Steven: Thanks for candidly expressing your concerns.
Parity and affordability are the keys to the concept proposed. As to parity, I believe it is absolutely essential that we do the initial dyno testing and then make the ongoing competition adjustments that are required to establish and preserve the competitiveness of all the cars within the concept, including, in particular, the current cars. Addressing our credibility on that point, we ran the 493 with 850 pounds for the purpose of getting it established--though many, me included, still strongly believe that it was not competitive at that weight. As to affordability, the objective of the concept proposed is to maintain or reduce the cost of a new car. We need new cars if the class is to sustain itself and grow. Give or take, they now cost about $20,000 all in. I think we can maintain or reduce that level with the concept proposed. As to the absolutely stock motorcycle motors proposed, I believe a complete remanufactured motor package can be purchased for around $3500, with used motors being available, I'm told, in the $1500-to-$2000 range. I have just purchased the last new 493, a new pipe, and new clutches for just under $5000. As to the absolutely spec, coil over spec shock proposed, these can be selected from a first quality, racing name brand house for $150 or less each. The current F500 canister assemblies cost $150 each. I welcome comments on these numbers. I also would genuinely welcome representation from each of the manufacturers, front runners such as you have suggested, and others who can keep us honest in pursuit of the stated concept. I would very much like to include a solo representative, though, being a roadracer myself, I have to look to folks like Jim Murphy to guide us to the best representation. I would include Jay Novak on the committee, as designer of the Novakar and Rakovan and for his demonstrated engineering capabilities. I have talked to him and he is staying in the class as a driver. That said, I'd be most appreciative if Jay could post this response to the Formula Car site as well. Jack Walbran F500 #67 -----Original Message----- From: Steven Dodd [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 12:49 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [F500] RE: F500 Digest-Opps for the future. Eric, and others, I take issue with your nominations for the leadership, Ie Walbran Novak and Clayton. Walbran may well take the class into the areas where others can't afford it. If you dont know "Jack", then you dont know that he has an annual racing budget that exceeds some incomes on this page. Jack is a great guy, a very smart man but may not be as sensitive to economic issues as some would like. Jay announced that he/Brian were out of F5.- If he is done he's done. He has made suggestions of a V twin powered car. Check out Jays other projects and tell me if you think the rest of us would be on a level field if he got involved in Vtwin cars. What about Mike Q? What about Mr Red Devil Steve J? What about Marsh? Pic some from the non dissenting group. Some of us joined F5 to race the cars as they are. If you want bike motors and shocks then move to f1000. Its that simple. You want to loose the 30 something Y/Os that remain class loyal, who love two strokes and have invested heavily to join? If you want us to leave-then keep telling us how bad the class is and implying that we are waisting money on current technology. In the meantime, while you angerly type, we tune, we smile and we ask our friends to join us. They may well start racing too, as long as they dont read this board of self loathing pessimist. Go drive your car, you may remember how fun it is. Better Yet-Let a non F5 guy-(GT2) drive your car, he will come back and tell you how fast fun and crazy it was. If everyone on this board who suggested a change, would trailer their car to the next race we would have less far less issues. Steven Dodd Texas _________________________________________________________________ Mortgage rates as low as 4.625% - Refinance $150,000 loan for $579 a month. Intro*Terms https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&search =mortgage_text_links_88_h27f6&disc=y&vers=743&s=4056&p=5117 ________________________________ 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! ***
