Let's review the recent history of another pinto class: S2
Trick cars with full-time crews dominated the class (John and Randy and their beautiful Carbir).
Numbers fell. Then an engine change. Numbers down. Vintage numbers soared.
Now S2 has been merged into P2 where they don't stand a chance. So, the CRB will be allowing S2 guys basically free reign with their pinto as long as they show up for Majors. Think 185 HP. Maybe even future body work changes.
When the SCCA version of the Concorde Agreement goes into effect and the club tries to bring national classes down to 15, can't you see FM, FM, and FC all getting rolled together as the little winged class, and FB and FA getting rolled together as the big winged class. Just refer to P1 and P2 currently for a vision of where it is going.
One reason FC is strong out west this year is the Runoffs. The Left Coast pro series even deferred to let guys qualify for the Runoffs.
The reason a majority of active national cars are zetecs are because the owners that like to race many times a year do not have to refresh engines every year. Look back to 2005 Runoffs at M-O with the last large pinto field. Almost all the front ten had fresh engines.
You qualified as fast as you could in the spring using Sebring and Palm Beach, ran back to your Division, scored enough points, and then in the summer sent your pinto in for a refresh. The good ol' days.