Well stated, Art.
This is, indeed, not the end of the <F500> world.
We need to make darn sure that the 493 will not suffice in quantities before
we start the "junkyard scrounge." It appears to me that, just as the 494
parts are available, 493 parts should also be available for some time. With
the 493 THE engine to have, we should see a token "spike" in volume.
Remember, at 50#'s we had closer parity than this class has ever seen. With
half of that "penalty" gone, 493 sales should improve.
We need to begin our pursuits NOW while our engine supply is still
plentiful. We can't wait until we are thirsty to pump water. With Stan's
help, I believe we can assemble a group of people with the credibility the
SCCA would want to see in them and ask that SCCA commission that august body
to delegate some discovery activities, formalize and embellish the "Palmer
Poll," collect these answers, craft a strategy and present it to the SCCA.
We'll need a bit of money to get this done right. A face meeting should
kick things off and conference phone calls would keep the group "glued"
together. If someone will create a compendium of the last 2-3 years of F500
Runoffs races, blow them onto a DVD, sell them for an exorbitant price, and
let the "F5 ad hoc" committee "abscond" with the profits, we should be off
and running.
Every three months, the committee will submit a report to be posted by Eric
C. on f500.org that documents progress and how the money got spent. No
audits please. There's not enough money here to warrant criminal activity
but, it should cover a trip to some truck stop hotel and some periodic
conference calls. I believe that the opinions of ALL of the site membership
should be heard but, in fairness to those of us who's "skin is in the game"
and are willing to pay to get something done, the constituency should be
limited to SCCA license holders (Reg. & Nat.), previous class National
Champions (both F500 and FMod), car owners, car builders, and monetary
contributors. We might even want to include Division Champions, and winners
of the June Sprints. I'm not trying to limit the voting; I'm just trying to
make sure that the opinions of those that will live with the results be
given prime consideration. If you meet the criteria (whatever that is
determined to be), you get a ballot.
I'm just making this stuff up. If someone has a better idea(s), let's hear
it. Otherwise, let's get started.
Dave Gill
Whoever is making DVD's of the race, please put me down for one (1). dg
----- Original Message -----
From: "Art" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 6:26 PM
Subject: RE: [F500] What?! Discontinuing the 493?!
Bruce,
At that point, someone looking for a new complete engine will have settle
on
a used one or rebuild the one they have. This is nothing new, we've faced
this issue before and it hasn't stopped us moving forward.
Of course, there is always the chance of someone coming forward to invest
in
buying a bunch of new 493s and putting them on the shelf for later sale.
That is what happened when the Kawis went out of production. That supply
lasted for many years. However, I wouldn't invest a whole lot of hope in
that happening :-).
This is not the end of the world, only a bump in the road. Parts are still
available for rebuilds and will be available for the foreseeable future,
just like the 494. IMO, this is only a temporary problem if SCCA addresses
it with the help of this list. There are other engines out there that can
be
used/approved by SCCA. We just need to identify them, do a little
research,
and make our recommendation to the CRB.
Art
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bruce
Kapraszewski
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 6:54 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [F500] What?! Discontinuing the 493?!
Contacting Tony is all well and good, but what happens to those who are
looking for an engine after Tony's drop-dead date?
----- Original Message
----
From: Art <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday,
November 29, 2006 2:12:39 PM
Subject: RE: [F500] What?! Discontinuing the 493?!
John/Bruce,
Keep in mind that these Type 453 440cc racing engines, although popular,
may
be a high maintenance engine due to it's intended purpose. They may also
be
more expensive then the current 493/494. Some research has to be done
before
we get all giddy about them :-).
Further, keep
in mind that the 493 is not dead. As with the 494, parts will be produced
for the foreseeable future. We just won't be able to purchase a complete
engine after a last order is placed by Tony. If anybody out there wants to
purchase a spare 493 or one for a future change out, now is the time to
talk
to Tony and get on the list. Possibly if that list number is high, we
might
be able to talk Rotax into some sort of discount :-).
Art
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John
Vriesinga
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 12:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [F500] What?! Discontinuing the 493?!
I had the same question
on this list a few months ago with no takers.
The nice thing about the Type
453 Rotax is that it has been used by
snowmobile racers for years and is a
very popular class.
I had no idea that they were so popular for racing. As far as I'm
concerned
that makes it a no brainer choice, and it would take everyone back to the
roots of the class which was F440 was it not?
JV
_______________________________________________
F500 mailing list -
[email protected]
To unsubscribe or change options please visit:
http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500
*** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe
requests to the mailing list! ***
________________________________
FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500
The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing
Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003
_________________________________
_______________________________________________
F500 mailing list - [email protected]
To unsubscribe or change options please visit:
http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500
*** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! ***
