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RE: Stock Shock Chalk Talk

To: ba-autox@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Stock Shock Chalk Talk
From: Carl Merritt <CMerritt@luminous.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:14:37 -0700
You know, this may seem like a crazy idea, but why not just limit Stock
class to stock shocks?  Hmmm...the simplicity of it is downright scary...

-Carl

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Green [mailto:iagreen@ucdavis.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 11:07 AM
> To: ba-autox@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: Stock Shock Chalk Talk
> 
> 
> I really don't agree with the shock issues going around in 
> stock lately. 
> But I've never ran stock and don't plan on it so I guess its 
> not really my 
> buisness. But if you start limiting shocks to major companies 
> aren't you 
> just helping to shut down the newer, smaller companies? 
> Especially if you 
> start trying to spread those rules beyond stock. We aren't 
> the only form 
> of motorsports but I'm sure that we do make up a signifigant 
> portion of 
> the market that these companies build for. If you limited 
> specialty shocks 
> to prepared/modified you'd probably hurt alot of the upcoming 
> technology 
> and probably lose alot of potential new autocrossers. Running in STS 
> (supposedly the next step from stock) we have alot of 
> discussions about 
> newcomers already exceeding the rules with their daily 
> drivers. Not too 
> many people own prep/mod cars but theres a pretty good number who own 
> street driven cars in various classes with custom built shocks.
> 
> Ian
> STS 99
> shocks $ = 1/2 current blue book $
> 
> > Hi Anthony
> > 
> > Your version is definitely much easier to read and 
> understand.  The price
> > limit thing is questionable though.  I hope that your kind 
> of thinking 
> could
> > be applied to the Street Prepared classes too.  How can I 
> compete with 
> cars
> > that have $1500 a corner shocks and struts and have 350rwhp 
> as well as 
> have
> > 315 or 335 tires sticking out of the wheel wells.  Those 
> type of race 
> parts
> > should be left in the Prepared and Modified classes really. 
>  People might
> > complain that it really only makes a small difference in 
> track time.  Add
> > all those small changes up and the rich guys have much 
> faster cars.  My 
> two
> > cents.
> > 
> > Kirk
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Anthony Tabacco
> > Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 9:30 AM
> > To: ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Stock Shock Chalk Talk
> > 
> > 
> > The SEB is all over the map on trying to write a revised 
> rule for stock
> > shocks. You probably read the distilled draft of the rule 
> in Fast-track 
> last
> > issue. While I appreciate the effort, after mighty debate, 
> it has brought
> > forth a rule that says that shocks for stock class cars cannot have 
> remote
> > reservoirs. This isn't even close to good enough. The debate for all
> > practical purposes is dominated and limited to those very few 
> stakeholders
> > with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, which 
> means more 
> money
> > than everyone else would even consider spending, or that 
> they make their
> > living at servicing them. It is not healthy for the sport, 
> but I think 
> they
> > were surprised to hear from an "ordinary" member. The response was
> > interesting. Someone on the SEB asked me (I think 
> sincerely) for specific
> > language. I am proceeding on the premise that a Koni 2800 
> or a Penske on 
> a
> > Stock car is as stupid as R Compounds and that a workable 
> shock rule can 
> be
> > centered around restrictions on cost. If you don't agree 
> with that, you 
> need
> > to write your own letter because thats where I'm coming 
> from, and here is
> > what I have:
> > 
> > "It is the intent of this rule that Stock Class serve as 
> the entry class 
> to
> > the sport and that cost containment is of primary 
> importance to that 
> goal.
> > Shock absorbers costs are best controlled by limiting 
> shocks to units
> > economical enough that outright replacement of a unit is 
> the mandatory
> > alternative in lieu of rebuilding.
> > 
> > 1) Shocks shall be limited to one external adjustment, 
> except when OEM.
> > 2) Shocks are limited to "off the shelf" units available for general
> > distribution street use to the public typically including, but not 
> limited
> > to: OEM, Koni single adjustable, Bilstein, Tokiko, KYB, or 
> available "house
> > brands", or other such units that meet the criteria and 
> intent of the 
> rule.
> > 3) The use of Koni 2800, Olin, Penske, Fox, DMS, or other such units
> > specifically manufactured for the specialty racing market are 
> specifically
> > disallowed.
> > 4) Shocks shall be installed "as manufactured" and shall 
> not be purchased
> > from a third party in a modified condition or opened up for 
> any reason 
> by an
> > entrant or a third party. Revalving, machining, or modifying a shock
> > absorber for any reason is specifically disallowed. Except 
> as supplied as
> > OEM, the use of remote reservoirs, alloy bodies, adjustable 
> perches, or
> > welded off coil-overs is prohibited.
> > 5) Cost of each unit is limited to $250 per unit or 125% of OEM, 
> whichever
> > is greater."
> > 
> > So, how close did I came? This gets added to the usual 
> other stuff there.
> > Also, if anyone can tell me if the cost item #5 does not 
> work for them 
> (like
> > what does a 996 shock cost anyway?) or you can add to the list of
> > allowed/dis-allowed, I would appreciate it. The other smoke 
> and mirror 
> thing
> > you hear a lot of is enforceability (as though anyone who 
> can get past a
> > dipstick couldn't find tons of legal horsepower and tons more of
> > undetectable horsepower) so they are worried that the guy 
> in the next 
> pit is
> > going to cheat. its just a screen to not change a situation 
> that has 
> evolved
> > to the ridiculous.
> > 
> > Be good,
> > Tony
> > 
> 
> Ian Green
> 2003 Team Coleader
> UC Davis Formula SAE
> http://mae.ucdavis.edu/~fsae
> 97 Honda Civic CX
> http://www.geocities.com/stscxr

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