HeeHee,
Well, defending the pre 12/31/72 rule based on preserving the
value of "real" A-sedan/TransAm cars is kind of silly. If
your worried about the car's value as an investment, don't
race it, because sooner or later you'll end up spending FAR more
in maintenance that you did on the car (silly from an economic
perspective). Even if you don't wad it up. I found a '66
TransAm Dart a few years ago for $32K, As is. I could have gotten
it on the track for another $15K, but couldn't justify $32K for
a clapped out Dart <BFG>. I'd feel a lot better about the 12/31/72
rule if it were applied evenly across all run groups, but (last
time I checked) it only applied to the A-sedan/TransAm run group in
SVRA, which smacks more of an effort on the part of the wine &
cheese crowd to keep the rednecks out than to preserve the
dubious investment value of the cars.
While I'm not really an advocate of a Run-What-Ch'a Brung rule
set (period correctness definitely has its place in all this),
I do think a correctly prepared "new" A-sedan/TransAm car, represented
as such, should be allowed unless the grid is full with "real"
cars (not that I don't have an ax to grind here <BFG>). In the mean
time any clone car prepared to '67 GCR, except for tires, can
run current SCCA Solo II C Prepared and be fairly competitive
locally (had a win with the Barracuda last year, even with the
VERY tired 273 (spun an rod bearing after the following event/
used to joke that it was part of the SCCA's Mosquito control
program)).
If the sanctioning bodies really want to protect (as opposed to
inflate) the value of the cars they should start tracking
them by VIN so when a "new" car comes into the system it is
forever known as such and drop the history exclusion. After all,
I've heard anecdotally, that $24K was offered (and turned down)
for a certain A-body Chrysler homage car racing on the west coast.
This is a car (and owner) that makes no bones about being a
copy, the car runs mid-pack and provides LOTS of fun and a good
show, but is NOT a high buck piece. He (like me) does as much
work himself as he can and is just in the sport to have fun.
Considering that the top "value" for concourse winning early
A-Bodies is maybe $15K, that's a pretty good "investment"
(especially when you figure in the grins factor), although
nowhere near what's been "invested".
Me, I still drive both my cars on the street on a regular basis
(don't own a trailer yet), and even use them to commute across
DC on occasion. I can't see owning a pony car that can't function
as a back up commuter, so its unlikely I'd ever buy a Bud Moore
Boss 302 even if I could afford it.
All IMHO, YMMV etc...
All the Best! Dave ;^)
'66 Formula S Barracuda, CP/Vinatage (GoldFish)
'66 C code Mustang Coup, CP (Ol'Beastly)
'91 Sundance, HS (150,000 miles and counting)
'97 Cherokee
Lame Horse Racing
College Park, MD
http://www.erols.com/dmapes/
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