[trophy hunter]

Now that the season is coming to an end, and nationals is behind us, I thought that this would be a good time to bring up this discussion......

Am I mistaken, or did Tom O drive an auto at nationals?

From what I saw, he was in an auto and on one course there was at least one, if not two areas that there was a down shift.

With that said, I am by no means knocking Tom, as he is truly an exceptional driver, but would putting him in a 6 spd have affected those results ?
......and that would lead to the next question, is the newer A10 auto now a formidable foe to the M6 now ?

[DaveC113]

Good question. I think you'd have to have the same driver drive both and see, but my money is on the auto.

That said, the TR6060 downshifts to 1st very easily and the 1-2 shift can be done quickly. Personally, I'm not sure I could bring myself to buy a SS 1LE in auto. The M6 is a really good trans.

[Msquared]

TomO definitely drove an auto (Dave Montgomery's), and it did some downshifting on course. I believe he said he like the auto better (or at least thinks it's faster). At the Peru Tour there were a couple pretty slow turns where his downshift would have made a difference in how hard he could launch out of there compared to those of us left in 2nd gear. OTOH, there was at least one time in that event where he commanded a downshift and didn't get it: he wasn't going slow enough, and the car doesn't "save" that downshift command and execute once you slow down enough. So it isn't perfect. Overall all, though, the A10 may be a touch faster.

[joelster]

I raced against Jeff Darbig at UMI in 2023 at the Muscle on the Mountain event. He had a white SS 1LE with the A10. That car launched like no M6 car possibly could. I'm fairly certain that on one of the qualifying courses he was probably .2-.3 faster than me through the first 100 feet of the course, the A10 is THAT good.

[GAGT]

Originally Posted by trophy hunter

With that said, I am by no means knocking Tom, as he is truly an exceptional driver, but would putting him in a 6 spd have affected those results ?

He won by .627. While I have no scientific data I feel very confident saying it wouldn't have affected the results of winning.

Originally Posted by trophy hunter

......and that would lead to the next question, is the newer A10 auto now a formidable foe to the M6 now ?

It always has been, we are just sports car enthusiast's trying to hold onto our manuals even if the auto is faster

[VR Baron]

A freind I race with gas a caddy with the A10, RE 71 395/35/18s, alignment and that’s it.(actually that’s all he can add, there isn’t much for that car) he is very fast as he gets in a ton of events. Caddy is same alpha chassis of course. He says the A10 makes a few shifts as needed, but mainly keeps the rpms up high with the shifts and always in the sweet spot of the power band

[apexit53]

If your goal is a pro championship then I think the A10 is faster. That lunch and 60ft times alone just kill.

I haven't ever raced an auto myself. Tom has and hes just fast in both. These cars make so much torque so low and the gearing is so high its nice to just set it and forget it in the manual.

Personally I own the manual cause thats what I want to own. Id only go "auto" in a P car lol.

We had to weigh after our runs on day two,

Toms(daves) A10 3750
My car 3638

Not sure the fuel loads on his but mine was 3/4 full. I also dont know if these scales were on, thats the lightest my car has ever shown at an event. normally the cam challenge events ive been to the car is in the 3700s

at the end of it all it wasnt the car, Tom is just a fantastic talent!

[clyde]

Originally Posted by apexit53

If your goal is a pro championship then I think the A10 is faster.

Came here to say this. I think the A10s have a distinct advantage for Pros.

For regular autocross, I don't think it makes enough of a difference to measure and draw firm conclusions. If you can win with one of them, you can win with the other. If you don't win, it won't be because of your transmission choice.

[trophy hunter]

Thanks for all the input !
......and my apologies when I stated "results" - I meant his results in time, not his placement in rank.

As stated above, I too agree that Tom would still have won in either that event, possibly a little slower with a M6 *on those particular courses* (maybe), but not enough to have changed the outcome.

My personal thoughts
I also agree that the A10 would have the definite advantage in the Pro; but I do believe that for the autocross events, it could be more course dependant. I do think there are some features that would benefit the greater control of the M6 but, from what I've seen, I can't help but think that the A10 is equal or ever so slightly better in more of the features on a course. And while we are talking about a couple of tenths of a second on a full course, it still remains plausible

I would love to find out if what Matt heard on Tom's comment was on point.

In the end, I just thought it would be a good conversation/debate for some offseason "benchchair racing" .....but I too am a diehard for the manual either way

[apexit53]

Its hard to wana give up shifting lol. I think thats the nice thing with this class. both can compete and one doesnt seem to be running away with it! Though I tried not to let tom run away with it lol

[trophy hunter]

Originally Posted by apexit53

Its hard to wana give up shifting lol. I think thats the nice thing with this class. both can compete and one doesnt seem to be running away with it! Though I tried not to let tom run away with it lol

Well, you did an exceptional job Mike.
It was just the "alien's" day............. that day

[JamesNoBrakes]

Simple solution, A10 to B-street. That sounds like about the margin that would keep it competitive.