The comments about Smokey Yunick pushing the rules brings to mind the problems
I experienced when building the Guam Bomb Studebaker. I had been to Bonneville
to look at the construction of cars and get some ideas before starting the
project. I saw a couple of cars where the frame was set low to the ground, the
BRM 32 coupe and Courtney Hizers Buick. I figured this was a good idea since
I wanted to put lead shot in the frame and have a low center of gravity. Also,
the frame could act as a skid if a tire went down and MAYBE the frame would be
a kind of skirt. The rules did not prohibit this at that time(before 1998). I
ran the car at El Mirage in 1997. I was told by an official that the car was
illegal as an Altered but legal as a Comp. coupe. He said the concern was
making a "tunnel car". I said, It's legal and is not a "tunnel car" since the
frame rails do not narrow creating low pressure. I forgot about this until the
1998 rule book came out with an addition" the frame may not be exposed from
the bottom of the body" I said to the officials that all 32 to 34 Fords had
the frame exposed, so the next year vintage classes were exempted. Eventually,
thanks to my club president Tim Rochlitzer and technical chair Steve
Batchelor my car was grandfathered. At least I can run it as an Altered as
long as I own it. Unfortunately, it can't be sold as a legal Altered after I'm
gone. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't. It's not worth the trouble. Terry
Hunt, Guam Bomb, #743.
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