Pinto Aluminum Head

[Chas Shaffer]

An extract from Club Racing Technical Bulletin TB 07-08:

" at the request of the manufacturer "

Many thanks to Fast Forward for proactively addressing this issue. It looks like they were way ahead of me.

[M.Sauce]

Chas- For your info the CRB saw this as an issue the 1st of July and worked it out with Doug so that there would not be any issues at the Runoffs.All involved ultimately agreed what was best for the club and it's competitors including Doug and the implementation date was changed.

[zach craigo]

All this discussion and no ruling from SCCA. We qualified for the runoffs over a month ago and were going but not now. Where is the class going. Who knows what you need to be competitive next year or what it will cost. This is way to frustrating.

[Stan Clayton]

Zach, you must have missed the ruling issued in the August Fastrack. The CRB, at the request of the manufacturer, delayed National racing eligibility for the aluminum head until after the Runoffs. The head is eligible for Regional racing as soon as it ships (should be any day now).

Doug Learned (owner of Fast Forward, who makes the aluminum head) was concerned about adding a last minute unknown element to the FC/S2 Runoffs races, so asked the CRB to delay the eligibility date for Nationals until after the Runoffs. Doug has had a long time interest in FC (he's owned and raced FFs and FCs for years) and wants the best for the class. Doug's commitment to club racing is just as long standing, as his company makes components for S2, CSR, DSR, FF and FC chassis builders, among others, and he recently purchased the design rights to the Piper line of formula cars.

I understand your concern about recent changes introducing an element of uncertainty. Times of change always seem to do that. Unfortunately, the parts situation for the Pinto has reached the point where something has to be done to address it, and Doug's substantial investment in the class has addressed the biggest single issue currently facing the engine.

That said, I think you are over-reacting to the uncertainty. The Zetec is now completing its two-year phase-in. The aluminum Pinto head was approved a year ago and is coming on-line shortly. Long-lasting forged Pinto pistons are completing their testing and will be available this fall. Citation and Piper are producing new chassis for the class, along with perennial favorites VD. In other words, I think the class is turning an important corner towards a stronger future, and IMO boycotting it now is a mistake...especially since it appears that you are already invested in the class. Isn't that cutting off your nose to spite your face? So if you were planning to do the Runoffs, come on out! Race as hard as you can and have a good time, and may the best man win. This is club racing, and that's what we're here for.

Stan

PS - I'm off-line for the next three days at a family function. Have a safe weekend, everyone!