gear up! — by john rudy happy birthday · castagna convertible coupe, a rolls royce phantom i...
TRANSCRIPT
TOPEKA,Kan.(February26,2013)– OnFeb.26,1944,69yearsago,agroupofsportscarenthusiastsmetattheBoston,Mass.homeofChapinWallourtoformaclubdedicatedtothepreservationofsportscars.Today,theSportsCarClubofAmericaannuallyboasts60,000membersandhostsmotorsportseventsaroundthecountry. Whilethevintagemarketwascoveredbyexistingcarclubsfocusedonthe“preservationofveteranmotorcars,aworthyobjective,”thesevenfoundingmembersgatheredthatnightwithaneyeonthethen-currentgenerationofsportscars.Itwasspecificallyidentifiedintheminutesfromthatfirstmeeting–theSCCAwastoconcentrateoncarsmadeafter1914. First,though,thequestionarose–whatwasthedefinitionofsportscar?Itwasdecidedthateveningtoinclude“anyqualitycarwhichwasbuiltprimarilyforsportsmotoringasopposedtomeretransportation.Inotherwords,anycarwhichrateshigherthanaverageinconstructionandengineering,andwhich,preferably,hasopenbodywork.” ThefirstmeetingoftheSCCAwasa
March 2012
The Official Newsletter of the Susquehanna Region of theSports Car Club of America, Inc. - Incorporated June 29, 1959
March 2013
Happy Birthday SCCA
Gear Up!
(See the Cover Story “Birthday...” on Page 4)
It’sthattimeagain.Anewautocrossseasonwillbegininjusttwoweeks.OnSaturday,April6th,SusquehannaRegionwillpresentitsseasonopeningAutocross#1,followedthenextday,Sundaythe7th,withAutocross#2.ThesefirsttwoeventswillbeheldonthelargelotbetweenHersheyParkandGiantCenter. Competitorsareurgedtopre-registerathttp://www.MyAutoEvents.comassoonaspossibleandcertainlybeforetheApril4th,8:00pmregistrationdeadline. Also,autocrosschairsGeoffCraigandKateRitterwouldliketoinvitecompetitorsandregionmemberstocomeoutthemorningsofthoseeventstohelpwitheventsetup.Alotofworkgoesintopreparingtheeventsbeforecompetitorscanhitthecourseandassistanceisalwaysappreciated.Setupbeginsat6:30am,sogetacaffeinejoltonthewayin.q
— By Reece White
— By John Rudy
Page 2
The Squeal is a monthly publication ofSusquehanna Region, SCCA
Send editorial, scheduling and advertising to:The Squeal — John Rudy, Editor
3800 Hillcrest Road, Harrisburg, PA 17109 [email protected]
Susquehanna Region’s membership meets at 8:00 PM on the fourth Tuesday of each
month, except December, at Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, 987 Eisenhower Blvd, Harrisburg, PA. For more information, go to our website at
www.scca-susq.com
Regional Executive Chris Paveglio — 717-664-5495Assistant Regional Executive Henry Brillinger — 717-697-1610Secretary Dennis Cipriany — 570-522-9356Treasurer Alan Lesher — 717-486-4087Directors Geoff Craig 3yr — 717-367-7853 Dave Walter 2yr — 717-691-9320 Alan Pozner 1yr — 717-343-7708ASCC Representative Markus Houser — 717-495-6742
MARCH 2012
REGION OFFICERS
Kate Ritter & Geoff Craig — Co-chairsHenry Brillinger — Site Aquisition/RelationsGeoff Craig — Course and Grid DesignChris Paveglio — Pre-registrationKate Ritter — RegistrationDennis Cipriany — SafetyRyan Hetrick — Tech InspectionAnne Demmy — TimingCharlie Demmy — StarterGreg Hagan — Novice ProgramDan Woland — EMT ServicesPaul Sciukas — WorkersMarkus Houser — Truck & Equip. Manager
AUTOCROSS COMMITTEE
MARCH 2013
