I autox a turbocar, so I get to comment on the update/backdate thread! :]
Will admit I haven't been following the latest thread very carefully, 'cause
my own car isn't affected by the proposed rule in SP. My model year
turbomotor is updated to the max from the factory, and backdating would only
detract from the result under the current rule (turbo itself as a unit).
But from a logic and fairness point of view, the turbo is literally not an
integral part of the motor, and in fact is a separate "engine", and it
really makes no logical sense to require that these folks update or backdate
the entire motor to make the turbochangeout (hey, I coined a new word).
They might *benefit* from doing it (at least an early-model SVOwner would)
but shouldn't be *penalized* by requiring it.
To say that someone might be helping turbo/supercar owners by requiring
complete update/backdate changeouts (seems to me at least one person has
suggested this benefit) is like the politicos who want to ban Saturday Night
Special handguns (which no one can really define, BTW, but that's a separate
discussion) so they won't blow up -- in a criminal's hands (?). Face it --
both are just a way of rationalizing something that someone wants to do, for
their own reasons.
If you wanna have a rule that says the car must have been turboed from the
factory to be turboed at the track (which we have in effect -- by which line
the car is listed on in the Appendix) I can appreciate why that makes sense
to the other players, n/a or otherwise.
But we (turbo/supercar autoxers) need to keep our eye on the ball, if we're
to succeed in having the SCCA rethink this rule.
IOW, keep it simple: updates/backdates are allowed for n/a cars on the same
line, and should be for forced-air cars (don't forget our supercar
brethren), too. Lotsa talk about what's possible (from those who don't have
t/s cars) and what's not (from those who do). But IMHO, this simply
distracts the decision makers from making the right decision:
updates/backdates need to be allowed for all cars on the same line. That's
their (the SCCA's) "line item veto".
And anything of this magnitude needs to be put forth for member input.
Personally, I have no problem with the recent amendment (could be called a
"correction" or "clarification" about turbos; it's this "update/backdate"
thing that's a quantum leap.
Richard Nichols
rnichol1@san.rr.com
1986 Ford Mustang SVO FTI - 1C
1972 Ford Pinto Sedan 3J - Original Owner/Restored
Now on display at the San Diego Automotive Museum
|