There were a number of important issues that this situation highlights.
1. The first situation is that FOT members are potentially being excluded
from participating in this event because of the organizers choice to exclude
certain models and years. In the future, I am recommending that FOT for its
"national" insist that the organizer have an open policy toward all Triumphs
such as
what was offered at the 50th anniversary at MidOhio.
2. As you all know, Triumph racing history did not end in 1972. My personal
view is that not only that FOT make sure there is an opportunity for everyone
to race, but also on a broader basis help make sure that the racing heritage of
the Triumphs of all eras be promoted.
At some point in time, groups like CVRA will hopefully embrace cars which
were prepared to later standards. The Group 44 TR7 is now almost 30 years old.
When I started racing, a 1972 car was less than 20 years old.
3. However, I also believe that FOT has a role to play in establishing what
are legitimate reliability and safety upgrades on historic racing cars and what
are simply competition upgrades. I personally believe that it is important
for FOT itself to encourage that cars be prepared to the appropriate SCCA
specification of its original racing era. I am therefore am actually supportive
of
CVRA efforts to keep racing both historically correct and affordable.
Owning the Group 44 racecar has been a priviledge. But as Tim at GRM will
find out if he maintains the car in its historically correct setup, owning a
correct Group 44 racecar can also be frustrating since its current "vintage"
competition has been modernized. The basic preparation and improvements made by
Group 44 to make the car so competitive in their era can not compensate for the
modernization that we have frequently discussed here on FOT.
4. As Tim will maybe document for us, the cost of accurately restoring a
historical racecar is significant. It certainly decreases the incentive for
someone to accurately restore these car if they know that they are not going to
be
competitive. If FOT would step in to level the playing feild by establishing
level of preparation for Triumphs, it would make the situation better. For
example, if FOT establish voluntary specifications for "vintage" racecars by
the
year of their conformance with SCCA GRC or the sanctioning body where it ran
competitively rules.
5. Wedges & CVAR - Other than Bill and Vern, I am not sure that there is
anyone still active on the FOT list that road races these cars. Neither Bill or
Vern has indicated that they plan to attend. For that matter, I am not sure
whether either of them are still active on FOT.
Consequently, whether or not CVAR accepts wedges is not going to have a
significant impact on the event. Very frankly, whether or not I can attend
remains uncertain, so its not worth making a major effort with CVAR. If I can
attend, there are driving alternatives.
6. Wedges - If you talk with the people who competitively drove these cars in
the early 1980s, they will tell you that if it were not for the loss of
Triumph corporate support as well as influence with the sanctioning bodies, the
wedge would have had a much longer and successful road racing history. (Think
of
a TR8 as a 400 HP SPITFIRE in WEDGE SHAPE :) )Its too bad this group of cars
has few places to play, but I will keep working on it.
Cary
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