TheCompetitionCommitteemetFebruary12thattheDemmyhometoselectour2013autocrossandrallycrossdates.ThefulleventschedulecanbefoundonPage8ofthisnewsletter.Thecommitteealsoreviewedandupdatedthesupplementalregulations.Detailsofthenewtimingequipmentpurchasewerefinalizedaswell. Theclubtruck’smechanical,cosmeticandgraphicupdatesarecomplete.ThefinalstepinitsrejuvinationistheRub&ScrubspringcleaningonSaturday,March23inHershey.We’reaspreparedaswecanbefortheApril6autocrossseasonopenerattheHersheylot. Andspeakingoftheseasonopener,ifyouhaven’tyetregisteredfortheApril6&7events,youshoulddososoon.Registrationforthatweekendathttp://www.MyAutoEvents.comclosesApril4at8:00pm. Incaseyouhaven’tnoticedinpreviousissuesofThe Squealemailedtoyouorfoundonourwebsite,theinternetlinksandemailaddressesprintedinbluelikethoseinthiscolumnarehot.Justclickonthelinktovisitthatfeature. Yes,Iamalwaysscroungingformaterialforthisnewsletter.Contributionstothisissuewereabitlight.I’dliketothinkwecandobetter.Anyway,Icanusethehelp.Don’tbeshy.Storiescanbeaboutanycarorclubrelatedexperience.Iurgeyoutogetinvolvedintheprocess.Sendyourstoriesandphotosto:[email protected]—John
From the Editor’s Desk
Adam Moore & John Roscinski — Co-chairsRALLYCROSS COMMITTEEShare the
Action! SCCA©
SPORTS CAR CLUB OF AMERICA
Page 3
TheFebruarymeetingwasconvenedatGilligan’sonFebruary26,2013at7:58pm,withRegionalExecutiveChrisPavegliopresiding. AlanLeshergavetheTreasurer’sReport,sayingtherewaslittleactivityinFebruary. SteveLimbertreportedthatourRegionmembershipnowstandsat257,anincreaseofthreefromlastmonth. SteveLimbertreportedlastmonththatAPTuning,aPartsandPerformancebusiness,hadinquirediftheycouldsponsorourautocrossseries.Stevehascontactedthembuttheyhavenotyetreturnedhiscalls. JohnRoscinskireported
onRallyCross.KateagreedtoactasregistrarforthethreeRallyCrossserieseventsandaskedifsheshouldarrangeforaworkerassignmentperson.Johnaskedthatbucketsbepurchasedtocontainthefireextinguishersandphonesandalsoactasworkerstationlocationindicators. MarkusHouserintroducedamotiontotheExecutiveBoardfortheapprovalof$350forthepurchaseoftiminghoseequipmentfortheRallyCrossevents.Motioncarried. AlanPoznervolunteeredtodevelopinstructionsforournewtimingequipment. Markusannouncedthat
« Meeting Minutes «SaturdayMarch23willbethedayforthecleanupandorganizationoftheclubtruckattheWestChocolateAvenueStoragefacilityinHersheywherethetruckiskept. ItwasagreedthatWeekendMembershipforridersshouldremainat$5ratherthanincreasingto$10alongwiththenewWEMpriceforcompetitors. PaymentforadvertisingfromCorkoo.comhasnotbeenreceived.TheiradinThe Squeal willbedropped. Themeetingwasadjournedat8:50.q HenryBrillinger, ActingSecretary
Keepinganeyetothefuture,SusquehannaRegionhasmadeasizeableinvestmentinup-to-dateelectronicequipmentfortimingandscoringourautocrossandrallycrossevents. Justtwoweeksremainbeforeourfirstseriesautocrossandthingsareshapingupnicely. Thenewtimershavebeensetupandtestedathomeandtheyworkfine.Thecabletoconnectthetimertothecomputerisintransitandwillarrivethisweek.TheRXstart/finishcablesarebeingassembledandthesoftwareonallthelaptopshasbeenupdatedtothelatestversion.ThePCinthetimingtruckwillbeupgradedthisweekendandthesystemtested. Thisweekend,March23,isalsotheclubtruck’sRub&Scrubatthestoragefacility,1052OldWestChocolateAvenueinHershey.
