Latest on MC engines for F500

[captaineddie1975]

Per the November Fastrack the CRB is postponing making a recommendation to the BOD until more information is obtained. They are looking for on track results in head to head competition F500 vs F600.

[jim murphy]

The CRB is also looking to see what effect specifically each size IIR will have on the speed of the F600.

Jim

[tedsimmons2]

From the August edition of Fastrack:

FORMULA
F500
1. #5205 (S. Jay Novak) Revised proposal for 600cc motorcycle engines in F500
The CRB has received modifications to the proposal submitted last year to allow 600cc motorcycle engines as alternates to the currently approved engines in F500. The rules changes below, including the specification of intake restrictors and weight, would be used to implement this proposal if approved by the BoD.

B. The existing F500 Rotax 493, 593 and 494 two stroke engines shall be the competitive benchmarks for F500. To that end, the power of all motorcycle engines allowed in F500 shall be controlled by the placement of 30.0 mm flat plate intake restrictors placed between each cylinder throttle body and its corresponding inlet port. All air entering the intake ports of the engine must pass through the required intake restrictors. The CRB may require adjustments to the restrictors at any time by publication in FasTrack

This was accompanied by a suggestion to write the CRB with your comments.

__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
From the September edition of Fastrack:

Board of Directors Comment on adding the four cycle engine in F500:
The CRB has recently requested member input on whether or not to include the four cycle motorcycle engine in Formula 500. Responses were to be sent to the CRB so they could develop a recommendation for the Board of Directors based on member input. However, many emails have been sent directly to the Board of Directors instead of the CRB. While it is the Board policy to generally respond to each email, the end destination for these emails is the CRB. Those sent to the Board have been forwarded to the CRB for inclusion in their response file.”

__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
From the October* edition of Fastrack:

*NOTE: This preliminary version of the October Club Racing Technical Bulletin is provided at this time as a service to the membership. These items may be corrected and will not be official until published on the Fastrack page of the scca.com web site on or about September 20.

SUGGESTED RULES FOR NEXT YEAR
The following subjects will be referred to the Board of Directors for approval. Address all comments, both for and against, to the Club Racing Board. It is the BoD’s policy to withhold voting on a rules change until there has been input from the membership on the presented rules. Member input is suggested and encouraged. Please send your comments via the form at http://www.crbscca.com/

FORMULA
F500
1. (Multiple) Allow 600cc Motorcycle Engines to compete in F500
The CRB thanks the many members who submitted input on this item. The CRB supports the concept of a class for a small formula car with a 600cc motorcycle engine, but not as a part of the existing F500 class. The CRB will recommend adoption of an F600 class based on F500 chassis construction rules using 600cc motorcycle engines. Initially, this would be a Regional only class that could become a National class by meeting the requirements of 9.1.13.C. The recommended rules will be those submitted in letter #5202 with 32mm individual intake port restrictors.


From the 2011 GCR

9.1.13. NATIONAL CLASS PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
A. A class retains its National status as long as its annual average number of entries achieves 2.5 or higher per National event.

B. Should that annual average number of entries fall below 2.5, the class will have one additional year to bring the participation level above the current requirement. Alternatively, it may be immediately
consolidated into an existing class. If the class does not exceed the current average requirement during the grace year, it will either be consolidated into existing classes or become a Regional Class.

C. Based on member input, a Regional Class (except Improved Touring) meeting or exceeding the participation requirements outlined in paragraph 9.1.12.A. for 1 year may be reviewed to become a
National Class.

D. Based on member or manufacturer input, the CRB may recommend creating new National classes for BoD approval. National classes created under this section have 5 years to achieve an average of
2.5 cars per National event before being consolidated or redefined as a Regional Class, according to 9.1.12.B.


My comments and questions on what has transpired to date:

If the CRB really supports the F600 class concept and is willing to recommend it to the BOD for adoption, why didn’t they invoke 9.1.13.D instead of 9.1.13.C?? This would have allowed National status right away and five (5) years for it to sink or swim on its own merits.

It appears the decision to recommend a standalone class for F600 must have been based on the negative results received by the CRB in between August and Septembers Fastrack request for comments. I’m speculating here but without a better explanation of why they made this decision it’s the only one I can think of.

It’s not a done deal and the BOD may just nix the whole thing. The BOD has made it pretty clear they believe there are too many classes now much less adding another one.

[Marty Nygard]

Just curious. If they want F600 to be a separate stand-alone class and not integrated into F500, why do they still want to retain the restrictors?
Marty

[jim murphy]

Just curious. If they want F600 to be a separate stand-alone class and not integrated into F500, why do they still want to retain the restrictors?
Marty

The CRB claims that it is for on-track comparison but, unfortunately, the true comparison is side-by-side racing which will rarely happen as the top national drivers rarely run regional events. Interesting that the 32mm size restrictor is actually one size bigger than what the proposed ruleset has. There are a lot of unanswered questions.

Jim
Been messing with these cars since 1982

[Daryl DeArman]

Just curious. If they want F600 to be a separate stand-alone class and not integrated into F500, why do they still want to retain the restrictors?
Marty

Exactly my first thought. Just run the F600 cars sans restrictors in FS and have some fun.

[GBugg]

I think including the restrictors is a tool the CRB wants to keep in their pocket to equalize the engines and prevent the "engine of the year" cost driver.

I agree with Ted. I wonder why the CRB didn't recommend it as a national class with 5 yrs to prove itself. Who knows...

As for not recommending it for F500, I think the personal discontent/anger stirred up between the two camps was more a factor than the performance of the drivetrains. It's really gotten ugly.