

Race Format

Each race meeting will consist of a practice session, a qualifying session and two races of 30 minutes duration.

The initial grid will be set by the fastest time posted in the qualifying session. A random number from 1 to 6 will then be determined--starters on that many rows of the grid (from the front) will be inverted for the start of the first race, a "1" indicating that no inversion would take place. If more than 12 cars are within 1% of the pole time, then the random number will be extended to reflect that number of cars (e.g. 20 cars=10 rows, random number is then 10). The start order of the second race will be the finishing order of the first race. Cars not finishing the first race are eligible to start the second, with starting order determined by race 1 finishing place, considering the number of laps completed. Second race starting grid ties (for non-finishing cars) will be broken by qualifying time. The first race will be run toward the end of the day on Saturday and the second will be run early in the day Sunday. This will allow time to repair cars that failed to finish race 1 and will allow sufficient time for Controlled Item removal to facilitate required swaps before the end of the event weekend. There will be no event track time on Fridays, thereby imposing less of a hardship for people with real jobs...

Initially, it will probably be necessary to run PARDI races in multiple-class groups at existing sanctioned amateur road racing events. If this is required, some adjustment to the format described above may be prescribed. It may also be possible to extend the series to include showcase endurance events, perhaps even a 24-hour marathon with modified tire rules; gravity-fed refueling through a standard, unleaded pump nozzle; multiple driver teams; and auxiliary lighting...

Incident Damage

Drivers will be financially liable for damage caused to other cars.

Before leaving post-race impound, cars involved in on-track incidents (as defined by corner and communication workers' logs) will be inspected by a volunteer professional auto claims adjuster, secured by the organizers. The drivers of damaged cars will each be responsible for an equal proportion of the damage repair cost for all cars in a given incident--effectively splitting incurred costs between or among involved drivers. To this end, each driver of the an indident-involved car will make payment to the driver of the other, an amount equal to 50% of the retail damage estimates of the other's car--the formula is simply extended if more than two drivers participate in any given incident.

Confirmation of payment is required before registration for subsequent events will be accepted. Minor "metal-to-metal" contact will effectively "zero out" but the shoving of another driver's car into a wall or roll will carry a stiff monetary penalty. The adjuster will be allowed to display a banner with his or her company logotype in the impound area. Drivers committing "unforced errors" (those not involving another car) are not subject to assessment by the adjuster (though it might be handy to know what the bill will be...) Additional sanctions may be imposed on drivers demonstrating negligent or reckless behavior.

Should a driver "total" her or his car, as determined by the insurance adjuster, by an "unforced" error, he or she will lose all accrued Driver's Championship points, should it be necessary to return to the series with a new car. Should the effective destruction of an entrant's car result from the actions of another driver, as determined by series officials (and upon review of race worker's incident logs) the "new car exclusion rule" will be waived and the cost-splitting formula described above will be applied.

Miscellaneous

Pit-to-car and car-to-car radios are prohibited. Signaling boards may be used.

All team members entering the event under a pass, must wear a defined uniform associating them with their driver and manufacturer, if either is registered for respective championship points, during the "active" portions of the event weekend. Non-registered manufacturer and/or model identification is not allowed on team uniforms.

Track testing of any registered model car by any entrant or driver, or by any agent acting to a driver's benefit, is allowed only at open motor sports events (including road races, club "track days", "autocross", or "rallycross" type competitions) sanctioned and insured by any motor sports organization approved by series organizers in advance. The intention of this rule is to prevent testing at rented or "closed" race facilities.

Anti-lock braking systems are not permitted on any model of car. Airbag systems must be removed.

How About Rallying?

Cars built to the PARDI rules could be adapted to create a rallying class with minimal changes. It would be critical that differences be kept to a minimum, particularly with respect to the specifications of controlled items in the drive train.

Modifications for rallying?

  • Addition of mud flaps and underbody and/or rocker panel protection
  • Installation of co-driver's equipment--computer, light, seat and belts
  • Addition of auxiliary lighting
  • Limited strengthening of bolt-on suspension components

 

SuperChampion Combined Points

For a really ground-breaking advancement in motor sports, a cross-disciplinary championship points total could be maintained, using a weighted points system much like the international Porsche Cup.

Points could be earned in autocross/Solo type events, performance rallying, road rally events, circuit racing, hill climbs or autocrosses. To make things interesting, a points multiplier could be applied to the first (or highest-scoring?) event of each discipline entered by a driver, making it particularly valuable to cross over to other types of racing. Though this initiative is not endorsed or sanctioned by the SCCA®, the multiplicity of event types sanctioned by this organization would make an excellent venue through which to crown an "all-around" entry-level racing champion.

 

 

SCCA® is a registered trademark of the Sports Car Club of America. This initiative is not affiliated with the SCCA® or any of its regions.

All manufacturer and model names are registered trademarks of their respective companies. PARDI is not affiliated with any automobile manufacturer.


15241 people have visited the PARDI site since 29 February 2000, and are potentially interested in helping to create a truly viable professional auto road racing series.

 

Anti-spam Statement: Information about PARDI is distributed, via published e-mail addresses, only to motorsports-oriented people who are likely to find the concept interesting--particularly individuals who may occupy leadership positions or maintain media sources for racing organizations. Your name and/or e-mail address, if provided to or acquired by PARDI organizers, will not be distributed to any third party for any reason, without your express permission. Further, PARDI organizers do not endorse the blanket mailing of unsolicited e-mail about PARDI to individuals who have not, by their participation in motorsports organizations, demonstrated that they are likely to find PARDI's message or ideas interesting.

Please, help fight spam.

 

© Copyright MM by Kirk Knestis

Last updated 7 July 2000