DeTomaso Mailing List: September 2000, Message #19

If sales don't pick up, there may not be a need to race promote
next year.....

While I know most of us don't really care for the car, it is a
nice car with some interesting features.  ....and if the comments
at Monterey mean anything, it seems many of our wives think its
"cute"

Rick

> -----Original Message-----
> From: detomaso@realbig.com [mailto:detomaso@realbig.com]On
Behalf Of
> Bryan73L@aol.com
> Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 12:50 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: BFGoodrich Annouces Trans-Am Series Rule Changes
>
>
> This (off the Trans-Am Series website) will definately effect
> the design
> of next years Qvale Mangusta race car.  They actually have to
> make it LOOK
> like the production car.  This will be interesting!
>
> Bryan S.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------
> ---
> BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series
>
> Announces Major Rules Enhancements
>
> Bodywork, Pit Stops, Longer Races All New In 2001
>
> Elkhart Lake, Wis. — The BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series
> has unveiled a
> bold new look and exciting competition enhancements as part
> of the series’
> new 2001 rules package.
>
> The cornerstone of this rules package is new body styles that
> will bring the
> BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series a look that is in line
> with today’s
> production cars. Trans-Am race cars will conform to
> production car templates,
> including exact roof and deck lid reproduction. The new style
> bodies will
> duplicate their production counterpart down to such styling
> details as body
> joint lines, side view mirror housings, door handles and tail
lights.
>
> Minor exceptions to the production car theme will be the
> bottom 10 inches of
> the bodies, the four wheel arches and hood clearance
modifications.
>
> On the competition front, the BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series
will
> introduce fuel stop strategy and a 200-kilomoter race format
> (125 miles) on
> select weekends, as well as a new race finishing procedure
> that will allow
> for a two-lap green flag dash to the checkered.
>
> "The Trans-Am fans and the manufacturers have spoken loud and
> clear, and we
> have delivered them an exciting concept that makes our cars much
more
> identifiable, and delivers a better entertainment package to
> the fans," said
> Ralph Sanchez, President of the Panoz\Sanchez Group.
>
> The cosmetic changes to the Trans-Am cars were the primary
> adjustments made,
> as the core of the Trans-Am rules remained unchanged.
>
> "There was a great deal of speculation about how far reaching
> the changes
> would be," said John Clagett, Trans-Am Series Executive
> Director. "The
> Trans-Am body styles needed some adjustment, but the rest of
> the rules
> package is very sound. We have an outstanding field of cars
> and there was no
> point in wholesale changes that would antiquate current
> chassis. The beauty
> of the changes introduced as part of the 2001 rules package
> is they can be
> accomplished economically, and even the new bodywork will be
> implemented over
> time to ease the transition. We will allow existing bodywork
> to race in the
> BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series until 2003, but we’re
> going to provide
> financial incentives that will encourage the teams to make
> the changes
> sooner, rather than later."
>
> The BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series has already received
> strong interest
> from at least three manufacturers, Panoz (Esperante),
> Chevrolet (Corvette)
> and Qvale (Mangusta) to support the development of the new
> body styles. Other
> manufacturers that are eligible include: Audi (A4), BMW (M3),
> Mercedes (SLK),
> Toyota (Solara), Mercury (Cougar), Nissan (Maxima) and Dodge
> (Stratus, Viper).
>
> "The rules changes of 2001 builds on what we have introduced
> in 2000 â€

> multi-valve engines and fuel injection," said Clagett. "The
> BFGoodrich Tires®
> Trans-Am Series is now an option for nearly every major
> manufacturer in the
> world looking to showcase their cars in a production-based
> racing series."
>
> Currently there are six car manufacturers and eight models
> participating in
> the BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series, including: Chevrolet
> (Corvette,
> Camaro), Ford (Mustang), Oldsmobile (Aurora, Cutlass),
> Pontiac (Grand Prix),
> Jaguar (XKR), Qvale (Mangusta).
>
>