Re: Traction Control

[Dave Dahlgren <ddahlgren@snet.net>]

James and others this is meant to be a friendly conversation over a beer or too
and not a rant so here goes..

James doesn't it seem odd to you that most or the spectator cars and  push
trucks have more refined suspension and controls in them than the streamliners
and lakesters? When in the definition of a streamliner uses phrases like
'unlimited innovation' ? I personally think many of the streamliners and
lakesters can produce more power than they can hook up. Do you honestly think
that a guy like Tom Burkland, Don Vesco or Al Teague would have nothing to do if
they had anti wheel spin devices to aid in hooking the car up?

If I bring a new Corvette off the showroom floor and add the required safety
equipment is it legal to run in production? If so it has active suspension and
anit-lock brakes and traction control.. You don't even need to belly up for that
much car to get all those features along with all wheel drive that is traction
sensitive.

Since when is saving some drivers from an 'incident' a bad idea?

It just seems a guy or gal ought to be able to use the skills they have learned
at work or though school to work on their own hot rod. Fortunately or
unfortunately depending on how you look at it those skills have changed. I would
expect 53 years ago every car that raced at Bonneville used every skill that the
team could pool together to build the fastest car they could. Why not now, at
least in special construction? it seems as though special construction should be
the 'Star Trek' of go fast. "Go where no man has gone before" and all that
stuff.

I personally think anything like these features are suitable for 'special
construction' the name of the class implies it.

I still find it even more ironic that there are so many rules to keep the racing
close to have a good points chase just like all the pro races and in the same
breath there is talk about how we are amateurs and want nothing to do with pro
racing. Yet still follow in the pro traditions that sponsors and TV uses to make
a good show out of the race for the fans..

Go figure!

As far as getting something implemented like this through a rules change will be
impossible from some one in my position. As you have said it is brought up very
year and voted down every year. I assume it is brought up by members or a car
club at the annual meeting. If in years of bringing it up nothing has been
accomplished i really don't think anyone in Connecticut could ever accomplish
more than trying to keep the subject alive.

Dave Dahlgren