In a message dated 1/23/99 2:51:11 PM Central Standard Time,
75304.1645@compuserve.com writes:
> I had tried to keep my mouth shut, but with some new interest and articles
> posted I thought I might jump back in and state some issues.
>
> Re: Parity, I am still of the opinion that the solo vees have not
> reached real parity. From the observations of the multitude of comments
> seen on this media last Fall, I am convinced that the attempt at total
> agreement for a proposal will not happen. Hay guys we are competitors and
> the nature of competition is not to agree.
>
> Some are saying there needs to be a good comparison to know for sure. I
> suggest that we never will ever have a really scientifically controlled
> situation wherein we have an even share of both cars fully prepared, and
> have an equal number of outstanding drivers to measure the real potnetial.
> If we ever get close to this, there still will not be unanomous agreement
> as to the result. We can not agree on the president either! I hope you
> guys can prove me wrong!
>
> The best example was the vees that trophied at Kansas. They did a good job
> representing vees, but were not as close to the winning times as many would
> have liked. One or two seconds back is not parity.
>
> (boring!) I do not know about others, but my car has been developed over
> the past two years, first year the engine is built to the limits ($900
> heads within the rules) although carb can be improved some, and then this
> last year the tranny was developed significantly. Evansville was its first
> time out as such, driver was very rusty, and then the tires were going
> away as the rest of the year developed.
>
> Mid year this coming year we might see it show some of its potential,
> especially if Bob Monday joins my efforts. My health has interferred with
> getting the owner/driver back competitive.
>
> I have said before, I prefer returning to the legal formula vee, and
> finding a place for it.
>
> I suggest that solo competition should be driving skill, but it is becoming
> in all classes, competition in engineering and negociating out better
> classing.
>
> I enjoy my solo vee, and would like to seem some more mods, but I do not
> see this as the way to parity. I suggest that single class is the only
> real parity, and the political environment is such that this will not
> happen in my lifetime. My meaning, a class for F5 only and a class for
> vees only, either way solo vee or strictly legal formula vee.
>
> Protest rules issue
> I had thought I would never discuss this opinion, but you guys got me
> started. I very much do not wish the following to offend James Murphy and
> Clint, as I highly respect their efforts and I was soundly beat at
> Evansville with go driving and good engineering on their part. I admire
> what you did this year with that car!
>
> From a purely intellectual view of the protest at Kansas I question the
> results. I do not understand how a clearly measured illegal car can be
> given a national trophy. Our 25 years of making the nationals such a well
> respected and highly regarded goal. We all expend considerable amount of
> effort and expense to pursue such a reward, and then we reward it to cars
> considered to be illegal for the class. The awards would seem to be best
> for the fastest legal cars that competed. End of comment on that, hope
> Clint and Jim will talk to me the next time I see them.
>
> I believe the vee is not quite up to parity, and that with the way the F5's
> are actively racing, they will continue to move ahead through development.
>
> Another factor.
> It is my opinion that finances is the big issue facing the class. First
> class prepared equipment is based upon money.....some may make it with
> engineering and lots of work, but money is becoming much more an issue than
> it has in the past years. Two years back the new engine was more than the
> cost of the vee, engine, and trailer when I bought it in 1979. The tranny
> and set of tires last year equals the original price of the car in '79.
> The winning is more and more becoming less a measure of real driving skill
> ( it is driving skill of those who have the top equipment), and much more a
> measure of ability to finance first rate equipment, engineer those unfair
> advantages, and then have the opportunity for the best drivers to use that
> equipment. Even in stock classes, good drivers are way behind the
> engineers who work continually on shocks, alignment, tire choice, etc.
>
> Most of our national champions are eating, sleeping, and doing lots of
> travelling centered around soloing. Where is the enjoyable Sunday
> afternoon car experience yf years past?
>
> The club is facing concerns about no new blood. I have seen several young
> men attempt to break into F mod locally, one with a vee, another with a
> 440, but they have fallen to the wayside, not having the resources and the
> many hours and endless week-ends of committment to reach a level of some
> success, even at a local event. That was a very expensive near last place
> I purchased at Evansville last July!
>
> My 1972 Honda had only one set of tires and an 80% winning rate during its
> 6 years of solo competition. The game of solo competition is much
> different now. Sort of like when Bobby Unser was talking, in 1967 he had
> an open trailer hauling his Indy winning car behind a van, but now look at
> the transporters and investment in the cars. We are going that direction,
> even though most of the F mod. still have only homebuilt open trailers and
> old cars. We are a class ripe for the big money to run us off.
>
> Events Schedule.
> Sorry, I can not stop. I am also one that longs for the good old days when
> you could enjoy a solo on one day, and have the rest of the week-end for
> family and/or home chores. Everyone is turning to two day events, which
> turn into major physical endurance projects, walk the course 6-8 times,
> work the course 1-2 hours, change tires and drive, then second day same
> routine, plus loading and driving home. I didn't count the late night
> party. Many of us had our early experience and got hooked when we had
> spare time on the week-ends for other things in life also. It took us
> years to get interested enough to spend so many week-ends and turn it into
> a way fo life. Those days it was only one or two long week-ends a year.
> Gosh we even got to go on a family vacation away from soloing.
>
> I advocate for keeping things more simple, one day events. Even two day
> events , but only running one day would be more enjoyable to my liking.
>
> OK, guys this should get some writing activity going!!
>
> Larry
>
WOW LARRY!!!
You've been one of those quite, supportive Vee guys for a long time, but your
frustation with SCCA and others clearly shows. Preach on brother!!!!!!
Rick McClure
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