Mini Truck Soup 7,s,sx,7-2?,6,7200,7300,7100, 1450,1400

[OldGreen]

I thought maybe we'd create another 40+ page thread on the future of mini-truck racing since it was brought up again in another thread today. If the classes roll up the way I think that they should, my own team is in for a bunch of changes. . .but for the better. Here's my take:

There should be three classes for mini/mid sized trucks (some teams might fit elsewhere too, like class 3000, but whatev):

1. Unlimited (BITD 7200/SCORE Class 6 rules) All of the 7 opens and 7200 trucks compete here with the 7200s eventually taking over long term.
2. Stock (BITD 7100 rules (SCORE 7SX/S is just dumb)). All current 7s, 7sx,7100, 7300, Stock Mini race here with the latter having to step up a little.

and

3. Sportsman (everyone else)

Yeah, I'd have to buy fiberglass, reinforce the suspension pickup points, do uniballs and bumps, etc, but I have to be honest, there is no real good reason to keep 7300/SM when the competition and rules are so close to 7s/sx/7100. The "S" does stand for "Stock". I know that some say that maybe Ford would like to keep a stone stock class going in BITD, but Ford is killing the Ranger anyway and they haven't even marketed it for the last few years so. . .IDK, I haven't asked Cliff. Anywho, At V2R, there were 20 entries in 7200, probably 6 in 7100 and 3 in 7300. The 7200 number sounds right and should start attracting more entries than that, but if 7300 was eliminated, I know we'd race 7100. . .even before we made any changes so the entry count would go up. . .up is good? No? I'd even throw the 3100 Stock Mini SUV class in the mix. Gimme a break. . .one entry does NOT make a race.

So, then, You could easily cover ALL truck classes in a race on a TV show. . .TT, 8, SF/8100, 7200, 7stock. Heck, Maybe Class 8 even goes away (yeah, ouch, I know). I'd bet that overall entries would go up pretty quickly just based on the fact that the individual class counts would go up for the rolled up classes. Suddenly, You could actually get a decent check for winning a desert race in a mid-sized truck. . .especially with a little side bet. Is 40 entries in 7200 at Parker too much to ask? Maybe they'll be fast enough one day to get in on qualifying. . .

*disclaimer. . .I know that there is a big "what about" factor. . .like "what about Class XYZ"? I'm just thinkin' with the keyboard.

Now, for my question. . .WTH is 7-2?

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[Ramsey_ElWardani]

Consolidation is a great idea.

[OldGreen]

Consolidation is a great idea.

and not, by any means, an original idea...so, why not do it? Is it the whiners that get the grease?

[Wahl_7s]

Linked W/coilovers 7open /7200,factory suspension 7s/7100 period!!!

[Wahl_7s]

And don't get me started on 1400,1450.the got their own thing going anyway

[OldGreen]

It isn't that Sportsman Truck doesn't count, it is just a completely different animal. Let's not get that one going on this thread for sure.

[FCORR]

Good thread, I think consolidation would do a lot for these classes as well...

Regardless of what you name the class, here is what I think should exist for mini/mid size trucks...

7200 (open rules)

1500 (new MDR class), if you don't know about it go to MDR's website and read up, basically take your typical 7s truck and add a little width and a little more shock. I think current 7s trucks would do very well in this class.

Sportsman, for everything else...

[Samco Fab]

This has pretty much already been done in Vorra this year with good results with Group T.

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54656

[OldGreen]

yeah, but not really, that's a rollup class that has several different sets of rules. Same concept but a different application.

[OldGreen]

Good thread, I think consolidation would do a lot for these classes as well...

Regardless of what you name the class, here is what I think should exist for mini/mid size trucks...

7200 (open rules)

1500 (new MDR class), if you don't know about it go to MDR's website and read up, basically take your typical 7s truck and add a little width and a little more shock. I think current 7s trucks would do very well in this class.

Sportsman, for everything else...

1500 Sounds like a "kit" class. If it takes off, the kit manufacturers will for sure be in the mix. The trouble is that it is still an open class (travel, spring length/type, width, etc.) That makes it less of a level playing field for "stock" trucks. If you are limited to stock length springs and stock length suspension arms, the field becomes a lot more level.

/puts on marketing guy hat/: The unlimited class makes the RACE marketable (I wanna drink Monster cuz that really fast, sick gnar truck has it plastered on the side), while the 7stock class makes the TRUCKs marketable (I want a Ranger because that one that looks a lot like the one at the dealer wins desert races). /marketing guy hat off/