Thanks, Rocky. I guess that kind of makes sense. But I don't see the
problem with replacing an airbag steering wheel with another airbag steering
wheel from another model year. Let's say that I had a 1990 model car with
an old ratty leather steering wheel, or maybe my airbag deployed, and I
found a used '95 model steering wheel & airbag for $100. Can't find a used
'90 steering wheel in good shape, and a new one from a dealer is $1,387. Or
let's say I have an older Miata but I really love the look of the newer
Miata Nardi steering wheels. Even if the Nardi wheel is a little smaller
diameter, if it is within 1" then it gives no more advantage than what the
non-airbag cars get and no advantage over the '99+ Miatas.
How about:
"Alternate steering wheels are allowed, provided the outside diameter is not
changed by more than one inch from the standard size. Steering wheels with
an
integral airbag may not be replaced with a non-airbag steering wheel."
Or make it even more restrictive and say that steering wheels with an
integral airbag may only be replaced with an integral airbag steering wheel
from the same make and model of car. This would allow early Miatas to
install the later Nardi wheels, or M3's to install the later 3-spoke wheels,
or Integras to install the Type-R steering wheel, or MR2s to install the
nicer '94+ steering wheel. It's really just a cosmetic upgrade, and might
be worth a rule change now that some of the steering wheels/airbags from the
80's and early '90's are getting pretty old.
Just wondering what others thought about this.
Brad
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rocky Entriken [mailto:rocky@tri.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 4:14 PM
> To: Burns, James B.; Team.Net
> Subject: Re: Stock class steering wheels
>
>
> Probably because the original rule was written many years
> before airbags
> were invented, and it was common to swap out that old mundane
> plastic wheel
> with something sexy from the aftermarket supplier -- woodrim,
> or "Monza
> design" or whatever. And nobody sold "Triumph replacement" or "Fiat
> Replacement," etc, but "buy the Wizbang, or the Outtasite,"
> or whatever
> other design caught your eye and it comes with a universal
> hub. Kinda like
> road wheels -- what design do you fancy, and we'll drill the
> holes to match
> your bolt pattern.
>
> Airbags, of course, changed all that. Now steering wheels are a system
> instead of a lever.
>
> The rulemakers way back then just wanted to be sure someone
> did not get some
> great leverage advantage (I have an illegal-for-stock
> steering wheel in my
> street '64 Spitfire -- stock came with a 16" wheel, the
> replacement is 13".
> The one in the Prepared-class race car is 12").
>
> --Rocky
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