I don't like the constant battle of who's-got-the-best-'ring-time shenanigans because the numbers themselves don't mean anything to a normal person buying a car. Someone says a car ran a 7:29 lap time. Okay. And? Why do I care?
If you want bragging rights, go to a track and race and get your own personal best. Otherwise, you're simply bragging about someone else's lap times at a track you'll probably never be allowed to drive on anyway. Wow. Congrats. I'll go give that other guy a pat on the back and tell him, "good job!" You, on the other hand, just look like a tool.
And considering all of the times that have been "recorded" have been posted during private testing after who knows how much tuning and track prep were put into the vehicle, how applicable does anyone really think those numbers are to the off-the-shelf vehicle available on the showroom floor?
Until someone puts together a list of criteria for testing, and uses a reliable third-party validation method, it's all just a bunch of chest thumping and over-inflated egos.
If car companies want any legitimate numbers to tout, here's what they
should do:
1) Take an off-the-production line vehicle for testing.
2) Use 93 octane gas only.
3) Don't touch anything on the vehicle. This means:
a) no electronic tuning.
b) no suspension modifying.
c) no roll cages.
d) no modifications that would normally void any of the vehicle's warranties.
4) If multiple sets of tires are needed for testing, the tires can only be the exact same brand and model that come on the vehicle from the factory.
5) the only thing they are allowed to change is the driver.
I think that would make the times make a lot more sense.
But that'll never happen, and we're going to continue to see ridiculous times set by vehicles that are no more stock than the "stock" cars used in NASCAR.
