My simple way of looking at it!
Irregardless of who runs Zetec and who runs pinto is related to the league you are in and your experience for the most cars. Let's be real. The pro guys require the better equipment and cars, which results in the Zetec's and newer chassis. As for a regional racer I understand that there will be a mixture of the two motors. My goal is to drive safe, get quality seat time, and learn how to drive. I like the simplicity of a pinto motor. No ECU, no fuel injection, and the pinto is easier to troubleshoot. This allows me to focus on driving and learning how the car responds. When the time is right I will upgrade to a Zetec. Simple put, there is regional racing and their is pro racing.
Are we asking the right question?
Mike:
The question that you asked is "why are so many Pinto powered FC staying home". Maybe the issue is not the relative performance of the Pinto powered cars and Zetec powered cars, but having to compete against FE, FM, and whatever else is on the track at the same time. Maybe it is the events and class groupings that is keeping older FCs off the track.
At one time, FC with Pinto power was the only game in town. FAs were enough faster that racing with them was not an issue. Now we have divided the market into 3 groups. But mixing FC, FE and FM is not a happy situation with the FE and FM faster on the straights and the same or slower in the corners relative to the FC.
I can say that my parts business is much better with the mixed groups when my customers go club racing.
Bumping the power up or down in FC won't solve the fundamental problem of the FC participation at the club level. Now if you proposed removing the restrictors on the Zetec engine and bumping Pinto power accordingly where the FC, FM and FE all went down the straights at the same speed, then you might be looking at a solution.
I am not advocating this as a solution but just something to discuss.
After following this thread, I don't think there is a solution and that opinion is based on the facts of club racing today. The races have to be fun to attend and the fun quotient is way down in SCCA Club racing for FC owners.
Thoughts from a poor canadian racer
I run a F2000 Pinto (88' Citation) in Ontario on a tight budget. For me, reliability and running costs are the most important aspects of an engine (and I suspect many others). I can't get too upset when someone in a newer car with a newer motor (Zetec) run's quicker than me. At the end of the day I'm racing a car that is nearly 30 years old, with a 40+ year old tractor engine. The engine is only one of many compromises I make to go racing.
Like it or not, the Zetec cars are now the benchmark of the class and newer options are now being discussed. Anyone who could afford the conversion has already done so. It's likely that anyone who is still running a pinto car isn't doing it because they love changing points and adjusting jetting!
That said, I want to feel I can have a fair chance to run competitively against the newer cars for the very reason as they are the benchmark and I need to compare my progress against the best.
If changes are desired, I would like to see the rules evolve to promote the Pinto powered cars as being good option for the wings and slicks club racer on a budget (which is what they are). Many of the perspective rule changes that have been mentioned should serve to lengthen the duration between rebuilds, lower the rebuild costs, reduce running costs, and lastly increase the power a bit.
Whatever is done, changes must not disenfranchise the average Joe club racer. Particularly financially. The pinto is already a good solid reliable engine. Any changes should aim to enhance that attribute.
Cheers