Rule Change Requests for 2024 season

[Sook]

For what it's worth, here are my $0.02. I've been wanting a set of ASTs since I joined to sport back in 2018 and haven't been able to get a set in all these years. It's a strange situation with them going out of production, and some competitors being able to purchase them when they were legal by the rules. By the current reading of the rules, they do not appear legal to me. A bit of a complicated situation, I don't necessarily want the rules to change causing a bunch of folks to have to swap dampers but I do think the ASTs are an advantage.

For a Mustang, there aren't many damper options for factory geometry at all even if the cost cap was increased.

Josh

[BryanL]

Is there anything in the rules about parts that were "Readily Available" but stopped? AST's aren't the first part people have used which the manufacturer quit making and there are tons of items which aren't readily available anymore. My understanding is from campfire talk that parts which were once available will always be legal. Doubt that is in the rules though. I do know the rules say something like if there is a grey area then the racer needs to have documentation of approval. Personally I think that is BS. If there is something that requires specific documentation and approval by a director then all of those items should be listed in the rulebook for everyone to see.

Shocks-As Richard posted the ruled don't say you are allowed to do anything to the shock. Which is interesting since people have them modified with different inserts like a JRI which could be better than an AST. People have also changed the valving/shim stacks or whatever. "If not specifically allowed, any modifications are prohibited." Seems to me like you aren't allowed to modify the shock at all so maybe there needs to be some language as to what is legal and what isn't? Remember Spec Iron and the shock dyno.

How about finding a readily available shock for both platforms like a Bilstein HD. It would decrease series cost, promote growth with a cheaper alternative than trying to find an obsolete part or modifying an available part and eliminate testing of different valve settings, which should improve competition making everyone on a more level playing field.

[BryanL]

Check the Brake Caliper price limit as well as those appear to be way over the current limit.

As for parts that aren't readily available that can get way down a rabbit hole quick. Spoilers come to mind as I'm not aware that there is a single available spoiler anyone is running that's "Readily Available from a retail source for less than $700. Wheels.

Then where do you stop for things not readily available?

[RichardP]

Shocks, calipers, and rear wings/spoilers are covered by the "readily available" tag in the rules. Of those three, I only see shocks being an actual competitive advantage. Others might disagree.

Thought experiment: What is the actual current value of a set of AST shocks? You can't buy them new but you could buy a set used from someone who has them. Do we think there is anyone who would sell their used stuff for the value currently listed in the CMC rules??? Without asking him, I am certain Josh would pay more than the value in the rules for a set. How much more is the question? Twice the price? $5k? $10K??? Where is that number for either the buyer or the seller?

Would it be fair if Josh paid Michael $5k for his set of shocks with the intent of gaining a competitive advantage?

Richard P.

[Alien]

I've always viewed Readily Available as At the Time from a retailer, not as Always and Forever available. Otherwise, as with ASTs, when the company stops making that model, then that makes all previous ones sold illegal. Same if a company goes out of business, or is sold and changes the name. If Bilstein changes from a double nut to a nylock and thus change the part number, the old part number is now obsolete, all previous shocks are illegal? I don't think that's the intent.

[BryanL]

*For the record I have AST shocks on my car and several spare shocks/parts for them.

Yes, Gary that's the banter I heard from former Regional/National directors around the campfire about a part being available or discontinued. Problem is that was 10-15 years ago and things have changed. Now we have a situation where there is an advantage or there is a perceived advantage in being able to obtain a certain shock or spoiler which isn't available anymore.
To me the problem is when there isn't a viable alternative available and someone running behind me in 9th place would be or believes they would be faster than me if only they had my AST shocks. Same goes for me when I look at a Spoiler which hasn't been sold by the business for years is on the car in front of me after it was adjusted based on the current track conditions.

I don't believe the Intent of the class is to have parts on cars which give a perceived advantage or advantage when there isn't a readily available alternative. I also don't believe the alternative should have to be custom made/machined at any cost as that isn't the intent of this class. For those that want to custom build their own shocks/spoilers they should move to AI. The goal of the class is to protect racers from themselves and limit where someone could spend thousands or ten thousand dollars by having a custom built shock that over the course of testing and sending back for different inserts gives the car an advantage or a perceived advantage. Same goes for a custom built spoiler that is adjustable or through the use of custom adjustable shocks on the back and wind tunnel testing gives an advantage or a perceived advantage.

This isn't about a part like a knock sensor, opti, or wheel where there are plenty of available options which don't provide a performance advantage.

How do you correct the perceived advantage? Get rid of any spoiler/wing and identify the current shocks available for each platform which are allowed to be run just like we identify certain parts which are allowed throughout the rulebook. Give a two year window where you are still allowed to run your custom or unavailable shocks and then become compliant. Reason being is that within two years you will likely be rebuilding the shocks which are causing issue and the cost of a rebuild could be close to the cost of a new set of legal shocks.