— By Markus HouserNew Timing Equipment Hereisapartiallistoftheequipment:FORAUTOCROSSANDRALLYCROSS:-RaceAmericatimer-3pairsoflightsforthestart/finishlines-1250feetofwiretoconnectthetimerstothelights-foamblockstandsforthelights-100feetofcabletoconnectthetimertothedisplayboard-3cordreelsSPECIFICALLYFORRALLYCROSS:-3RubbermaidToughbins-90feetofairhose-3airswitches-6rubberbungees-6spikesandeyebolts-6wireclamps.q—MarkusHouser
Page 4
Happy Birthday SCCA — By Reece White/SCCA
Cover
Story
bitmoreexclusivethantoday’smemberswouldrecognize.ThelistofcarsownedbyfoundingmembersEverettDickinson,JohnDuby,ArnoldEngborg,TheodoreRobertson,GeorgeSchulz,RobertTownsend,andChapinWalloursoundlikemuseumpiecestoday:aDuesenberg“J”doublecowlPhaeton,aLanciaLambda5thSeriesRoadster,aKisselSpeedster,StutzDV32SportsTourer,Mercerseries4Raceabout,IsotteFraschinitype8ACastagnaConvertibleCoupe,aRollsRoycePhantomIAscotPhaeton,andon.NotasingleBMW,FordorMazdainthebunch! Thiswasn’tbycoincidence.TheconstitutiondrawnupbyTedRobertsonstatedthatmembershipintheClubshallberestrictedtoownersofsportscars,sponsoredbyonecurrentmember,secondedbyanother,andelectedbyunanimousvoteoftheofficers.Then,thatnewmembermustpaytheyearlydueswithin30days–threedollars. Thesegentlementookthe“sportscar”inSportsCarClubofAmericaveryseriously.Ofthe592wordsinthefirstconstitution,morethanone-thirddealtwithdismissalfromtheclub!SomeoftheapparentlytreasonousactionsincludedsellingasportscarwithoutfirstadvertisingthecarforsalewiththeClub,orbuyingasportscarthatanothermember,essentially,called“dibs”onfirst.Being“obviouslyatfault”inanaccidentinvolvinganothermemberwasgroundsfordismissal,aswasvoluntarilydisposingofyourlastremainingsportscar.Ofcourseitwasbadifyoubrokeupyourownsportscar–butequallyaspunishablewaspermittingsomeoneelsetodestroyasportscar,orevenhavingknowledgeofsomeonejustpossiblybreakingupasportscarwithouttellinganofficer. Thefoundingmembersweretruefanatics
whenitcametotheircars. Clearly,alothaschangedinthe69yearsoftheSCCA.Thefounderswouldn’thaverecognizedourthousandsoffemalemembers–andthenotionofLisaNobleastheChairmanoftheBoardofDirectorswouldhavemostcertainlyblownthemindoforiginalPresidentRobertson.Today,SCCAacceptsallmembers,regardlessofwhetherornottheyownasportscar. Noteverythinghaschanged,ofcourse.Thepassionshinesthroughineachmembertoday,asitdid69yearsago.ThecarethatSCCAmemberstakeforeachotherremains.Thepridethattoday’smembershaveintheClubliveson.FromthehumbleoriginsofsevenenthusiastsgatheredonacoldBostoneveningtotoday’sinternationalcontingentwhofeelthesame,theoriginalspiritoftheclubcontinues. HappyBirthday,SportsCarClubofAmerica–here’stothenext69years! And,happybirthdaytoSCCA’scurrentPresidentJeffDahnert.Coincidence?q —ReeceWhite/SCCA
(Continued from Page 1)
Page 5
Car Chatter — More Automotive Trivia
WhentheH.M.S.TitanicsankintheNorthAtlanticonApril15,1912,ittookalongtoitswaterygraveabrandnew1912RenaultTownCar,storedintheforwardcargohold.Thecarhasneverbeenlocatedinthewreckageandafteralltheseyearssittinginsaltwateritmorethanlikelywouldnotberecognizableanyway.
