Those wondering why the Supra is allowed in SM and other, somewhat
similar cars like the RX7 and 944 are not, need only look at the results
from the first couple National Tours and Pros of 2000.
The Supra is allowed because Kent and Karen Rafferty made the decision
to support a class that was brand new, rather than run in other, more
popular classes. They took a chance and entered a marginal car in the
class while the rules were in their infancy, became a solid citizens in
the SM community, before the talk of exclusion lists occurred. They
paid their dues and will not be rewarded with a swift kick in the pants
for doing so.
Nobody entered their precious RX-7's or 944's even though they *were*
technically legal during those first events. Nearly everybody seemed
bent on finding fault with the new class, expounding on reasons why it
would fail, and chose to wait and see what would happen before passing
up their chance to win in a trophy in a recognized class.
It's unfortunate that many people did not know about SM early on and did
not enter their cars in the class and did not participate in the efforts
to make it a viable class. Now that SM has a slightly better view of
itself, and what it might become, some people are left out in the cold.
Kent and Karen had the foresight to support a class that needed (needs)
them. These are the kind of people who might have purchased stock in
Microsoft in the early days. Don't begrudge them their efforts or
resolve. If the rules were written fresh today, I'm sure the Supra
would be outlawed, not because it won the tallest trophy, but because
it's a lot like those other cars on the (proposed) exclusion lists.
Just an opinion, surely lacking in fact...
Dale Seeley
SM 140 Fiat 600 (Also on the exclusion list)
|