Quote:
Originally Posted by
stroutmail
I guess I must be missing something.
[FONT=Univers][FONT=Univers]GCR. 9.1.1 C.9.E:[/FONT]
[FONT=Univers]"E. Any bodywork forward of the center of the torsion bar tubes shall[/FONT]
[FONT=Univers]have a maximum width of 31.75 inches (80.645cm)."[/FONT]
[FONT=Univers]Since wheel pants to achieve their intended purpose seem to need to be "bodywork forward..." then how on earth can they be legal according to the rules?[/FONT]
[FONT=Univers]My understanding is they are being called "bodywork" and not some form of "backing plate covering".[/FONT]
[FONT=Univers]Seems that there is a great deal written in the rules to prohibit excessive "streamlining" efforts---like prohibitions regarding the shock tower and the width of bodywork in front and behind front wheels. So the spirit of the rules seems to discourage the temptaton to take our cars to the windtunnel in order to be competitive. [/FONT]
[FONT=Univers]What happened to the governing rule?
[FONT=Univers][FONT=Univers]"Formula Vee is a [/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=Univers-Bold][FONT=Univers-Bold]Restricted Class. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Univers][FONT=Univers]Therefore, any allowable modifications, changes, or additions are as stated herein. There are no exceptions. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Univers-Bold][FONT=Univers-Bold]IF IN DOUBT, DON’T[/FONT][/FONT]
Without this rule, there are many, many clever and creative people, with lots of time and other resources who will come up with all kinds of ideas that will probe the edges of the GCR to gain advantage.
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First: The wheel pants are behind the beam centerline, so the rule regarding width does not apply. Look at the pictures, the pieces never go in front of the beam.
Second: The if in doubt, don't does apply - but to SUPPORT the legality of the piece in question. It says "any allowable modifications, changes, or additions are as stated herein." Well, herein these rules is the description of bodywork behind the beam having to be inside the centerline of the wheel. Since it is inside the centerline of the wheel, as described in the rules, it is legal.
The argument of legality is long settled, these are legal parts, and I believe very clearly within the "spirit" of the rules as written today.
When in doubt, don't. Well, there is no doubt that these pieces comply. The question at hand is whether a rule change should take place to make them illegal.
How would you change the rules to make these pieces illegal without taking out all the hardwork of others.
Ban carbon fiber and you have just parked several Womer and Caracal's who have carbon bodywork.
Ban bodywork not attached to the frame and you have banned all the racers who put pieces in between their axle and trailing/leading arms to clean up the aero in the back.
We're talking about bodywork for crying out loud, why all the fuss? If I come up with a new sleek air scoop for my cylinder head cooling that is more aero and saves me a tenth of a second will you want to ban that too?
This is a simple case of people crying foul because they didn't think of it first. If Mike had made them of aluminum or fiberglass (or made them really ugly) I'll bet nobody would have thought twice.
If Jim at SR had stamped them out of aluminum and was selling them for $129.99, would we be having this conversation? Heck, we spend that on offset shock mounts on the front beam and call those a "fastener".