Hereiswhereitgetsreallyinteresting...turnsoutthereisaperfecttwinofthesunkencarinexistence.Infactitcanbeseeninthemovie“Titanic”beingloadedontotheship.Thecarisvaluedat$270,000andisbeingtransportedheretoHersheyfortheEleganceonJune10th.
IrecentlyborrowedabookfromKelbySteele’scollectionthatmightbegoodmaterialforacoupleofarticlesinthenewsletter.Itisentitled“Automania-thecompletebookofautomotivetrivia”writtenbyAnanMcphee.Thefollowingaretenquestionsfromthebooktotestyourautomotiveknowledge:
1.WhatEuropeancarcompanyusedasit’semblemaserpentswallowingaSaracen?
2.DaimlerwastakenoverbywhatBritishcarcompanyin1960?3.WhendidthefirstPorscheappeartothepublic?4.WhendidFiattakeoverFerrari?5.WhatmadetheDino206unlikeallotherFerraris?6.WhowasthecompanythattookoverBentlyin1931?7.WhatAmericanCarCompanywasappointedtheexclusivedistributorofMercedes-Benzvehiclesin1958?8.WhatwasthelastmodelyearforDesoto?1957,1959,or1061.9.TheBritishcarcompanyACbuilttheirfirstcarin1913.WhatdotheinitialsACstandfor?10.WhatistheACcarmodelthatCarrollShelbyusedforhisCobra?
ANSWERS:
1.AlfaRomeo
2.Jaguar
3.ThePorsche356wasintroducedatthe1949
GenevaAutoShow
4.1969
5.ItcarriednoFerrarinameplateorprancing
horseemblem
6.RollsRoyce
7.Studebaker-Packard
8.1961
9.AutoCarriers
10.Bristolq—CharlieDemmy
— By Charlie Demmy
A 1912 Renault Town Car, similar to the car that was lost in the Titanic disaster, was displayed at The Elegance concours last June on the lawn behind Hotel Hershey. — John Rudy Photo
Page 6
Class Reconfiguration
Ihadtogoandopenmybigmouth. ThecompetitionboardhasbeenworkingonclassconsolidationbetweenShowroomStockandTouringforabouttwoyears.InlateFebruaryofthisyear,theyannouncedthenewTouringrules,effectiveonMarch1st.Therewerethreetouringclassesandtwoshowroomstockclasses.Inaddition,SuperTouring“O”wasaddedtotheproposal;andtheclassknownasB-Specwasalsothrownintothepot.TheresultisfourTouringclasses(T1,T2,T3andT4.)andB-Spec.Thereisanetlossoftwoclasses.T1carswillbeallbutunlimited,T2andT3willhaveprogressivlymorerestrictions,andT4willbebasedontheoldshowroomstockruleswithcompetitionadjustmentsforslowercars. IownaformershowroomstockNeonthatwasconvertedtoimprovedtouringsometimeago.ThiscarwasnotincludedinthenewTouringrules.However,somecarsfromthaterawere...so,IsentalettertotheCompetitionBoardrequestingreclassification.Theresponsetotherequestisasfollows: “AlanLesher,“YourletterhasbeenreviewedbytheClubRacingBoard.Theresponsewillbeinan
upcomingFastrack.Yourletterdetailsarebelow: “Letter#10250–Classifythe95-99Dodge/PlymouthNeonACR “Request:PleaseconsiderincludingthefirstgenerationNeonACRintheTouring4.The‘94-’01Integra,‘96-’05AudiA4V6&V6Passatandthe‘96-’02Camaro/FirebirdV6arecarsfromthaterawhichareinTouring4.So,pleaseaddthe‘95-’99NeonACR,withfeaturessimilartothe‘01-’02Neon.Forexample;allowaftermarket14”by6”wheelsand205/55/14tires.Allownon-adjustablestrutswiththreadedspringcollars,anyspringupto750#frontandrear,andtheMoparadjustabilityrearbarfromtheSStrunkkit.Allowacoldairintakeandremovaloftheconverter.Setweightat