Your input is noted...lol....
Seriously, having now taken a few cars apart, what bushings actually exist other than in the driveline and the suspension? Body on frame cars, they have some on the body mounts. Steering column maybe? I just don't see the monster in the closet on this one. Certainly not like the sphericals that came with the initial rule change, or ECUs, or "exhaust is free," or "traction bars are legal so redesign the whole rear suspension."
And it IS consistent. You don't seem to have read my post. There would be two "consistent" rules here. One says no bushings can be replaced, the other says all. We are somewhere in the middle with an arbitrary line that doesn't make a lot of sense.
The basic position (as I understand it) of the guys who do not want metal/solid mounts is that they can be used to create stress points on the chassis and make the motor or the tranny or the diff essentially part of the "stiffening" structure of the car. I don't know enough about it to say one way or the other. The reading I did suggests that doing this is generally a BAD idea on a production based car with a limited cage and no tube frame.
Since input so far has been overwhelmingly negative on something that I view as a non-core IT value, I would oppose this despite the inconsistency I mention above.
One last comment on Kirk's post (as always, good to see you this weekend). We need to have "anchors" like Kirk and Lee and others who make sure we don't move too fast or in many cases move at all.
At the same time, IT does have to change to keep up with the times. If we were running that ruleset from 1985 we'd be dead. And we have tough competition now from NASA. Over and over again every time I go (infrequently) to a NASA event or see pictures of one, I'm shocked and amazed at how young the paddock is compared to ours.
IT should be the leading class in SCCA attracting young drivers (along with SM), especially ones who want to build their own cars (along with STL -- Greg and his team have done a great job with that). Things like the washer bottle rule and this bushing stuff seem like such huge end of the world issues to us, but to a 25 year old kid (or even sometimes the 40 year old kid) it's a lot of hot air over what to them is nonsense.
I agree we need to find a balance between no changes, and changes that don't change the core of the class and make it more attractive to others, and changes that DO change the core of the class and eventually kill us. Not easy to do, but necessary.
Well, not yet actually. You are extending the line after the 'first extension' and it's getting out of control IMHO. It's not even theorhetical creep, it's just plain CREEP. Not needed, not consistant.
Without naming names, hit us up with a couple examples of where they are coming from. If you have limits on function, there is no issue with the material. The compromise is overly complicated and has opened up a HUGE grey area for people to exploit. Friggen HUGE.
Do me a favor and hold off on this position. The only bushings that are free are the suspension bushings. FAR from 'the rest of the car'. It's only being extrapolated in your mind based on the current wording out for member comment.
I honestly can't believe how much this has gotten out of control. "Please allow alternate motor mounts" -------> "All driveline bushings are free".
Somebody better sharpen their pencils and update the Glossery in a VERY careful way. See: 'Drive Train'
Maybe I'm nuts. Anyone else feel like this is bogus? Let me know before I send my letter.