Michael Karp wrote:
>Subject: Re: FM Parity
>I personally do not see why going to the narrower wheels is such a big
deal
>to the F500 guys. Everyone agrees that something needs to be done, yet the
>F500 drivers REFUSE to do ONE SINGLE THING to their cars. Reducing
>wheel/tire size is the most cost-effective of anything that can be done to
>bring partiy, since tire costs are disposable anyway. All it would mean is
>retuning the suspension and the driver. IMO, raise
>the weight slightly of the F500, give them the smaller tires, and let's
>race! Why is this such a problem? As far as current modifications go, the
>differences between the F5's in solo and road race trim are already
>significant. Different suspensions altogether , totally different setups,
>wheels and tires, weight distribution ( I think). and more. Why would
going
>to smaller tires be that much different? How about just a harder compound
>tire? Would that meet with approval?
Michael Karp<
Michael, the F500/440s are a GCR legal car. That should not change. We
don't want to become an autocross only car. That is the facts as they are.
I believe if you ask the rest of the people in the F500/440 ranks you will
get the same feedback. The Solo Vees have been switched around from class
to class because they just don't "FIT IN". The only solution to this
problem, that the Vees have, is for them to get their numbers up and get
the SCCA to give them their own class. The Solo Vees didn't want to be in
FM and I don't think they should have been force to belong in a class they
didn't want to be in. At the first National event, that SCM was tested to
see if the numbers would support the class, many (more than half) chose not
to support the new class and ran in DM. The writing was on the wall at that
time. The Solo Vees should have been left alone and should have been able
to vote where they would like to compete.
You say in your post that the setup for the F550/440s in FM are different
then the Road Race setup. Well I'm here to tell you that you are wrong. In
1995 I competed in SCM in Art Trier's car that could have road raced if
mirrors and a fire system was put back in the car. I trophied that year in
that car. In 1996 I ran Eddie Hernandez's F440 in FM. That car had been
slightly altered to compete in solo but at this time competes in solo trim
in the Southwest Oval Series. In 1997 I ran Perry Simonds car from Texas.
That car Road Raced in the exact same condition it autocrosses. He doesn't
have to change anything. It is very competitive in both disciplines
trophying at the Solo 2 Nationals as well as taking second place both days
at the Double Road Race National three months later at Texas World Speedway
in the same trim.
You also mentioned a harder compound tire, obviously you don't understand
tire construction and compound ratings or you wouldn't have offered that as
a solution. You also spoke about increasing weight, that is not an option
for cars that were built to weigh 700 lbs for competing on smooth race
tracks and are already up to 800lbs. We build F500s and race them so we
understand what the weights should be based on the original designs and I
can tell you that we are already well beyond those original design
parameters.
In conclusion I'd like to tell you one more thing. In 1998 I competed at
the Solo 2 Nationals in DM. I went to that class to help them with their
numbers so their class would look strong again to the SEB. If you want to
compete somewhere then petition the SCCA to be moved back to DM or get your
numbers up and get your own class, but don't expect DM to welcome you back
with open arms with your current modifications. One thing that I will
support for the Solo Vees is your right to as much horsepower as you want,
I'll even support superchargers for you guys but you must go back and run
on the Road Race Formula Vee tires and conform to all the other GCR rules
the way we do!!
Stuart in New York
P.S. I didn't support the SEB's rules change that allowed F500/440s to run
without sidepods and other things that their road race brothers must have.
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