Originally posted by grjones1:
I apologize to those wishing to resolve the airdam question for diverting the discussion, but I feel the diversion is germane to the discussion. Please indulge me.
I agree. Discussions about rules are always on-topic. Sometimes they become holy wars and they shouldn't. If we as racers are doing our jobs correctly, we should not become emotional about rules. We should simply want clarification so we can go on to build the best car we can. That said....
Originally posted by grjones1:
When one reads a rule he assumes he must grasp the intent of the rule and he hopes his inferences are accurate according to the intent. Semantics are playing a big role here; however, I am not avoiding the question. Most COA decisions I've read appear to side with what the court finds in their judgement was the original intent so we differ in our perception there.
I guess we'll just have to disagree.
Originally posted by grjones1:
In any event, what I'm trying to say is that if the rule is not clear or not founded on sound reasoning, and much of the time common sense, it must be revised and made to fit reality.
I couldn't agree more and already have. I think the rule should be changed to allow aftermarket
replacement parts that serve no other function beyond that of the OEM part. That would seem reasonable. Perhaps the CB is worried about being able to police these parts, or they are worried about people stretching, bending, and otherwise warping such a rule. Or perhaps it has never really come up. I don't know.
Originally posted by grjones1:
I think we can justifiably consent to using aftermarket parts that meet factory specifications whether or not we agree the rules allow them (and I think they do because the ITCS does not require part numbers).
OK, a couple of points here.
We don't get to consent to such a thing. We can do it, but the stewards and the COA get to make the call until the rule is changed. And again, the ITCS does not need to require part numbers because it's already explicit in what is allowed regarding OEM vs aftermarket parts. I will say, however, that you are
effectively correct as long as there is no way to distinguish the aftermarket part from the OEM part. It's much like my argument about bending RX-7 axles to add camber. Nothing says you can, but it's impossible to find them illegal.
Originally posted by grjones1:
But yes, if the new bumper cover with airdam provides an unfair competitive advantage (lighter) than the original bumper cover then another should be found.
But whether a part provides a competitive advantage or not is not the issue. Such parts, if illegal, are still illegal and people get tossed for them.
Originally posted by grjones1:
But again let's not be so petty as to disallow a solution because the rules don't spell out every possible circumstance, we'd have to deal with an encyclopedia. Do we concur on any of these points?
1) I think someone who protested aftermarket replacement rotors would be taken behind the porta-potty and throttled. Or should be.
2) Certainly in the cases we are discussing, the rules do indeed deal with them. There is no allowance for these aftermarket parts. How can that be more clear?
3) The rules don't have to make sense to us (do they Kirk?
). The fact is, what makes sense to one person, may not to another. If the powers that make rules (C
decide they don't make sense, they will be changed. If the competitors think they don't make sense, they should write to the CB and try to convince them. People do this every day.
4) We are not allowed to ignore rules that we think are silly or don't make sense. It doesn't mean that people won't do it. Shoot, I can assure you I won't be buying Porsche factory rotors for my 944. That's crazy. But, if the rule is not changed before I race and I get caught, that's the chance I take. And probably the chance the protester would take since the entire rest of the IT field would probably take the protester out behind the porta-potty and throttle him (can't throttle a her
).
Sounds like the solution is to try to get the rules changed. I could see aftermarket replacement rotors being allowed. Aftermarket bumper covers with integral airdams? No. BTW, I've raced against cars with those. I wouldn't dream of protesting them, but they are still illegal.
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George Roffe
Houston, TX
84 944 ITS car under construction
92 ITS Sentra SE-R occasionally borrowed
http://www.nissport.com
