The suggestion of compliance checks has been made, in fact implored by
several competitors in your class, but the problem is that most people
not running in the class have little if any knowledge of the rules
constraining the class, and are therefore unsure of what to check. As a
result items such as rollbar height are checked in tech, a dimension of
relatively little performance effect, while items like track, rotary
timing and exhaust length are not being checked anywhere. In the long
run people get lazy or sloppy about keeping items like this in check,
and new people to the class see this lack of compliance and assume it is
the status quo or generally acceptable. In a formula class it is
imperative that the constraints applied to the dimensions of the car and
motor be enforced, and the only way the SCCA provides for the
competitors in a solo class to ensure compliance is to protest each
other, and unfortunately this almost always results in hurt feelings.
J. Brett Howell
www.PebbleMotorSports.com <http://www.pebblemotorsports.com/>
-----original message-----
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 12:22:03 -0500
From: "Larry R. Metz" <lrmetz@insightbb.com>
Subject: Appeal issues discussion
As a reader o all the discussion of recent on the appeals and rules and
disqualifications.....
Has anyone ever thought about having a technical inspection offered at
major events, to assist drivers in knowing if their car is legal or not?
Some persons discussing seem to see the rules as only black or
white.....I tend to believe there is a lot of issues of not being clear,
and some conflicts of issues and facts.
IT would seem very very helpful if a special techincal inspection was
voluntarily offered at some major events to help persons find those
issues that may be subjects for appeals.
I recall when I purchased a vee, and was considering racing, I took it
to a tech inspectors house and asked him to review the car and advise me
as to legality. I learned about some roll bar issues that I had not
been aware. IT was very helpful and avoided me getting all set and
arrive at a race, to find my money not wisely spent due to some details
of the car that I, had not been aware.
An example of unclear, I suggest that the F500 issue seems to have
conflicting rules.....there is an need to have noise levels limited, but
then there is the issue of the length of the exhaust.
In discussion of the overall situation.....competition seems to bring
everyone's egos and feelings to the surface. IT can be very harsh and
damaging to relationships. When we put down the entry fee, we need to
remind ourselves we have likewise placed a target on our back, and in
the heat of battle everything is fair game. Driving skill is not the
only issue....technical skills, rule reading and interpreting skills,
and of course some luck.
I would suggest that our rules system that is enforced by protests,
tends to permit details to be overlooked, and then creates surprises at
especially important events. IT is a very inconsistent way of enforcing
rules. That is why I am advocating that there be offered technical
inspections offered.....it would seem to do wonders for the public
relations and discord that we now experience. This is especially
important in that there is such a variety of cars, rules, and details.
I suggest that each division needs a technical resource, or person, that
can be available for consultation, as well as participating in
inspections on an on going basis, to provide advise, as well as give
feedback to the rules committee as to potential rules misunderstandings.
Hey, guys.....how about lets find a solution rather than eliminate our
competition every few years due to arguments over the rules?????
Larry #66 solo vee.
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Partial archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|