Mayf & list
Mayf, I am looking forward to reading about a 'new' Sunbeam racing across
the salt very soon, I just hope that the weather holds and you get a course
to run on before the end of this year. If not, Dale will have let you know
about the DV straight - we might see you there?
The BAR-Honda F1 activity is being operated by very skilled engineers and a
powerful PR machine, but I am not sure that they would ever be able to
remove enough of their technology so as to meet with the SCTA rule book.
The fuel issue was one that I had forgotten Mayf - the F1 cars use a
gasoline based 'combustive' (as the FIA would say), but it would never be a
standard gasoline for all racers under SCTA rulebook. So the BAR team to
me are running in an SCTA 'fuel' class.
As to SCTA personnel (and ofcourse other racers) being present to oversee a
one vehicle bid - that would be up to the governing body. Perhaps I did
not have a big enough wallet, or contact the right people, to see if the
organisation would be involved with timing another attempt.
If the SCTA/BNI wish to be the land speed worldwide authority, then all of
this is something that they would have to do for any team wanting to run
solo (upon pay,ment orf sufficient pounds, dollars, yen, etc. As the tech
inspection process does not of itself consider class eligibility, then some
additional rules would be required to take over from the 'peer protest'
rule. And have no doubts, once one F1 team has run other manufacturer led
teams are likely to follow and I am sure just for fun Minardi would create
a car to run fast to humble the big names (LOL). Thats what their
competitive group is all about!
Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England.
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