In a message dated 15/05/03 9:42:41 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
s800racer@earthlink.net writes:
> Imagine Porsche 356's with a 2.4 liter motor or a'57 vette with a 427ci.
> Most vintage groups would not allow those engine swaps. A 1275cc in a
> Bugeye is no different - wrong motor for the car.
>
While I don't disagree with your sentiment, the Bugeye example is a bit less
egregious than you indicate, as the engine is a later version of the 948 (via
1098) that WAS used in the car.
Your examples cite a completely different engine being used than was ever
available for the car - bathtub Porkers never had any version of the 911
motor, and early Corvettes didn't have big blocks (1965 was the first year).
A better comparison would have been MGAs with MGB engines, early Porsche 911
with 2.4 motors, Triumph GT6 with 2.5 engines, Volvo P1800 with B21 engines,
etc.
Arguments can and have been made for limited updating in order to make the
racing affordable, with varying degrees of success.
I doubt that many, if any of the Alfas, Volvos, Ford GT40s, Tigers...are
still running original size engines.
OTOH, I have a lot of sympathy for the guys with Bugeyes. The early engines
would pound bearings out every few races. like clockwork. They could produce
the same power (pretty much) with a 948 in full bore SCCA trim as they could
with a much more mildly tuned 1275, which they wouldn't have to be rebuilding
every couple of races. I am of two minds about whether they should be forced
to go one way as opposed to the cheaper route. I think most of the agitation
comes from people that can't resist the all too human urge to build an SCCA
version of the larger engine, which will then be even faster that the
original engine ever could be.
Hard choices. Be glad you and I don't have to make them as race organisers -
it is lots of fun pissing off at least half the people with ANY decision you
make, and all for zero pay (been there, done that).
Bill
58 MG
63 TVR
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