Scott Zediker (who apparently doesn't have time to actually read his email
before responding) says:
<<<They do not. From the '01 Solo rulebook, section 2.1.A: "Speeds on
straight stretches should not normally exceed the low 60's (mph) for the
fastest Stock and Street Prepared category cars." First of all there is no
"cannot" in the rule; second, there is only a RANGE of speed given rather
than a hard number. Having read all the previous messages as regards the
event at TMS, I don't see where the problem was.
Did you actually READ the current rules before you posted this?>>>
No I didn't. And yes I already apologized for overstating the rule
yesterday. I guess you and the half dozen other people who continue to keep
mentioning it must have missed all those email messages in your rush to
judgement. It's funny how so many people think that nitpicking is even more
important than the actual issues.
<<<Where do you come up with 2000lb for a BP car? I just scanned through
Appendix A and the lightest minimum weight I could find in there was 2060lb
(VW Corrado). The more common cars in this class are more like 2500-3000lb.
Your point on runoff room is well taken, but 500 feet is VERY generous.
Probably sufficient, in fact, to allow a BP car to safely stop from
near-triple-digit speeds; remember, they're pretty light and can use any
kind of brakes they want.>>>
I don't know what Larry Park's BP cars actually weighed but they were a heck
of a lot closer to 2000 lbs than 2500 lbs. And yes, I was exaggerating to
some extent. Please excuse me for using a little literary license yet again.
<<<How many Stock cars have YOU seen with full cages? I have yet to see
even
one. And on nationally competitive Stock rides, you'd be hard put to find a
rollbar. Most of the really fast Stock drivers in my region don't have them
in their cars.>>>
So you are stating that there is nobody in the SCCA who wants to race their
stock solo car or autocross their race car in the stock class? If the rules
remain the way they are you are not likely to see many because of this issue
with safety.
<<<With proper course design, this isn't much of an issue. Ideally, there's
nothing to hit but cones, and if your seatback ratchet fails on impact with
a cone, I'd be amazed if it held up on the drive to the event.>>>
Now that is an incredibly naive response. Since we do not have access to the
actual data I can only remind you that curbs have been hit, stock cars have
rolled over, cars have caught fire, cars have even struck each other on Pro
Solo courses. But, no, there's nothing out there to hit but cones and course
workers, right?
<<<No, the argument against it is, it isn't mandatory, it's only
recommended.
I don't have a rollbar or cage in my car because a good bar for my car adds
about 50 pounds. Even without that weight, I have a hard enough time
competing with MR2's in CS (most of them don't run roll bars/cages either).
I know I might roll my car at an autocross, but frankly I'm much more likely
to roll it on a public road. Either way, the risk is small and I don't have
any problem assuming that risk.>>>
Ask the SEB or anybody on the SCAC and they will tell you the same thing.
That is their reason for not allowing them. I didn't make it up but go ahead
and believe what you want since you will anyway.
Paul Foster
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