The VIN Requirement Rule

[Greg Amy]

So, what about a 240z,260z,280z where the spec line is different but the body is essentially the same?

What Chris said.

Tom, here's the litmus test: if you were to take a 260z body and "build" a 240z race car, strip all labels and VIN, and a Datsun afficianado were to pore over your car and be completely unable to determine that the car started life as a 260z, then it's legal.

But, if the afficianado can go "aha! That bracket (or panel, or whatever) never came on the 240z! This is a 260z" then it's illegal.

It's really that simple: you cannot create a model that didn't exist before. But you can use another body to replicate one that did. - GA

[Xian]

Does that really matter since you can put in a fuel cell?

-Tom

I think it matters and would still not be legal IMO... there's no allowance to replace a stock tank with a different size "stock style" tank. Same way there's no allowance to change the stock fuel pick-up point on the stock tank to cut down on fuel starve issues.

Go to a fuel cell within the rules and you're good to go

[Knestis]

Short answer is that the chassis is a part - or assembly of parts - that have all got to be exactly as required for the car on the spec line of your choice.

The only unintended consequence that's surfaced it's head with the change is that it's now possible to build a legal IT car from an example of a car that's technically not old enough. Of course, the resulting car's got to conform to the older specs but it's something that hadn't come up in conversation until late in the game.

K

[JeffYoung]

I don't see a problem with that, do you? The resulting "car" will be exactly like (or should be) the one that is actually on the spec line and of "legal" age.

[Knestis]

Right, Jeff - not a big issue. I just don't like surprises.

K

[RacerBill]

Yes, I am in favor of getting rid of the VIN rule - the pluses far outnumber the minuses, in number and potential unintended consequences.

Letter to CRB will be forthcomming!

[Greg Amy]

Letter to CRB will be forthcomming!

No need, Bill, it's already a done deal. See October Fastrack. - GA

[x-ring]

No need, Bill, it's already a done deal. See October Fastrack. - GA

Maybe he was going to send a letter thanking them?

[EBSNASCAR]

So if I understand this right. I can take my ITB '79 Ford Mustang and put a '93 Mustang VIN on it. And in nine years when the '79 become vintage I can still race the '79 Mustang as a '93 Mustang?

[Knestis]

If the resulting car is EXACTLY to the specification of the car on spec line you essentially "declare" as applying to your car, yes. If even ONE thing is different between the some part of the body shell, then no.

K

[Sandro]

what about for example the early rabbits (ITC) and the rabbit GTI (IT, if you swapped everything from an 83 or 84 GTI into the ITC(engine, fuel distributor, brakes etc) you could then run it in ITB correct?

But then the ITC rabbit has the round headlights and smaller taillights, so would those need to be changed inorder to be 100% legal in ITB?

[JoshS]

But then the ITC rabbit has the round headlights and smaller taillights, so would those need to be changed inorder to be 100% legal in ITB?

You got it!

[Bill Miller]

Short answer is that the chassis is a part - or assembly of parts - that have all got to be exactly as required for the car on the spec line of your choice.

The only unintended consequence that's surfaced it's head with the change is that it's now possible to build a legal IT car from an example of a car that's technically not old enough. Of course, the resulting car's got to conform to the older specs but it's something that hadn't come up in conversation until late in the game.

K

Kirk,

I've got to hand it to you, you sure have a knack for coming up w/ things. I have to say, as long and as hard as I've advocated for the non-VIN# requirement in IT, that's one scenario that had never occurred to me. Nicely done!

And Sandro, Josh is correct, you can't take an early chassis and run it as a later car, unless you make it EXACTLY the same.

BTW, I'm glad to see this one finally go by the boards. And for the record, I remember folks lobbying for the AW11 MR2 to go to ITB way back in the mid-90's when I first started racing one.

[Knestis]

My point Bill, is that I did NOT think about it...! One of the ITAC'ers twigged to it - Josh, I think. He's the clever one.

K

[Knestis]

what about for example the early rabbits (ITC) and the rabbit GTI (IT, if you swapped everything from an 83 or 84 GTI into the ITC(engine, fuel distributor, brakes etc) you could then run it in ITB correct?

But then the ITC rabbit has the round headlights and smaller taillights, so would those need to be changed inorder to be 100% legal in ITB?

Core support. Rear wiper. Trim is different I think but since it can come off, just do that.

Don't use a diesel Rabbit shell though. It has a hole in the firewall for mounting a part the gas Golfs don't have, so the shell is different.

KIDDING.

I think...

K

[JoshS]

My point Bill, is that I did NOT think about it...! One of the ITAC'ers twigged to it - Josh, I think. He's the clever one.

I don't know if it makes me clever, but yeah, I think I get the "credit" for that one.