Originally Posted by timemachine
Harold,
No offense intended toward your prom queen, but your aerodynamically superior car was never banned by the SCCA because of aerodynamics like the Manta was. Fact is, Mantas ruled the twisties until all the crappy competition got together and kicked them out. They'd have preferred to allow a rebodied Kadett with the same old buggy springs, aka an Opel GT, had they been offered in the same class.
Mantas provide the lifetime experience of a soul mate. But to be painfully honest, for the first time I do have a GT in my garage. Yes, it looks mysterious, has angles and is seductive. I'm thinking it's a fling, that I was seduced by the curves and that it could be trouble I will regret later. My knuckles are already indicating this.
I'm not sure where it will end but I've got a feeling I will fix this GT up with care and yet it will leave me in the dark of night, after which I will replace it with a faithful and roomy SportWagon that can still kick that GT's a** up and down the road.
Jim
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Actually, the Manta was removed from SSS (Showroom Stock Sedan) class because they pretty much dominated, by
a lot! The Ascona (1900) was still allowed and started dominating for a period on many tracks until the 77 VW Rabbit was allowed then the Ascona had real competition and the 74-75' Manta's were once again allowed.
The Opel GT ran in SSCS (Showroom Stock Sports Car) class and ran on the track at the same time the Mantas (SSS) did up until The '73 GT was too old to be allowed. Unfortunately cars like the 914-4 Porsche and Triumph GT-6 were generally faster on most tracks and the Opel GT never really caught on with racers. On shorter tracks the Mantas and Asconas could easily beat the GT's if the drivers were of the same talent level but on long straight away tracks like Brainerd the GT could make similar or better laps then the stock Manta's because of better aero mostly.
I ran a 1975 1900 Ascona in SSB and then a 1978 Buick/Opel and 1978 Rabbit
in SSC after the class names were changed to SSA, SSB and S
SC and the sports cars and sedans were mixed in according to observed and expected performance. I was about the most fun I ever had with my clothes on!
