In a message dated 11/28/2000 1:20:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Michael_Gee@bc.sympatico.ca writes:
<< Is it possible to arrange a summit of vintage racing organizations to
determine the immediate dangers of these parts and issue a joint
statement that safety is their prime concern? Also to promote the
replacement by superior parts without penalty to the vintage standing of
the vehicle?
In your opinion, are the organizations too far apart for this to happen?
>>
The Vintage Motorsports Council meets twice a year. The last meeting was a
couple of weeks ago. It seems that there are a lot of egos that get in the
way of solving these problems. I don't know what to say about it. Maybe Eli
can shed some light on the current state of this issue.
It seems that authenticity is a very delicate subject. Anything that
threatens or questions it is understandably a concern for all of us. We have
been misled many times about how this bit or that will make our cars safer or
more reliable. Then someone uses it as a platform to rachet up the
performance another notch. We have found that dry sumps in V8's eliminate a
lot of major oil spills that can wreck 5 cars at once. Does that mean every
car needs a dry sump? What about the guy that then builds more hp and rpm?
Still, aren't we better of without oil in the line? Who knows?
Fuel cells and roll bars are a given now, but there was a lot of resistance
to them not that long ago. I think pre-war cars look stupid with roll bars.
And full face helmets; don't they look queer in an early car?
I think each organization has to set it's standards and then accept the
drivers and cars that fit those. Time shows who has what people want.
My main task is to provide an environment where reasonable people can have
fun in old cars without too many being killed or maimed.
Jack Woehrle
p.s. I plan to lurk for a while now
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