Another load of Common Sense - what is this list coming to?
Thanks, Doug
Another example of "progress" or of "passing years" - Ferrari 333SPs are
occasionally turning up at vintage/historic - these were "state of the art" less
than a decade ago but are now outdated. No doubt some will say, effectively,
"store them for another decade or so while we decide if/when/where to accept
them" - I say - lets embrace them - they are "thoroughbreds" - just need to find
the appropriate venues/groups/classes. The more we encourage this sort of
acceptance the more worthwhile race cars will continue to be available for
future
generations.
Derek
S800Racer@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 8/7/00 4:54:30 PM, simon@mondes.com writes:
>
> <<Is this distinction because former SCCA Production cars are considered evil
> in some circles?>>
>
> It's not that certain cars are "evil", it's really a matter of recreating
> certain periods in time. Much of vintage racing is aimed at recreating
> sports car racing during the 1950's and 1960's. A period considered by most
> to be a "golden age" of sports car racing. In the 1970's and 1980's
> tube-framed and plastic bodied racers began to fill out the "production" car
> fields. These cars were not made by sports car manufacturers but rather by
> race shops and home builders. The '70's and '80's also brought slick tires,
> proliferation of sponsorship and other changes. The cars from this latter
> period are not "evil" or any less a race car than the cars of the former
> period. They are different. They are generally faster. They are in some
> ways more replaceable in that a tube framed car can always be repaired with
> new tubes and some welding.
> Vintage racing was in it's infancy when the cars of the 1970's and 1980's
> were being raced competitively and at the time no one worried about whether
> or how they would fit into vintage racing in 20 or 30 years. In 1980 there
> were few if any places to run a 1975 SCCA production racer as a vintage car.
> Now that such a car is 25 years old, it seems like there should be a place
> for it. The prejudice that you sense comes from those who do not want such a
> car mixed in with cars representing a different age of sports car racing.
>
> Doug Meis
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