[Vintage-race] FIA Spridget and Webber Question

[dmeadow at juno.com]

Jack,

OK, I pulled out the SVRA Supplemental Regulations for Austin Healey
Sprite and MG Midget that you faxed me on June 5, 2001.  Can you believe
I still have this crap?  I've REALLY got to do some closet cleaning!

It does say that a Single Weber DCOE carburetor and manifold are OK as an
"SVRA approved option."  However, it doesn't say that there is no size
restriction on SUs, and, in fact, specifies 1.25" SUs in the top section
under Engine.

I interpret this to mean you can run 1.25" SUs or you can run a Weber. 
Now, I suppose there is a thread of logic that says if there is no
apparent throat restriction on Webers that would imply there would be
none on SUs, given performance.  However, as Technical Director I'm sure
you would say "if the rules don't say you can do it, then you can't." 
Therefore, I don't see how you could run a 1.5" SU according to the
Supplement.  Maybe there is a general rule out there that I don't have. 
I do remember being surprised when I got to the event (Zippo in '01) and
seeing a 1.5" SU setup on a SVRA car or two.  Not that I cared much,
considering I wasn't contemplating running anything but 1.25" SUs, but I
do remember reading the rules closely and being surprised.

My memory being what it is, I didn't remember what was said about a
Weber, specifically, although I do remember the size of the SUs being
apparently limited.

So that's where I ever got that idea, right or wrong.  Of course, this is
now a long time ago and the rules, as I stated, have changed since.

David

On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:32:21 EDT JWoesvra at aol.com writes:
In a message dated 7/12/2007 7:13:53 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
dmeadow at juno.com writes:
I feel your pain.  The vintage organizations are very inconsistent on
this sort of thing.  SVRA once required 1.25 SUs (although I consistenly
saw 1.5s on cars at their events) but in the last few years their rules
have changed considerably. 
David,
 
As you know, I have been Technical Director of SVRA since 1991 and a
racer since 1982. During that period, SVRA has always recognized a single
Weber as being equivalent to 2 SU carbs across the board regardless of
make or model.
 
There has never been a size restriction (i.e. 1 1/4" vs 1 1/2")  
 
I don't know where you ever got the idea you state above. VSCCA? VDCA? 
 
The situation with groups requiring Homologation papers is also very
draconian in my opinion, in the year 2007.
 
One need only to examine a copy of the FIA yearbook for (take your pick)
whatever year you want to and you will find how difficult it is to apply
this to modern vintage racing.
 
It all depends on the "Group" a particular event was being run under.
Groups 1 & 3 where essentially "showroom stock". Groups 2 & 4 where
improved groups where carburetion was "free". 
 
A sports car running Group 3 standards was limited to exactly what the
factory stated on the official forms.
 
However, most events were actually run under Group 4-5 specifications,
and Group 2 for sedans, the equivalent of Group 4 for sports cars.).
 
It is silly for organizations to try to refer to these regulations "by
the book".
 
However, if they want Sprites to have 1 1/2" SU's, just say so. Don't try
to justify it by going by the book.
 
Jack Woehrle
SVRA
 
 






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