At 10:59 AM 6/15/99 , Craig Blome wrote:
>--- Jay Mitchell <jemitchell@compuserve.com> wrote:
>>
>> Even the silly paint is OK. The section on "C&C"
>> actually reads,
>> "comfort, convenience, and APPEARANCE items which
>> ... and do not
>
>I think you're leaving something out here...the
>sentence reads:
>
>"Accessories, gauges, indicators, lights and other
>appearance, comfort and convenience modifications
>which _have no effect on performance and/or handling_
>and do not materially reduce the weight of the car are
>permitted."
>
>Slopping 50# of paint on the car to change weight
>distribution qualifies as 'affecting handling'...
Let's switch to some less "silly" examples than uranium-based paint...
I think there's actually an interesting issue...
The C&C rules are nice and generic, but the actual interpretation of the
rule seems to be quite specific. I think this is undesirable. Given the
interpretation is quite specific, the rule should be also.
For example: if I cut a gash in my trunk interior trim to give easy access
to my adjustable Koni's, I am illegal -- even though I did not reduce the
weight of the car or otherwise affected handling. I simply added convenience.
OTOH, I can legally cut a big hole in that interior trim and install a speaker
that can be easily removed. Why? Because the speaker is considered C&C while
the gash is not. Or I can install a temperature gauge in that hole.
We've all seen lots of other debates on what is C&C and what isn't. There
seems to be an accepted list of C&C items, and all else is protest-bait.
Why not just list the categories of things that are acceptable??
But the rule interpretation problem isn't just with what is C&C... its also
with the extent of the allowable effect on handling. Any weight addition
has at least some effect on performance and handling.
For example: if I want to improve my handling by adding 200# of ballast,
clearly that is not allowed. However, if someone adds a 200# amp and
subwoofer setup to their trunk, that'll be judged okay -- as long as its
wired up and actually plays music! If you just put it back there for ballast,
its not okay. Although stereo equipment is generally accepted as okay,
the heavy stuff clearly has an effect on handling. Perhaps the rule should
be "has no _positive_ effect on handling" and we generally assume weight
additions are always negative -- that would be consistent with the clause
"do not materially reduce" -- which seems to allow a "material increase" in
weight.
Another example: if you put a 200# lead box back there capable of storing
milk,
and you claim you don't want your milk sliding around. Nobody will buy
into that as a C&C item. And even if they did, they'd argue it was still
disallowed because it affected handling and performance. But the subwoofer
and amp would get past on both counts.
How can anyone get that info out of the current rules??
Why not change the rules to say what people mean?
Stereo equipment and gauges should be allowed, even if they affect performance,
handling, and weight. Other C&C items include X, Y, and Z -- and those may not
materially improve performance or handling or materially reduce weight.
[I am sure this is an incomplete and improper rewrite -- I am too green to
even know what all is C&C and what all gets special treatment (like stereo
equipment).]
Am I missing something?
Brian
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