Some history, for what it's worth...
Steve,
My recollection is essentially the same as yours: We got some fairly frantic input from the major FV suppliers of the time that NEW (aftermarket) 4” wide VW wheels were no longer available and that the 4.5” (also aftermarket) VW wheels were our only option as a source of NEW wheels. I don’t think we did much research on the subject ourselves and trusted the suppliers. The exact track increase was expected to be a bit more than ½” so I think we chose to round it up to a ¾” increase from the then upper limit of 51.7” bringing it to the 52.5”. We added the same ¾” to the upper limit for rear track. The changes show up between the 2006 and 2007 GCR’s. Of course within about a year, NEW 4” wheels were again available but there was no effort made to go back on allowing the 4.5” wheels and the track changes made to accommodate them. No one seemed to think that the extra track was in issue worth bothering with...
Some snap shots from history, from what I have in my library.
1965 GCR - Front Track: Standard VW – 51.4” Rear Track: Standard VW – 50.7”
1980 GCR - Front Track: Standard VW – 51.4” Rear Track: 49.8” +1/8” -5/8”
(I don’t know why the rear was changed, but it’s interesting that it was reduced.)
1994 FCS - Front Track: Standard VW = 51.4” – 51.7” (No Spacers)
Rear Track: 49 13/16” +1/8” -5/8”
2006 GCR – Front Track: Standard VW – Maximum 51.7” (No Spacers)
Rear Track: 49 13/16” +1/8” -5/8”
2007 GCR – Front Track: Standard VW – Maximum 52.5” (No Spacers)
Rear Track: 49 13/16” +7/8” -5/8”
2009 GCR – Front Track: Standard VW – maximum 52.5” (no spacers allowed)
Rear Track: 49.125” minimum, 50.750 maximum (no spacers allowed)
The 2009 changes were part of the overall rewrite of the rules the original ad Hoc committee undertook in 2008. Why we left in the "Standard VW" verbiage for the front track is a mystery to me except that there was a LOT of other stuff on our plate.
The spacer issue, the increased 51.7” front track and changes to the rear track happened before my time participating in FV (1994 – 2016) so I have no clue as to the reasoning. It's all very interesting and also a bit confusing…
Bruce
(My ears must have been burning or something :rolleyes: )