Since legal materials for F1000 cars is a hot topic right now , I have a couple of issues that I'd like to bring up.
#1: In the chassis construction section, H.1.B.5 reads:5. Brackets for mounting components, such as the engine, transmission, suspension pickups, instruments, clutch and brake components, and body panels may be nonferrous, of any shape, and fastened to the frame in any manner.
My interpretation of this rule is that any non frame or non stress bearing to the frame "bracket" can be made out of titanium or any other exotic (non ferrous) material. This means that a "spar" type of structure (like Stohr, Piper, Citation, etc) aft of the engine containing the diff and suspension pickups etc could be made from titanium.
In the FF/FC rules there is usually a blanket statement like "Titanium is prohibited". I understand that we can't use that statement, since the stock engines contain some titanium and many of the covers are magnesium, and if the 2010 Suzuki has got a titanium valve cover or shift lever or whatever then I want to be able to use it! But do we want to allow such exotic construction possibilities? Should we ask for an exclusion of titanium (and maybe other exotics) except for stock MC parts?
#2 In the suspension section, H.1.I.1 reads:1. All suspension components shall be of steel or ferrous material, except that hubs, hub adapters, hub carriers, bell cranks, pivot blocks, bearings and bushings, spring caps, abutment nuts, anti-roll bar links, shock absorber caps, and nuts may be aluminum alloy.
Here the restriction is to strictly ferrous or aluminum alloy. How many FC cars were made with magnesium "uprights" (hub carriers above). As far as i know the rules have always allowed magnesium in those components in FC. Are we ruling some of the conversion cars illegal? Do we want to differ from the FC rules here?
I've been thinking about writing the comp board about these two issues, but I'm interested in what other people think. (especially the rules committee...)
What does the community think?
Brandon Dixon
Citation F1000 (coming soon)