The big problem for most has been the "full width" main hoop requirement.
And the fact that where alternate configurations were at one time accepted
(given a registered engineers seal) they no longer are.
Since a cage is the biggest expense in the chassis build, and very
diffulcult to modify, there are a lot of disgruntled folks out there.
In one of the races in October a spridget went inverted on the asphalt
mid-way through the chicane. He nearly turned over a furrow for 100 feet or
so, before coming to rest, still upside down. The driver was fine, the word
was that his cage, though proven highly effective, would be illegal this
year.
I'm big on safety, don't get me wrong. But the SCCA seems to be creating
solutions for non-problems.
And their attitudes towards the traditional older sports cars are less than
you may expect. My request to the comp board to allow any available
differential and axle assembly citing non existant spares was denied. Their
reason was that suitable assemblies are "available". The unoffical version,
acording to a member of the comp board that I know personally, was that
they let the Jensen-Healey have any rear end in 1995 and he won EP! Guess
they want to make sure nothing like that happens again...
----------
From: Andrew Mace[SMTP:amace@unix2.nysed.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 1998 5:36 AM
To: Chip Bond
Cc: 'Catpusher@aol.com'; fot@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: My last race report? (long)
Hardy wrote:
> So the TR3 is leading the Divisional Points Race, and
> SCCA made the roll cage no good as of 6/1/98.
> So much invested, so little future?
Chip Bond responded:
> Hardy, I admire your restraint and know you are frustrated. What is it,
27
> consecutive runoffs?
>
> It's a shame the SCCA has decided to transform itself by reshuffling the
> decks of the cars and drivers that have supported it for decades. Seems
> their current class interests are dictated by Mazda Motorsports....
Would one of you care to enlighten someone who has not kept up with SCCA
of late (like, since 1983 or so)? What is going on now with the roll
cages, etc.? Just curious....
--Andy
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Andrew Mace, President and *
* 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
* Vintage Triumph Register *
* amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
p.s. Thank goodness the Hardly Boys RaceSpit 4 is just a very occasional
Solo II car. I must save about $10-20k/year that way. :-)
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