Class 8 frame rail rules

[Josh_K]

You know, I had a thought on this. What is everyone in the class going to do the day that some new guy shows up with a 100% legal truck and just starts protesting trucks left and right at every race. That whole "I won't tell on you if you don't tell on me" thing'll be out the window. The guy could go out and just cruise around the course and then protest everyone who finished in front of him. He might even squeak out a win or two before people started getting their trucks legal.

I have been thinking of that too. Only I would protest before the race. Savage likes it that way. I guess it shows more sportsmanship before hand rather than after you lost.

It would be a excelant way to clean up the class and I would love to see Westome's old 8 that runs MDR do it (Dog Eater Racing).

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[Mark Newhan]

I have a couple of ideas on how to address it by leveling the field. I will discuss them with all that respond.

[partybarge_pilot]

I also read in this thread that someone had said that , paraphrasing, the old trucks were never made with a 125" wheelbase. A 70's - 80's standard cab longbed is approximatelty 125" wheelbase.

Then he shouldn't be running the RG glass. Also the Rg bodystyle had a-arms not I-beams. Plus the motor he has doesn't match the body.......... It's a mutt! They never made a truck that even closely resembled that araingment.

[subrunner]

I have been thinking of that too. Only I would protest before the race. Savage likes it that way. I guess it shows more sportsmanship before hand rather than after you lost.

It would be a excelant way to clean up the class and I would love to see Westome's old 8 that runs MDR do it (Dog Eater Racing).

My thoughts exactly. There you go Josh! A couple of free wins to start the season off right

[Ramsey_ElWardani]

Good idea Mark. Been there, done that. Four years ago the Class 8 Coalition (C8C) was formed for just such a reason and was very active in discussing these issues in a private email group that Klaus hosted for us. Many of the Class 8 owners and racers of that time were involved, most of them have moved on to other classes or sold their trucks. New members were added and people left and it suffered when Klaus had some server issues. The last email from that group was 9/14/05, it pretty much has died. On 4/1/03 almost 3 years ago Bill Savage emailed me the current Class 8 rules in a MS Word document. I, with the input and discussion of all the other members of the C8C spent many hours rewriting the rules to remove inconsistencies, add clarity and bring them to the then current state of the class. They were emailed to SCORE and Savage on 5/20/03 with the accompanying letter seen below. If you read it you will see that I said that it was difficult to come to a consensus, but there were really only a few small issues that one or two individuals couldn’t move past. I got tired of waiting and decided to send it on my own. I have never heard anything from SCORE or Savage. In the last three years a few new concerns have risen to the surface and I can see a need for some minor changes to the proposed rules. I have many hours in this work and am passionate about Class 8 as well as Desert Racing, which is why this is important to me.

P.s. Just because I have “Been there, done that” does not mean I’m not willing to do more, in fact there is another process underway right now.


SENT 5/20/05

Bill Savage
SCORE International Technical Director

Bill,
Thank you for sending me the Class 8 Rules as a MS Word Document, so that I could incorporate some of the changes that have been discussed by the Class 8 Coalition. It was difficult to come to a consensus on all the rules and changes, as everyone has their own wants and concerns. In the light of the difficulty in reaching a consensus and the frustration that some have expressed with this whole process, I am submitting my personal recommendations. I do not represent the Class or the Class 8 Coalition. I am also not a current Class 8 owner, though I do prep, support and drive in the class and I race my Stock Full in Class 8 in a different race series that relies on the SCORE Rules.
Class 8, SCORE, and the rules are very important to me. Maintaining the history and integrity of Class 8 as a Production Based, Full Size Utility Vehicle, is a primary concern of mine. Class 8 should not become Trophy Truck's with frames or a "catch-all" for bastard hair-brained contraptions and mid/mini-trucks with V8's. The attached Proposed Class 8 Rules maintain the letter and spirit of the current rules. Any vehicle that conforms to the current rules, will conform to these proposed rules. In fact, the proposed rules are more liberal in many areas, to help several of the vehicles that have been racing in the class become legal. The document was modified using the Track Changes feature of MS Word; deletions are shown in red with a line through them, and additions are shown in blue and underlined. Because "This class is an open production class and all components will be considered open unless restricted herein." many rules were deleted because of their redundancy.
I hope you will find my suggestions of value. If you would like to discuss any of the specific recommendations and my rational for them, I would welcome your call.
Sincerely,

Ramsey El Wardani

[Mark Newhan]

Partybarge Pilot,

Since the early 80's the class has allowed a builder to use an early frame and a late body. The class 8 ford that Ivan Stewart drove, for CoCo and Charlotte Corrall was built on a early , late 60's or early 70's, frame. No one is diputing updating the body style. There are several truck that are "leagal", or at least have been running for years, that have updated the body. As for the truck that I believe you are referencing, what exactly do you think makes the truck illeagal for the class? There is no racing advantage to running a particualr body and should not be part of this conversation. The obvious racing advantages are in the engine placement since the rules a fairly specific on that. Piviot points are open and there is no restriction on wheel travel or engine size. The current "rule" is that the suspension must match the chassis, and I think that, that, should not matter. The frame is the restriction, anybody that has built a truck around the stock frame would agree that there is enough compromising ony any vehicle when the stock frame is used. With that being said the engine should remain in the stock location.

[Mark Newhan]

Ramsey,


Good to see you back on this. I will send you some ideas that I have come up with so that the class may have a future. I have gotten a good response for interested racers and will be putting some thoughts together first of the week and sending them out.


Mark

[schifanelli]

Mark and Ramsey: Thanks for your input and continued interest with Class 8. I would like to see the proposed changes you guys came up with on 5/03 and welcome any future correspondence. What did happen with the Class 8 coalition and can we revive it?

[scottm]

If Savage never replied back in may its probably because he was swamped with the roll cage rule revisions. But it may be better if we can now get his full attention. Keeping affordable class 8 racing alive is crucial for me and probably everyone else still in 8. So with TT getting too big, its up to us to ensure it stays affordable when a lot of people with big resources start looking for easier pickings.

[Mark Newhan]

I hate to keep everyone on the edge of their seats, but I am sure that most everyone will be happy with my proposal. Keep an open mind and try to remember it IS about the racing. I am not looking to outshine anybody, just looking out for the Class 8 racer, I have no ego to feed. Everyone will get the ideas at the same time. If you guys no of any class 8 racers that do not monitor this forum let them know.

Schinanelli,

I did not have anything to do with the editing that Ramsey did.

Thanks,


Mark Newhan