F500 Engines

[GBugg]

In the July Fastrack, a proposal was submitted for member input that would allow motorcycle engine as an alternate power plant in F500. Currently the only engines allowed are 2-stroke motors with centrifrical clutches pulled from snowmobiles. There is a good bit of support for the proposal from folks down here in the south who (like me) don't know squat about 2-strokes and the black magic involved in tuning those clutches. And, like me, many folks think a MC engine shifting at 10k sounds and feels a lot more like a "real race car" than the 2-stroker.

However, the folks up north that know and love snowmobiles are mounting a directed effort to block the proposal - at least that's the word coming from the F500 crowd at the Runoffs this week - to the point of enlisting not only folks not currently involved in the class but those not involved with racing, period. All it takes is an SCCA member number to write the Club Racing Board and express an opinion.

So, if you have a member number and an opinion as to whether or not MC engines should be allowed _as an option_ (not a replacement) in F500, please let the CRB hear from you. www.crbscca.com

And here is a link to the proposal: http://www.scca.com/documents/Fastra...-july-club.pdf

Note that the proposal gives the CRB the right to add/adjust both minimum weight and inlet restrictors to the MC cars in order to maintain performance equality, so I really don't understand the objections. My personal opinion is that this will be VERY good for this "low-cost, entry-level" formula class. (As far as I can tell, we in the SEDiv will still be able to run as F600 regardless of the National level decision, but it would be nice to have the option.)

Thanks.

George "almost finished with the conversion" Bugg

[slowautoxr]

What is the category, class, and car (from the drop down menus)?

[GBugg]

"F-SR" (Formula and Sports Racers)
then F5

Thanks.

[chuck schultz]

Since I grew up in snowmobile country, I'm predisposed to prefer the traditional F5 power train. The engines used to be reasonable to buy and cheap to maintain, when the spec pieces were available from junkyards. The change to 4-stroke engines in most new snowmobiles has probably cut way back on availability, though, except for some smart hoarders.

In this part of the country, junkyard bike motors are plentiful, I guess, so the cost of entry is similar, although you're going to end up with a much bigger selection of parts needed to keep 'em going.

As for national-level cars, it could be much more expensive to run a bike powertrain in a class so tightly controlled that even whether or not you have a pull-start on an engine with an electric starter can be a major bone of contention. Also, the wide variety of engines allowed by the proposal could make it difficult to ensure that the engines are compliant with the rules.

Maybe cost is their concern, but the limited availability of sled motors will probably eventually even that out, especially as the chassis manufacturers introduce designs to accommodate the bike motors more easily.

[GBugg]

Cost and availabilty certainly play into it. For example - after melting a cylinder at NSS (did I mention the 2Ss are VERY sensative to carb jetting?!?!) I started converting mine. I sold a fresh 493 along with the damaged engine for $2000. I sold the clutches for another $500. I bought a 2007 GSXR600 with 2500 miles on the clock for $500 + $150 shipping (obviously, engine and tranny combined) and had several ebay pages worth to choose from.

The MC engine isn't for everybody, for sure. There are going to be a lot of folks that want to keep the sled motors. That's fine. I just would like to have the choice.

And personally, I'd like to get away from the "weedeater on wheels" reputation. I'd much prefer the "poor man's FB/F1000" stigma.

And btw - How is it that a sound control guy prefers the 2 stroke?!?!?! Every time a F5 fires up in the padock, people put their fingers in their ears and shoot not-so-happy looks that way! ;-)

[chuck schultz]

It's not the amplitude, it's the shape of the sound wave that makes 'em so nasty to some ears.