In a message dated 11/26/00 11:36:51 AM Pacific Standard Time, lwdent@fwi.com
writes:
> In SOVREN we select the "keep it stock" and "drive well within your
> capacity" philosophy. Those who don't are subject to various penalties
> depending upon the infraction. Unlike SCCA, you ARE responsible for
> your little mistakes. Vintage is a "ZERO CONTACT SPORT".
>
The SOVREN attitude works very well - I've run more than a few races with you
guys over the years, and the attitude of the participants is generally very
good, with the few who seem determined to get in over their heads swiftly
given a few pointers from the powers that be.
It strikes me, as an old CASC and ICSCC racer, that there are 3, not 2 types
of drivers at this sort of event. There are the guys that have never raced
much except in vintage and are out for a high speed parade, and enjoy the
heck out of it.
There are the ones that may or may not have actual racing experience, but
take the whole thing WAY to seriously, and are aggressive to the point of
constituting a danger to others.
Then there are those of us that for whatever reason, perhaps just years of
racing, do not have to keep the wick turned up to eleven all the time, and
can elect to back off in that one corner or instance when not to do so would
result in a situation that would imperil other drivers. I think it is called
judgement, and some drivers start out with a modicum, some add to it with
experience, and others seem incapable of exhibiting it. We are also, if the
conditions suit and we are racing with other drivers of similar capability,
able to put together a few laps of 8/10ths or 9/10ths racing, certainly to
our enjoyment, and hopefully not to the peril of anyone else on the track
with us.
I do think, however, that while the issue of car modification is not an easy
one, it should not be limited strictly to the things that could have been
done in any certain period without a lot of careful thought.
I do have some clue about safety as well as modifying for performance - I was
tech inspector back in the late 70s for the Vancouver club for awhile, in the
early days when they were mostly new to the sport and I was still running
Conference.
I have a great deal of sympathy for allowing the use of stronger suspension
components, even if the problems with them are only caused by the added
stress of modern rubber. I have a lot of sympathy for allowing things that
serve mostly to make the cars more affordable, and reliable, like the use of
Accusumps to extend the periods between bearing replacement (the guys with
948 Sprites, if there are any left out there, will know what I mean - sump
baffles, no matter how elaborate, just don't do quite as good a job).
I have less sympathy for allowing cars like E types to run ventilated brake
discs in the name of safety - it seems to me that it is a way to go faster,
while paying lip-service to safety. On the other hand, there are many
instances of cars that I would allow to run later brakes - a TR2, for
instance, would be diabolical even with the most aggressive of metallic shoes
(I ran one at Westwood once on a club day, and after 2 laps, the 1930s MG
with cable brakes was outbraking me. And believe me, a TR is the LAST car you
want to be putting sideways to scrub off speed, especially without a roll
bar).
I guess there is also an argument for allowing, say, an Austin Healey 100
(which can be damned fast in a straight line) to run later 3000 brakes, but
frankly I am not sure where the line should be drawn. I do recall one great
race that I had (I run an MGA Twincam, that is unusual in the late 50s for
having 4 wheel discs) with Fred Yeakel in his 58 (?) Corvette at PIR, where,
because of his original, albeit by then ceramic/metallic brake shoes, I was
actually a little faster on lap times, but of course, couldn't catch him on
the straights (the bugger would point for me to pass as we entered the front
straight, no doubt laughing his ass off as he did).
Allowing an early Vette to upgrade to late Stingray discs would prevent that
sort of thing. Maybe the answer is to hew to body and model types - a
Stingray built without discs could upgrade if the same model was available
with them (a friend has a late 60s big block with drums - a 'delete option'
chosen by some Luddite - a car that I would not want to be entering a corner
in front of!).
The balancing of safety with the fact that some people may use the allowed
mods to go faster makes for tough decisions that I am glad I no longer have
to make.
Any rule you make will have someone lying awake at night trying to think of a
way to take advantage of it, but it was always thus. Erring slightly on the
side of safety, and strictly policing driving habits may be the best one can
do.
Cheers,
Bill Spohn
(MGA, TVR, Vancouver)
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