Did I call anybody a whiner Jake?
Not directly, but the point is that just saying "Go away if you don't like it"....when the vast majority of respondents to a CRB query were very much for it, is inappropriate. it's indicative of an attitude that's not too tolerant, and that's gotten the SCCA a bad name. Listen, I don't give two cents about engine mounts..this aint about MY car...it's about a much bigger issue.
Every year some body wants a new rule that takes IT closer to production. Some of the IT rules now allow car to be built that are closer to the production cars of a few years ago just as the production guys are asking for rules changes that move prod cars closer to GT every year.
Yes, and no. When I was on the ITAC, I rejected dozens of rules asking for things like lexan windows, carbon hoods, wings, bigger brakes, and so on. None of them had any real upside and all of them would cost every competitor time and money to keep up with the Jones'.
This is NOT a new ground breaking allowance. The forefathers wanted to allow engine movement controls. This is merely bringing an old rule in line with current times. Allowing window weld moves us not 1 nanometer closer to Prod, and saying so is just not accurate.
What happen to IT being a budget entry level or a place for aged out SS cars? What about the younger drivers we are trying to entice into the sport? Many are just getting started in life and do not have big budgets. Now instead of being able to buy an older SS car or one of the more popular street cars, add a cage, seat, harness, and fire extinguisher then still have a chance at being competitive they have to build a RACECAR, or get bitched at for being a rolling chicane. Yea, that is going to do a lot to attract new drivers.
Well, I don't travel in your circles. I don't hear much bitching about slow cars/drivers. Unless they drive badly. Regardless, that really has zero, zilch nada to do with this, unless you're saying that an allowance of engine mounts will cost everyone $$. Or conversly that the cars lacking them will be backmarkers. It will actually save some people significant money. It's much cheaper and easier to buy some mounts (or spooge goo in your on the car stock mounts) and jack the car up, slip them in than it is to get rods, brackets, spherical bearings, and a welder and build a stayrod.
Certainly it's more 'newbie friendly', and more in keeping with the "bolt on" nature of the class.
Jake you as well as anyone should know that racing ain't cheap. A rookie mistake by another driver just cost me $2500 in body work.
.....been to frame machine myself for a guy who decided to try braking at the .5 mark instead of the 200 mark and T boned my car. My solution to that is to instruct whenever possible.
I can either whine about it or get it fixed and move on. Parts wear out and break, .....t. We also have to keep up with the maintenance on our cars. That means buying parts.
And my solution to THAT is to look at the rules with a little common sense and see how they can be made friendlier. Jerry, there are lots of reasons to allow engine mounts, and only one of them is for possible economic benefit to a certain subset of drivers. IF it provided an unfair advantage to some, then it would be a non starter. It might make it easier for some, cheaper for others, or a non issue with the rest. It WILL make it easier for non SCCA racer to race with us legally, as most other sanctioning bodies that have IT-like classes allow mounts,
Here is my suggestion. If you all want to make IT more of a RACECAR class make a petition to have the class philosophy changed to allow the rule changes you want.
As a refresher:
"Improved Touring classes are intended to provide the membership with
the opportunity to compete in low cost cars with limited modifications,
suitable for racing competition. To that end, cars will be models, as
offered for sale in the United States. They will be prepared to manufacturer’s
specifications except for modifications permitted by these rules."
If anybody cares I will be at the convention. Look me up and cuss me in person.
yes, I know the opening mantra. And I ask you, is it easier for a newbie to spooge a little window weld into a stock mount or to fabricate a stayrod while knowing the best location for it that wont cause further damage?
See, to my eye, this allowance IS the the poster child for a 'limited modification suitable for racing competition"
Seriously. If I was, I would be including him with the like of some others on forum that call us whiners and like. I meant what I said, it takes courage to say what Jerry said on this forum.
