Offhand, I cannot see a problem with it either, done basically the way you
outline.
That's the stuff which invites a letter to the SEB. Don't just complain,
outline rulebook language you might suggest. Explain the reason behind it.
Show how it would not provide anyone a competition advantage (and make sure
your language accomplishes that).
The original steering wheel rule, of course, merely stated the one-inch
limitation on what otherwise was a free-replacement item. When airbags were
invented, the airbag language was added, and primarily it prevented
replacing an airbag wheel with a non-airbag wheel (which people wanted to do
back then) while carrying the concept no further. But that was then, this is
now. Then, you had basically one choice of airbag wheel, what came on the
car. Now we have years of the cars on the roads, and in the junkyards, and
replacements such as you suggest are more plausible than then.
Write your letter.
And then with tongue only slightly in cheek I'd add, when they say no, find
out why, address that and try again.
--Rocky Entriken
----- Original Message -----
From: "Burns, James B." <James.Burns@jhuapl.edu>
To: "Rocky Entriken" <rocky@tri.net>; "Team.Net" <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 4:00 PM
Subject: RE: Stock class steering wheels
> Thanks, Rocky. I guess that kind of makes sense. But I don't see the
> problem with replacing an airbag steering wheel with another airbag
steering
> wheel from another model year. Let's say that I had a 1990 model car with
> an old ratty leather steering wheel, or maybe my airbag deployed, and I
> found a used '95 model steering wheel & airbag for $100. Can't find a
used
> '90 steering wheel in good shape, and a new one from a dealer is $1,387.
Or
> let's say I have an older Miata but I really love the look of the newer
> Miata Nardi steering wheels. Even if the Nardi wheel is a little smaller
> diameter, if it is within 1" then it gives no more advantage than what the
> non-airbag cars get and no advantage over the '99+ Miatas.
>
> How about:
> "Alternate steering wheels are allowed, provided the outside diameter is
not
> changed by more than one inch from the standard size. Steering wheels
with
> an
> integral airbag may not be replaced with a non-airbag steering wheel."
>
> Or make it even more restrictive and say that steering wheels with an
> integral airbag may only be replaced with an integral airbag steering
wheel
> from the same make and model of car. This would allow early Miatas to
> install the later Nardi wheels, or M3's to install the later 3-spoke
wheels,
> or Integras to install the Type-R steering wheel, or MR2s to install the
> nicer '94+ steering wheel. It's really just a cosmetic upgrade, and
might
> be worth a rule change now that some of the steering wheels/airbags from
the
> 80's and early '90's are getting pretty old.
>
> Just wondering what others thought about this.
> Brad
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Rocky Entriken [mailto:rocky@tri.net]
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 4:14 PM
> > To: Burns, James B.; Team.Net
> > Subject: Re: Stock class steering wheels
> >
> >
> > Probably because the original rule was written many years
> > before airbags
> > were invented, and it was common to swap out that old mundane
> > plastic wheel
> > with something sexy from the aftermarket supplier -- woodrim,
> > or "Monza
> > design" or whatever. And nobody sold "Triumph replacement" or "Fiat
> > Replacement," etc, but "buy the Wizbang, or the Outtasite,"
> > or whatever
> > other design caught your eye and it comes with a universal
> > hub. Kinda like
> > road wheels -- what design do you fancy, and we'll drill the
> > holes to match
> > your bolt pattern.
> >
> > Airbags, of course, changed all that. Now steering wheels are a system
> > instead of a lever.
> >
> > The rulemakers way back then just wanted to be sure someone
> > did not get some
> > great leverage advantage (I have an illegal-for-stock
> > steering wheel in my
> > street '64 Spitfire -- stock came with a 16" wheel, the
> > replacement is 13".
> > The one in the Prepared-class race car is 12").
> >
> > --Rocky
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