Well, I read the proposed rule change, got upset about it and then started thinking about suspensions.
Why suspensions?
Well, the front suspension of my 88-91 CRX, as it comes from the factory, does not have a means of
easily changing the front camber. Allowances are written into the ITCS for Macpherson strut cars and many other "double wishbone" types came from the factory with some means of adjustability.
Well, I
do have the ability to modify each front corner's camber. First I pick up a new front knuckle for each corner. That's
$165/corner. Then I take a torch to it, heat it and bend. Then I put it on the car and see what it does. Then I corner weight the car. Wash, repeat. All the while, I'm weakening a critical part of the car. In addition, there's absolutely no way I'm going to be able to make changes at the track. So, I carry multiple front knuckles, for both front corners, each with their own hub assembly pressed on. Hundreds more dollars.
You see, there's nothing in the rules that prevents that adjustability. In fact, I can guarantee that there are lots of CRX's (and Civics, and Integras, and Accords) that aren't running 0deg front camber. It's just VERY, VERY expensive to do it, you see--both in parts and labor.
So, why shouldn't I think it's not fair that I can't go and purchase two sets of
these for ~ $110 and get easy and cheaper adjustability? After all, it's not giving me anything that I can't already do within the rules and it's allowing me to do it for about the same cost as everybody else.
For years mantra when rejecting rules proposals has been that they "don't adhere to the class philosophy." Well, by codifying something such as the ECU changes that are soooo far away from the class philosophy because some cars were capable of modification within the rules for far fewer dollars and far less effort than other platforms, the precendent has been set to allow all sorts of changes that completely alter the class philosophy.
You choose a car to buy and build knowing that there are going to be simple fixes to complex problems and expensive fixes to complex problems. Each platform has its weakness, each its strengths, both on-track and in the garage, and the printed intent does not guarantee that every platform will be a competitive one. If you want to make it competitive, deal with the hand the platform deals you and adjust. Don't adjust the rules to make it remove those challenges.
[/b]
Bookmarks