Originally Posted by DAD:
Here s the way I look at things in my older more confused and cloudy mind. Over the years I have deffinitley flip flopped on a lot of views. Why do we make rules to make ourselves exclusive to ourselves? Why would one want to outlaw one drive system over another. Chain inside the frame rail or no quick change allowed. Sure we can always bring up cost of doing something, or safety. But really what we are just trying to do is to make those people with a little different approach to accomplishing the same goal not eligible to compete against us.
Their are young guys out there like Bob that have raced T/Q's and being people that like to push the envelope a little might decide to bolt a 1000cc motor into an old TQ frame and come race with us. If we are so smug in our idea that chain is superior why wouldn't we want to give a guy with a little different car the chance to prove us wrong. Or for that matter why would the T/Q groups not allow a 600cc upright to race with them.
I guess the TQ guys could say we have all race cars we need now so "NO MORE NON CONFORMING RACERS ALLOWED". That is always subject to change. Can the 600cc and 1000cc uprights say the same thing?
What is wrong with a little more competition?
Honest Dad himself
DAD, if you are refering to me, thanks for the "young guy" comment, I do wish I fit that billing! At 76, I am young I guess, as young as I can feel anyway, but I do remember being more agile. You know the old saying, be carefull what you wish for, and I do like to "mess" around a bit, I never did like "stock" classes, costs to much to keep them stock, and with these motors, there isn't much you can do, and keep them stock, if it were me, and it isn't, I'd look in the plug hole, and cc the bore and stroke, and if it was "close", that's about as far as I would go, there is little space that already isn't occupied in that cylinder, and believe me, I've tested it, so aftermarket pistons to me, would be OK, some of the stock pistons were cast, and some were forged, I'd pick the forged for strength, and the cast for speed, and as far as cams go, you can get about as much Hp just by increasing the intake clearances as anything, there's only so much you can change them, without tagging the pistons, so maybe measuring the cam, or degreeing them isn't such a big deal, remember, for every rule you put in, ya gotta be able to back it up with tech proceedures, and everyone that's ever been the "man", you know how much fun that is. As far as the chain vs QC drive, in your case, I'd stay with the chain, it is a lot simpler, maybe, but with the clutch and all that stuff, it's really kinda impractical to try and get the engine where the rules say it needs to be, and still fit in a driveshaft where it is supposed to be, just a lot of work, and expense, when it isn't necessary. Now, if you had the car count, you might be able to add another class, that ran the QC like we do, and no tranny, but again, it'd take a while to build the car count, and you already have places you can run together, so why complicate it, and, not to step on any toes, but it is easier to maintain, and be able to do your own work, on a chain drive car, I have a complete machine shop at my disposal, so if I need to cut a case, or make any "special" parts, I just do it, in MY shop, so I don't have to pay to have it done, just my time. I build my own chassis, and make all my specialty parts, some stuff it's cheaper to buy, than make, that's why I stick with full midget parts where I can, or if it's something that I sell several of, I make patterns, and have them cast, then machine them, lots quicker than billet. I know you didn't ask for my input, but I couldn't resist the implication about being young, and pushing the envelope, I don't push it, I'm very careful when I do something, that's why I like our engine rules, we got a box we can work out of, and it gives us plenty of room to try things, without being a cheater! Bob!
