In a message dated 11/25/00 6:57:34 PM Pacific Standard Time, N197TR4@cs.com
writes:
<< Jack Woehrle...I like your attititude on originality vs failures in a
modern world.
After Jack Drews' car made history at Road America (with his son at the
wheel) I am spending some money that I would not spend otherwise.
Our car is substantially made up of TR4 stock parts, including the aged
TR-666 Isky cam (per legendary Mike Belfer).
After all of the TR axle failures, I am changing the rear axles to something
more substantial. It wont make the car go faster, but IT DOESNT MATTER to me.
I am not so important, but I'd hate to see my sons on the track with the
current set up.
Hope to see you in the spring.
Joe Alexander
>>
Thanks, Joe.
I don't have unusual insight or profound abilities in metallurgy, but I do
feel strongly that Vintage Racing in the United States is no longer a place
to display museum pieces. Not that we shouldn't welcome them. The core of our
sport is now made up of enthusiasts that are more racer than preservationist.
You can argue forever the merits of this situation. The cold fact is that it
is true.
I believe we can mantain the character, appearance, and peculiararities of
each make and model without significantly enhancing performance relative to
the other makes. At the same time, I think we should explore every
opportunity to make them safer and more reliable, within a range of common
sense any fair play. Stronger materials and better designs can open the door
to this goal. Cooperation between responsible racing organizations to allow
and encourage such things is a vital part of this concept. Only the racers
themselves can successfully bring the message to the organizers. There will
always be those who think this is heresy. Those folks have their own events
and venues.
This year we have seen enough mechanical failures in vital components to make
us worry what we can expect down the road. Old parts that were often
questionable when new are reaching the absolute limit of their design
expectations. We have to allow intelligent solutions to these problems in
order to slow the destruction of fine race cars and possibly save a driver's
life.
Jack Woehrle
|