Catch 22:
Which is, one last time, "Why do 2 seats and street tires mean cars need a separate class?" It really is just that simple a question. I swear it is. It seems really simple and straightforward because it IS simple and straighforward. At least until we succeed at complicating it.
Maybe this is all dead now, but I finally read most of the thread, and aside from the occasional Cole-railment, this is what you keep going back to. Why, why, why.
I think you've been given the answer 'why', but you just aren't hearing it or do not like it. At it's inception, the class was created to meet some need or request. This is why is was created the way it was... that perceived demand was being addressed. It's a developement thing...would it be done the same today knowing what we know now? Maybe not, but you have to put yourself in the place a few years ago. I don't think they were trying to create ST classes for all cars, or engineer a new category for the ages. Sorry if you don't like it, but I think that that's the "why". As an example of how easy it is for this all to happen, I noted that in an earlier note you pretty quickly dismissed all pony cars as not wanting to come to ST to play, so you excluded them in a 'what if' scenario. Let's say you got your way across the board right now, do you think that might come back to haunt you as a bad decision later? Maybe someone will be writing this same thread 5 years from now and getting upset about 'why' didn't anyone let pony cars in! Just a thought.
You would like to see something different, and you're asking why hasn't it been changed. Is it safe to say that status quo will prevail unless acted upon? At some point, someone will have to make some kind of long range decision I would imagine. Keep adding classes to meet specific arising needs, see a need, meet it....see a need, meet it...so on. May tend to result in a patchwork of "met needs", and not make a lot of sense to someone seeing it fresh. Or, maybe it will have to re-thought and re-structured at some point.
Given that, I'd be more interested in hearing about what you think the ST structure should look like in the future rather than watching your arteries hemmorage over why they are what they are right now. What do you think ST should look like in the future? Yes, we understand 2 seaters shouldn't need their own class, but what about everything else? Don't want an answer here, I'm just suggesting that might make a good letter.
Just my personal opinions....
Patrick Washburn
STU Evo
www.winghats.com