Bryan Watts

Offsetting the bushing in the legally replaceable bushing cup in a SCCA IT car = pushing the limits of the rules. It was something that wasn't particularly illegal or legal depending on interpretation until it was clarified by SCCA. In the end, it was declared within the rules, but could have gone the other way if SCCA had been stricter with their interpretation.

Revalving SM shocks when the rules clearly state that it isn't legal = cheating.

Methinks that Frank won't comprehend the above, but I'll attempt to help him along on his quest of self betterment anyway.

Larry Herman

You are one of the latest in a long line to try and help the misguided. Good for you. And when you find your cause to be futile, you can join the rest of us in tormenting the masochistic little orange haired bitch.

GhettoRacer

I feel so alive...

Bonster

I learned a long time ago that if the GCRs don't specifically say something IS legal, then it probably isn't. That's one of the easy things about running SM -- they tell you pretty much EXACTLY how to build the car. Saved me a lot of time trying out tires, shocks, springs, etc.

BW

GhettoRacer

At local regional levels SM is pretty clean I think. Which is great.

Bryan Watts

It's not so bad unless you're out there crashing and destroying two cars in one boneheaded move.

GhettoRacer

Veloce Raptor

Bonster

Actually, even at regional levels, a lot of cheating goes on. I know guys who spent over $8k on their engines alone! I don't know what they're doing, but you tell me how one (unnamed) guy gets 130 hp at the rear wheels while the rest of us only average around 118? And he was upleased with the dyno reading! Miatas don't make that much hp unless somebody tinkered. I've owned Miatas since 1991 -- believe me, some folks are cheating. And it's not just a $50 per shock illegal re-valving. It's at all levels. The sad thing is, two of the biggest cheaters rent out SM racecars. That's not a good message to be sending to the community. I've only won a few times, but at least I can look at my cheesy little trophies and know that it was EARNED, not bought.

BW

GhettoRacer

That's why NASA's claiming rule sounds good in theory.... SCCA should probably implement something like that. To keep it from going out of control... but someone with money and who wants it bad enough will always try to buy their way around...

Bonster

The SCCA has a claiming rule as well. I've never heard of anyone enforcing it in either sanctioning body in SM though. In fact, I've never heard of the rule being used in any race class. I think folks are worried that if they find nothing illegal after the tear-down, they'll have to pay a huge fine and the cost for the mechanic's time.

But I don't go there just to win. I go racing because I absolutely love it. If I ever talk about quitting, somebody will need to slap me.

BW