Retro Letter 2004 or Why SCCA System Sucks
Posted: October 10th, 2013, 9:55 am
I was looking for some bio material and found this correspondance on my PC.
JANUARY 12, 2004
To: SCCA Club Racing Competition Board
From: Greg Rice
I would like to submit 3 rule proposals for FV. Please see attachment.
Formula Vee has always been a class for common people.
As the class has evolved, the development of safety, technology, and competition elements have made the cars more robust and more aerodynamic. In a time when most classes have expanded their cockpit sizes, FV driver compartments have gotten smaller and smaller. At the same time, the size of average people has grown and continues to grow. Class rules that have never been friendly to large drivers are now preventing many common people from participation in Formula Vee.
I am proposing 3 rule changes that will help more above-average-sized drivers compete and bring the SCCA FV rules into the 21st century. I believe that these proposals will have positive affects on safety and competition. Most importantly, more common people will be attracted to the class and fewer will leave.
Please consider each proposed rule change separately. I expect that all will eventually be implemented but sooner would be best. I am taking these ideas from discussions on the internet and the paddock. The best part about these proposals is that no existing car’s level of competitiveness will be compromised or made obsolete. Those that will require ballast can add it and those that want to extend their overall length can do so.
I expect that you will receive other letters on this topic. Unfortunately it is a non-topic for smaller people who have become the majority because of the rules. Please contact me if I can provide any additional information. Our class needs to make some tough decisions to survive and prosper. I hope that we can start with these.
SUBMITTED JANUARY 12/ 2004
FV RULE CHANGE PROPOSALS
FROM GREG RICE #111210
Rule Proposal #1
C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Minimum weight as qualified or raced, with driver: 1050 lbs. (currently 1025)
Rule Proposal #2
C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Wheel base, Maximum: 86.5” ( currently 83.5)
Overall length, Maximum: 130” ( currently 127)
Rule Proposal #3
C.9. Body
( add the following )
For cars manufactured after 01/01/2005, the cockpit opening shall be designed to meet current SCCA FS requirements
( FIA F3 homologation requirements [article 275] ).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Then, in the interest of playing fair, and encouraging input, I presented this form letter so that people could respond, pro or con.
TO: SCCA CLUB RACING COMPETITION BOARD
P. O. BOX 19400, TOPEKA, KS , 66619-0400
FROM: NAME___________________________________ MEMBER #______________
HEIGHT__________ WEIGHT___________
I AM A FV DRIVER YES NO
IF ANSWER IS YES, MY FV RACE CAR; REQUIRES ________ LBS OF BALLAST
OR IS ________ LBS OVERWEIGHT
THE CURRENT SCCA FV RULES ARE RESTRICTIVE TO COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION OF ABOVE-AVERAGE SIZED PEOPLE.
AGREE DISAGREE
REGARDING FV RULE CHANGES PROPOSED BY GREG RICE
Rule Proposal #1 C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Minimum weight as qualified or raced, with driver: 1050 lbs. (currently 1025)
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE #1 YES NO
Rule Proposal #2 C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Wheel base, Maximum: 86.5” ( currently 83.5)
Overall length, Maximum: 130” ( currently 127)
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE #2 YES NO
Rule Proposal #3 C.9. Body
( add the following )
For cars manufactured after 01/01/2005, the cockpit opening shall be designed to meet current SCCA FS requirements
( FIA F3 homologation requirements [article 275] ).
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE #3 YES NO
COMMENTS____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What happened? Somebody scribbled a giant NO over the form letter, made copies, and handed them out at Lybarger's Christmas party. Bob was a BOD member at the time.
My proposal was quietly dismissed and never acted upon. These issues are still relevent 10 yrs later. These issues should have been fixed 25 yrs ago.
Go ahead, lay some crap on me about "all it takes is to write a letter".
JANUARY 12, 2004
To: SCCA Club Racing Competition Board
From: Greg Rice
I would like to submit 3 rule proposals for FV. Please see attachment.
Formula Vee has always been a class for common people.
As the class has evolved, the development of safety, technology, and competition elements have made the cars more robust and more aerodynamic. In a time when most classes have expanded their cockpit sizes, FV driver compartments have gotten smaller and smaller. At the same time, the size of average people has grown and continues to grow. Class rules that have never been friendly to large drivers are now preventing many common people from participation in Formula Vee.
I am proposing 3 rule changes that will help more above-average-sized drivers compete and bring the SCCA FV rules into the 21st century. I believe that these proposals will have positive affects on safety and competition. Most importantly, more common people will be attracted to the class and fewer will leave.
Please consider each proposed rule change separately. I expect that all will eventually be implemented but sooner would be best. I am taking these ideas from discussions on the internet and the paddock. The best part about these proposals is that no existing car’s level of competitiveness will be compromised or made obsolete. Those that will require ballast can add it and those that want to extend their overall length can do so.
I expect that you will receive other letters on this topic. Unfortunately it is a non-topic for smaller people who have become the majority because of the rules. Please contact me if I can provide any additional information. Our class needs to make some tough decisions to survive and prosper. I hope that we can start with these.
SUBMITTED JANUARY 12/ 2004
FV RULE CHANGE PROPOSALS
FROM GREG RICE #111210
Rule Proposal #1
C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Minimum weight as qualified or raced, with driver: 1050 lbs. (currently 1025)
Rule Proposal #2
C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Wheel base, Maximum: 86.5” ( currently 83.5)
Overall length, Maximum: 130” ( currently 127)
Rule Proposal #3
C.9. Body
( add the following )
For cars manufactured after 01/01/2005, the cockpit opening shall be designed to meet current SCCA FS requirements
( FIA F3 homologation requirements [article 275] ).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Then, in the interest of playing fair, and encouraging input, I presented this form letter so that people could respond, pro or con.
TO: SCCA CLUB RACING COMPETITION BOARD
P. O. BOX 19400, TOPEKA, KS , 66619-0400
FROM: NAME___________________________________ MEMBER #______________
HEIGHT__________ WEIGHT___________
I AM A FV DRIVER YES NO
IF ANSWER IS YES, MY FV RACE CAR; REQUIRES ________ LBS OF BALLAST
OR IS ________ LBS OVERWEIGHT
THE CURRENT SCCA FV RULES ARE RESTRICTIVE TO COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION OF ABOVE-AVERAGE SIZED PEOPLE.
AGREE DISAGREE
REGARDING FV RULE CHANGES PROPOSED BY GREG RICE
Rule Proposal #1 C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Minimum weight as qualified or raced, with driver: 1050 lbs. (currently 1025)
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE #1 YES NO
Rule Proposal #2 C.2. Weight and Dimensions
( change the following )
Wheel base, Maximum: 86.5” ( currently 83.5)
Overall length, Maximum: 130” ( currently 127)
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE #2 YES NO
Rule Proposal #3 C.9. Body
( add the following )
For cars manufactured after 01/01/2005, the cockpit opening shall be designed to meet current SCCA FS requirements
( FIA F3 homologation requirements [article 275] ).
I SUPPORT THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGE #3 YES NO
COMMENTS____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What happened? Somebody scribbled a giant NO over the form letter, made copies, and handed them out at Lybarger's Christmas party. Bob was a BOD member at the time.
My proposal was quietly dismissed and never acted upon. These issues are still relevent 10 yrs later. These issues should have been fixed 25 yrs ago.
Go ahead, lay some crap on me about "all it takes is to write a letter".