That's exactly the beauty of an online database, it can be self building.
The info can be aquired from many sources, but put into the database
primarily by the competitors themselves, without involving any dealers,
manufacturers, or other outsiders unless they voluntarily want to
participate.
If I have the vital specs on a 1933 Widget Speedster model A OK, wether I
got them from the only original service manual in existence, from other
Widget owners/collectors, from measuring my cherry original Widget, from
other online sources, reviews in a 1933 edition of Car and Driver, or
wherever, I can upload them to the database under 1933 Widget Speedster
model A OK along with where they came from. That then becomes the defacto
specifications for determining the legality of ANY 1933 Widget Speedster
model A OK. If someone else decides to run a WS, he can build it to those
specs knowing he will be legal, or if say he disassembles his Widget and
finds by actual measurement the intake valve diameter is different than what
the C&D reporter claimed, that would be a more authoritative source and once
submitted would then supercede the C&D spec the following season.
----- Original Message -----
From: Rocky Entriken <rocky@tri.net>
To: Chuck <golden1@britsys.net>; Eric Salem <eric@mail.brown911.com>; 'Mark
Andy' <mark@sccaprepared.com>; 'autox mailing list' <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2004 4:56 PM
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: shop manuals
> The problem with an online searchable database is the amount of work it
> would take to set it up, and then the amount of work it would take to keep
> it updated -- and that's assuming SCCA could even get such a broad range
of
> information from all the carmakers whose products are used by Solo II
> competitors. Would Porsche and BMW -- which seem to be two of the major
> problem areas making cars not uncommon at our events -- readily supply ALL
> of that data. A piece here and there to answer a specific question,
perhaps,
> but All of it?
>
> And again, it is gathering a gazillion bits of information and data to
have
> ready for when a dozen or so questions come up. Way overkill.
>
> (I would not oppose the idea if SCCA wanted to take it on -- the idealist
in
> me rather likes it, actually -- but the realist in me sees the practical
> difficulties with implementing it).
>
> --Rocky
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chuck" <golden1@britsys.net>
> To: "Rocky Entriken" <rocky@tri.net>; "Eric Salem"
<eric@mail.brown911.com>;
> "'Mark Andy'" <mark@sccaprepared.com>; "'autox mailing list'"
> <autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2004 7:36 AM
> Subject: Re: Subject: Re: shop manuals
>
>
> > I think the real solution is a searchable online database where anyone
and
> > everyone can contribute specs from any and all sources. That way even if
a
> > spec on an obscure car isn't "perfect" it still is uniform and
> referencable
> > prior to protest for all competitors. It would also encourage, rather
> than
> > discourage protests since the protestor would know in advance what
> standard
> > the protestee would be held to rather than the current "I think he's too
> > quick but I don't know anything about the specs on that car, so I'll
> submit
> > a laundry list to the PC in hopes something sticks". IMHO the current
> system
> > DIScourages protests, since the car may indeed be illegal, but if you
> guess
> > the wrong thing to protest the car could be declared legal and you look
> like
> > a sour grapes fool with a lighter wallet.
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