Thanks Dale, I think.
I have been VERY clear that I don't want my
participation in the class to hinder SM classing
decisions. If the SM sentiment is the Supra (and 3000
GT and Stealth and M3 and......) is not consistent with
the current SM classing philosophy then it should be
excluded. Most SMers and Howard and Dennis and the SEB
seem to agree the Supra, M3, etc. should be included
although these cars are at the upper limit of
inclusions. BTW, I don't believe the 944 and RX7 were
ever legal in the national SM class.
If the consensus is to move the Supra then I'll support
that decision. Just do it soon 'cause I have big plans
for the car this winter :-) Gotta start whupping those
A Stockers :-)
Kent Rafferty
> Those wondering why the Supra is allowed in SM and
other, somewhat
> similar cars like the RX7 and 944 are not, need only
look at the results
> from the first couple National Tours and Pros of
2000.
>
> The Supra is allowed because Kent and Karen Rafferty
made the decision
> to support a class that was brand new, rather than
run in other, more
> popular classes. They took a chance and entered a
marginal car in the
> class while the rules were in their infancy, became a
solid citizens in
> the SM community, before the talk of exclusion lists
occurred. They
> paid their dues and will not be rewarded with a swift
kick in the pants
> for doing so.
>
> Nobody entered their precious RX-7's or 944's even
though they *were*
> technically legal during those first events. Nearly
everybody seemed
> bent on finding fault with the new class, expounding
on reasons why it
> would fail, and chose to wait and see what would
happen before passing
> up their chance to win in a trophy in a recognized
class.
>
> It's unfortunate that many people did not know about
SM early on and did
> not enter their cars in the class and did not
participate in the efforts
> to make it a viable class. Now that SM has a
slightly better view of
> itself, and what it might become, some people are
left out in the cold.
>
> Kent and Karen had the foresight to support a class
that needed (needs)
> them. These are the kind of people who might have
purchased stock in
> Microsoft in the early days. Don't begrudge them
their efforts or
> resolve. If the rules were written fresh today, I'm
sure the Supra
> would be outlawed, not because it won the tallest
trophy, but because
> it's a lot like those other cars on the (proposed)
exclusion lists.
>
> Just an opinion, surely lacking in fact...
> Dale Seeley
> SM 140 Fiat 600 (Also on the exclusion list)
|