The real deciding factor seems to be where you’re racing any of the GT cars.
Some places race a “Spec” class based on the IGT chassis because of rules that we’re adopted and yes, they are brand specific to Kyosho IGT cars. Limited mods are allowed, kind of an easy to tech the cars and it makes for very close racing; ala “IROC”. The great majority of organized “GT” racing in the USA and several countries around the world are based around this “IGT Spec” class concept.
Some tracks and/or races are open to all buggy based chassis regardless of manufacture, with little or no rules on mods to attract anyone with a GT car to race. This is certainly “the money war class”. Tech is light and almost anything goes. Hi-dollar engines, exhausts, clutches, foams or rubbers… a free for all. I bet the “Open” class cars are a ton of fun to drive, so I can understand where “Open” racers are coming from there.
Some Series programs, tracks & races seem to be trying to accomplish rules that are somewhere in between the two extremes. That's cool too.
Time will tell what types of rules develop over the next few months, there will need to be concessions from both sides of the GT arena, for it to attract & maintain the forward growth of “GT” racing.
It’s too bad that the 2 main GT car manufacturers/distributors didn’t seize the opportunity to work together over a year and a half ago when the “GT Spec” class concept was in it’s infancy and being developed.
Maybe racers of any of the “GT” chassis could have raced together everywhere in “Spec” & “Open” class without any of the bickering this whole 2008 race season.
But hey, hindsight is always “20/20” and everyone is a “Monday Morning Quarterback” these days too…lol
See ya'll at the races.
