I have been following this thread which seems to oscillate between the arcane
technical and the philosophical. I would like to comment on the latter. I feel
that "modern" improvements to the vintage race cars fall into three categories:
performance enhancements; reliability enhancements, and safety enhancements.
Some mods may fall into one or more categories i.e. roller rockers could be
added
for performance and reliability benefits. I have serious doubts whether modern
clutches are a performance enhancement with the following caveat: if it allows
a
more highly tuned engine to turn higher RPM's than it would have been capable
with what was allowed in the era or if it allows a more powerful engine to get
its power to the driveline without self-destructing than I would consider it
"performance enhancing." However, in those cases, I would direct my attention
to
illegal modifications to the engine itself and not to the clutch which is an
innocent bystander. I would personally consider modern clutches to fall in the
"reliability" area and perhaps in the "safety" category. There is NO WAY that I
would consider this in the same class with roller rockers or the use of modern
"Bow-Tie" heads. Obviously some forms of pushing the envelope or stretching the
rules are more obvious to those trying to police such things: examples being
wider wheels, lower profile tires, dry sump lubrication, better brakes, fitting
a
more modern version of the original engine, etc. Other forms of performance
enhancement are harder to detect--larger displacement, weight shaving, billet
steel cranks replacing cast or forged, larger valves, modern cam grind
technology, etc., etc.
In our club, SOVREN, the members decided that we ought to start enforcing our
car
preparation rules. We have decided to enforce the rules by having committees
from the different classes do inspections, BUT we don't want to become a
mini-SCCA. We are looking at the things that we can easily assess such as
wheels, tires, brakes, carbs, transmissions. We have just started looking at
engine (pumping to check displacement and measuring stroke in twin cams, cam
lift
in Formula Fords, etc.). So far our members are being very reasonable and
supportive. We don't want to have a "tear down" policy or be bothered with
things that we can't easily look at or measure. Our idea is to let competitors
know that we do think that a level playing field is important, and that we are
serious about trying to ensure it. Clutches aren't even on our radar screen!
Dick Buckingham, Jr.
Race Chairman - SOVREN
Brian Evans wrote:
>
> > > At 02:07 AM 10/13/00 -0400, Greg Solow wrote:
> > > >Gee, I always thought that a small diameter multiplate clutch only became
> > > >available in the last 15 years or so . To my way of thinking that makes
> >it
> > > >fit the perfect description of a "non-vintage" modification akin to
> >roller
> > > >rocker arms or a belt drive conversion on a BMC "A' series engine. If I
> > > >remember correctly, the SCCA rules thoughout the 60s and 70s required the
> > > >use of a clutch of standard diameter and type of construction in all
> > > >production cars.
> > > >
> >Regards,
> > > >Greg Solow
>
|