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RE: Re Running with VARA

To: N197TR4@cs.com, dave@microworks.net, Editorgary@aol.com,
Subject: RE: Re Running with VARA
From: Bill Babcock <BillB@bnj.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 21:24:10 -0800
I recommend one of those little aerial flags. There's a car that runs up
here in the Northwest called the chain drive special that's about half the
size of a FF. I can't see him when I'm in Peyote!  I run the USRRC races
every so often, and enduros too, where they stick everything on the track
together. Disconcerting, but fun.  

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-fot@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-fot@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of N197TR4@cs.com
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 1:19 PM
To: dave@microworks.net; Editorgary@aol.com; fot@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Re Running with VARA

In three words...

Size DOES Matter!

GT5 Minis no longer no longer run with GT1s at Road America after an
incident causing a fatality. And visibility was not necessarily a factor. 


> I had thought about trying to see if VARA would let me run my 21 year
old 
> 1983 T-83 Red Devil F440/F500 (it is all original except for roll
bar/hoop 
> updates to current GCR spec) with their Open Wheel Group since the car
is 
> woefully uncompetitive with the current crop of SCCA F500 cars which are

> faster than most Formula Fords.  But if what you are saying is true I
find 
> those policies to be extremely negligent.
> 
> While it might be one thing to run a Spitfire along side the ground 
> pounding Mustangs and Vettes if their lap times are the same the weight 
> difference and strength of the Chassis would mean that the Spitfire
which 
> could hold it's own in a collision with a Mini, MGB, etc... would
certainly 
> get the short end of a tangle with a "big" car.
> 
> And while some sports racers can share the track with production cars
not 
> all can and an Open-wheel car should NEVER share RACE track time with 
> anything that big.  Maybe some PRACTICE sessions but I would refuse to
take 
> myself out on the track with them unless it was just to do a "hardship
lap" 
> to check the car out after making some adjustments.
> 
> I have been on track with my car when an old Can-Am car blew past me and
I 
> can assure you that was disconcerting knowing that the driver sitting in

> the cockpit of that car was completely unable to see me I was completely

> lower than the sides of his car - including the top of my roll bar.
Heck 
> if a car was sitting in an RX7 right next to me and I was on the
passenger 
> side of his car he would have no idea that I was even there as I am
lower 
> than the window opening.
> 
> And while I understand that VARA takes a dim view of any contact that
would 
> be bitter consolation for my next of kin.

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