Wow, Mark. Sorry to hear about the car. I noted your 2 preliminary DNFs and the 99 second time with some cones, that forced you to settle for the slower clean time. Great job in a car you never drove before. But I think it also illustrates what Larry MacLeod already knows. His 200SX finished 20th at Nationals in E Stock and would fare even more poorly in the new combined class. The car probably belongs in H Stock.
As for results not being transferable, you will note I compared using two other SVT Contour drivers. When you use the methodology I illustrated earlier in another post, dividing the longer time on this course vs, the shorter time on the SZ course for both Todras (who drove very well BTW, a respectable 10th out of 27) and Grziak and multiply that figure by my SZ time it creates an apples to apples comparison. Surely you don't believe that a one second margin of advantage on a 24 second course equals a one second advantage on a 96 second course. Note that the Detroit area course was exactly 4 times longer (timewise) meaning a 1 second advantage equates to a 4 second advantage on the longer course.
I agree with your central premise that there is not yet conclusive proof that the SVT Focus is that much faster (if any) than the SVT Contour. I found another Divisional event where Knudsen finished 2nd behind Chris Lindberg, and exceptional autocrosser who drives Cobras and Bullit Mustangs exceptionally well...and works for Ford. Knudsen is an exceptional driver if he could get as close as he did to Lindberg at the Divisional. BTW, I attended Divisional events at Sebring, FL, Road Atlanta, Talladega, Macon Georgia and here in Ozark over the years...so I think I'm a bit familiar with long courses and strong competition. Whether the first and third in the Southeast Division in two different cars was earned in more than just points is debatable. What is true, is that I am consistently fast on every course I ever run on. Maybe I'm not a National caliber competitor yet or ever. But I don't draw inaccurate or unfounded conclusions about my driving ability. I can walk the walk, and have the ego to prove it.
I need G.H. Sharp to visit Wiregrass Region and give me the butt whoopin I deserve.
EDIT: Oooops, as they used to say on Saturday Night Live, "Never mind." I took The Mark's last sentence in the first paragraph in his post above mine out of context. I thought he was saying that you cannot relate results from one event to another. I now see the correct context and apologize for getting a tad miffed.
