Dave and List,
Ok, I have been working on the yard for two days moving rocks (Keith are fake
rocks lighter than the real ones?) and return to find 195 emails. Most of
which are on the rotary factor rule change.
Dave keeps asking why there is no comments to his thread from the SCTA board
members, Rules committee members and the folks on the LSR list. Let me set
some things straight. First, I have been Emailing Dave (not via the list) to
try and resolve this. Second, Other than my other volunteer, Dan Warner, I am
the only SCTA board member that is involved with the rules on this list.
Third, I think most folks on the list have given you an answer, they are not
that interested.
Now let's explore a few things. When the SCTA made the factor of 3 for
rotaries it was made based on performance of the rotary and other racing
organizations factors at the time. At that time the rotaries were competitive
with this factor, they held several records at both Bonneville and El Mirage.
Obviously, the small block Chevy and foreign mulitvalve engines have come a
long way since this factor was created and rotary development has not. If it
had, we may not be having this discussion. So we come to today. Rotaries are
now at a disadvantage, should we change the factor. Let's consider a few
things.
(this is an excerpt from an earlier Email)
Currently:
So the SCTA uses a factor of 3 and gets
10 982 X 3 = 2946cc F class
12 1146 X 3 = 3438cc E class
13 1308 X 3 = 3924cc E class
You want 2.1?
10 982 X 2.1 = 2062cc F class
12 1146 X 2.1 = 2406cc F class
13 1308 X 2.1 = 2746cc F class
So all rotary engines will run in the "F" class under your proposal?
The E/BMS record at Bonneville is 260.809 (ref pg. 78 2000 rule book) set by
a blown rotary engined car. What do you propose we do with this record?
Note it is faster than the AA record in this class. If we move it to "F" I
think the record will stand for a long, long, long time. Or do we "handy
cap" blown rotary cars one class? Obviously the blown rotaries can make
plenty of HP!.... Not sure where to go now....
(end of excerpt)
Let's look at a few Facts:
1. When the SCTA/BNI rules committee makes rules changes that affect
specific records, those cars are either reclassified or loose records. e.g.
when blown cars ran against unblown cars with a 2 X handicap. When the
records were split out if a blown car had taken the record away from unblown,
the record was returned to the unblown car. (what do we do with the E/BMS
record at Bonnneville?)
2. The committee looks at the big picture:
a. How many records does this affect?
b. How many people are running these motors?
c. Are the people running this at a disadvantage? How much.... (The
E/BMS record says NO)
d. etc... The rules committee spent 2 complete Sundays discussing
this and other recommendations.
3. This was presented to the Rules committee by Dan Warner at the first
meeting in October. The rules committee recommended to the board that the
factor not be changed at this time.
4. The SCTA board voted on recommendations from the rules committee at the
December board meeting. This must be done to get the rule book out in a
timely manner. I (your elected SCTA President) failed to accomplish voting on
all of the recommendations at the December board meeting. Because of this the
rule book will be late this year (mid March), but it was needed to resolve
some other issues that effect several hundreds of competitors. The final
rules recommendations will be finished tonight (Friday, 5 January 01). We
will not reopen this issue since it was voted on by the board at the December
meeting. The board voted to accept the rules committee recommendation and not
change the factor.
What can you do now?
1. Write a letter to the Technical committee (Steve Batchelor) requesting
the change for 2002. Include your technical dissertation on why the factor
should be changed. Include all of the other racing organizations that allow
rotaries with their factors. Include recommendations for existing records.
Stick to the facts, leave the sarcasm out.
2. Best way to get everyone to take notice is to have 10 rotary powered cars
show up. Tom Bryant said it best, "rotaries should have their own class" and
not be factored. Best way to accomplish this is to have participation! ( I
have not seen a rotary powered car for several years at either venue)
I know this is long, I hope it will help. I want to say one last thing, THANK
YOU Dan Warner for all the time and energy that you put into our rules
process.
Mike Manghelli
SCTA President
(BTW even though you all think I do not read my Email, I do and my be a
lurker, but I do respond every now and then when appropriate)
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