Yea, ain't that a kick. The min production run and sizes should make the
revision list as will MSRP/generally available price. Good points. Can't
hang with you on the threaded bodies though.
Tony
----- Original Message -----
From: "John J. Stimson-III" <john@harlie.idsfa.net>
To: "Anthony Tabacco" <atabacco@california.com>
Cc: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: Stock Shock Chalk Talk
> On Thu, Aug 08, 2002 at 09:30:01AM -0700, Anthony Tabacco wrote:
>
> Tony, I applaud your effort. Many in favor of leaving the status quo
> claim that there is very little or even no advantage to be had from
> the custom shocks. If that's so, then there are an awful lot of
> people who spent a lot of money to gain little or no advantage. So
> either it's false, or there is a lot of money being wasted in a shock
> absorber "cold war" (they have the Penskes, we gotta get
> Penskes...drat, now they have Koni 28s...). Either way, I'd like to
> see it stop.
>
> So I'll see if I can contribute with criticism:
>
> > 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.
>
> I think the definition gets hairy here. In my own recent discussion
> with G.H. Sharp about shock options, I asked about the low price I had
> seen mentioned for "30 series" Koni shocks for the Z06 ($800/set).
> Normally, the 30 series are custom built shocks available as single or
> double adjustable. But for the Z06 application, Koni made their "off
> the shelf" model using 30 series components, complete with 30-series
> part numbers. You can also get custom built 30 series for the Z06,
> with a different part number.
>
> I think the solution might be to require a minimum production run and
> SEB approval, similar to the way tires are required to come in a
> minimum number of sizes and be approved by the SEB.
>
> Having the price cap will also help, but might not guarantee against
> "donated" shocks, sold by a sponsor at a large discount in exchange
> for promoting or advertising the sponsor.
>
> > 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.
>
> I don't see alloy bodies or adjustable/threaded perches to be a
> problem, as long as they are a standard feature of an off-the-shelf
> low cost product. We don't want to discourage companies from offering
> a better product to the mass market -- and the mass market is not
> constrained against height adjustment like we are. The off the shelf
> Koni Sports are height adjustable with discrete perch settings for
> many models, including the Miata. I wouldn't be beyond reason to see
> integrated threaded perches on a mass-market shock, given what the
> kids are drooling over these days.
>
>
> > 5) Cost of each unit is limited to $250 per unit or 125% of OEM,
whichever
> > is greater."
>
> You'll have to define the OEM price pretty clearly. MSRP at a dealer?
> Dealer invoice? You'll have to similarly define how to determine the
> price of the aftermarket unit.
>
> --
>
> john@idsfa.net John Stimson
> http://www.idsfa.net/~john/ HMC Physics '94
|