2400#fortheSOHCengine.Thankyou.” Thankyou,ClubRacingBoard.Theyapprovedthisrequestwithminorchangessuchas50#moreweightandsofterfrontsprings.Astheysay,becarefulwhatyouwishfor!IfIwanttotakeadvantageofthischange,thereisworktobedone! ThenewtouringrulesrequireOEMstrutmounting(nocamberplates)andnoheader,althoughtheNeonmayhavetheconverterremoved.The2013seasonpunchlistnowincludesreplacementofthecamberplateswiththefactorymountsandreplacementoftheheaderwithafactoryexhaustmanifoldandaconverter“test”pipe.Inaddition,thebodymustbe“asdelivered”;so,asetofinnerfenderlinersisonthelistastheywerethrownawaylongago.IhaveworktodobyMay3,thedateoftheSummitPointdoubleNational. TheT4carsshouldturnlaptimeswhicharealittleslowerthanSpecMiata.Inthepast,theNeonwasabletokeepupwithallbutthefastestSpecMiatas;so,itmayhaveachance. Wishmeluck.q —AlanLesher
— By Alan Lesher
Alan Lesher’s Dodge Neon falls under the new Touring Class structure. — John Rudy photo
Page 7
Theseallowanceswerepartofalargersetofrulesintendedtomakestockcarsmoreappropriateforautocross.Theearlyrulesetalsoincludedcatchcans,vents,upgradestobrakelinesandthereplacementofsteeringwheelsandgascaps.Thepurposewasnottogofaster,butrathertomakecarsoftheerabettersuitedforthesport.Ineffect,theruleswereintendedtoaddressuniversalshortcomingsinvehiclemanufacturing.Overtime,theallowancesthatdidresultinperformancegains,suchasbalancingofenginepartsandportmatchinghavebeenremoved.Others,suchas“windshieldsmaybefolded”haveremained. Vehicles,ontheotherhand,havechangeddramaticallysince1972.Itishardtofathomthata70’seraCivicwasbuiltbythesamecompanyasthemodernversion,muchlessthatitisthesamemodel.Newercarsarelarger,heavier,safer,smarterandmorecomfortablethananythingthe1972SEBcouldhaveimagined.Still,likeinthe70s,veryfewmodernvehiclescomeoffoftheproductionlineoptimizedforautocross.Mostnewcarsdoneedsomelevelofpreparationtobecomeafunautocrosser.Whiletherearethingsthatcanbedonewithinthecurrentrulestoaddresstheseissues,therulesweresimplynotwrittenwiththechallengesmoderncarsposeinmind. ItwasfromthisfoundationthattheSEBtookoutacleanpieceofpaperandaskedthequestion,“Whatshouldstockclassbe?” Editor’s note: This is a teaser to the extensive article. Our region is heavily involved in the Solo program, so this is an important issue. If this topic piques your interest, go to this SoloMatters web page:http://www.solomatters.com/2013/03/street-catagory-proposal-explained/q
SCCA’s Street Category Proposal
Sunday,March17,2013—Thisweek,viaFastrack,theSoloEventsBoardreleasedaproposalthatwouldradicallyreshapewhatwenowcallStockClass.Theproposalincludeschangestotheallowancesfortires,shocks,swaybarsandwheelsaswellasnewlanguagetoallowforcamberadjustmentandthedisablingoftractionandstabilitycontrol.Alltotaled,theproposalincludes36changestothecategory,includingchangingthenamefrom“Stock”to“Street”tobemorereflectiveofthetruenatureoftheclass.Theproposalrepresentsthefirstrewriteofthecategory’srulesetin40yearsandoneofthelargestproposalsinthesport’shistory.Atitscore,itcomesdowntoasimplephilosophy,autocrossingshouldbefun,andtheSEB’sbeliefthat,morethananysinglefactor,stockclassparticipationhasdeclinedbecausethecurrentrulesetdoesnotprovidetheallowancesneededtomakeamoderncarfuntoautocross. TheproposalrepresentsameaningfulchangeinthephilosophyoftheBoard.HistoricallytheSEBhasstrivedforrulesstabilityinthecategory.Tothat,ifyoulookattheStockClassrulesfrom1972youwillfindthefoundationofwhatwehavetoday.Thoserulesincludedanallowanceforanymakeofshockabsorber,thesubstitutionoradditionofafrontswaybarandsubstitutionofanypartoftheexhaustbeyondthemanifold.Thoughtherehavebeenincrementaladvancesinthesesallowances,forthemostpartthefoundationofshocks,abarandexhausthasbeenconstantsincetheearly70s.
— From SCCA Solo News/Fastrack, by Admin
Page 8
2013 RegionEvent ScheduleJan. 22MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s
Feb. 14ExecutiveBoardMeetingatGilligan’s 26MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s
Mar. 26MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s
Apr. 6Autocross#1atLargeLot,Hershey 7Autocross#2atLargeLot,Hershey 23MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s
May5RallyCross#1atTrail-WaySpeedway, Hanover18-19CarlisleAutocross(notaseriesevent) 28MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s
June 2 DoubleHeaderAutocrosses#3 atFarmShowComplex,Harrisburg 25MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s 30Autocross#5atGiantCenter,Hershey
July 7DoubleHeaderAutocrosses#6 atFarmShowComplex,Harrisburg 21Autocross#8atGiantCenter,Hershey 23MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s 28RallyCross#2atTrail-WaySpeedway, Hanover
Aug. 18DoubleHeaderAutocrosses#9
 atFarmShowComplex,Harrisburg 27MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s
Sept. 24MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s 29RallyCross#3atTrail-WaySpeedway, Hanover
Oct. 22MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s 26Autocross#11atLargeLot,Hershey 27Autocross#12atLargeLot,Hershey
Nov. 26MembershipMeetingatGilligan’s
Dec. —NOMembershipMeetingthismonth
Jan. 18YearEndBanquet,GrantvilleHoliday
WearepleasedtoannouncetheadditionofMikeSnyder’sSSCTint&Graphicstoourlistoffinebusinessesthatsupportouractivities.WiththeSoloseriesabouttobegin,visitSSCforallyourracecargraphicsneeds.SSCcanhandleanythingfromwindowtinttowindowletteringandfromcarnumberstofullvehiclewraps.Goto:http://www.ssc-tint.comq
Welcome To Our Newest Sponsor
A Note On Our RallyCrosses...AquestionhascomeupregardingwhetherornotSusquehannaRegion’sthreeRallyCrossesarebeingscoredaspartoftheAutocrossseries.TheyareNOT.TheywillbescoredindependentlytowardRallyCrossyearendresults.OurMay5th,July28th,andSeptember29thRallyCrosseswillbeheldonthedirttrackatTrail-WaySpeedwayinHanover.Moreinformationcanbefoundathttp://www.scca-susq.comq
Page 9
Sponsor Space Available — If you’d like to join our sponsorship ranks, we’ll make room for you. Contact me at [email protected] for details.
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