I just wondered what class you thought it would be possible for these new generation of "rockracing" buggies would fit into if they passed all other CAMS requirements?
Most of them are mid engine with little to no panels - they are very much like a 4wd Jimco or Razorback - here are some photos -
This is a YouTube clip of one of them racing in the American Desert.
So my question is would these vehicles fit into the ProBuggy Class? As they are very close to a ProBuggy in every way? Just this "RockRacing" is taking off in Australia well with a number of events happening every year and interest growing daily -
With our involvement with Offroad Cartel we get to talk to a large number of 4x4 racers - there was a ton of interest in the AORC @ most of the events we go to - however as you can see above - most of these cars do not fit into a current class.... ProBuggy would be the closest by far except for the 2wd/4wd issue.
Any opinions or idea?
Would anyone be against this sort of vehicle in the ProBuggy class?
I think the cross over in the sport would be a great idea, to have them involved you would need to give them their own class or make them a sub class of Pro buggy.
Why cant they put on some panels and race class 8....not that hard if they are serious about joining us? I think it would be really bad to create another class, if they want to race, they need to import/fit with what we already do! A 4WD in pro class would create heaps of problems?
nothing in Extreme 4wd says which end the engine has to be in. just that the block can't cross the centreline of the wheelbase.
Pro class clearly states 2 wheel drive.
There are 3 options:
1: they put panels on to make it look like something and call it extreme 4wd.
2: they relax the 2wd rule in pro class, it's against the spirit of the class anyway. Sooks need to man up and accept they might be beaten by something thats different. :)
3: they throw them in with the side by side class which is just unfair.
As a related issue: Personally I think Production 4wd has well and truly outgrown its original concept of street registered vehicles with some safety gear especially with the lack of support and understanding from the licensing departments. At the same time Exteme 4wd is growing rapidly and trending toward a natural split between tube frame and chassis cars. A far more sensible class split is something like the Performance / Extreme 2wd classes so I'm leaving my chassis rails intact just in case things change.
-- Edited by Patrol842 on Monday 16th of April 2012 01:45:39 PM
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It says it all in the first post, they are very much like a 4WD Jimco or Razerback. and having the motor mid mounted they can only fit into the existing Pro class. No problem
Almost all of these setups DO cross the centerline of the wheelbase
The above cars have a reverse mounted engine just forward of the rear diff.
I agree completely that they should be allowed to run in the ProBuggy class. It makes sense to me - being the "Unlimited" Class... but I'm sure someone else will come up with a good reason not to let them run.
Atleast I'm not wildly out on my own in my thinking of them being a ProBuggy - Does anyone have a good CAMS contact that I could email and see where it heads? Just I emailed - technical@cams.com.au - however have received no reply...
Welcome to the cams world. I would suggest that if you are serious, then try to start/find another insurance body, and then ask the rest of us to join your group....might sound silly, but someone needs to try it? Trophy karts need somewhere to go, as do many other imported vehicles. Iknow I would be happy to bypass biennial inspections, and seat belt rules, and cutters that won't work, and the many more rules that will be implemented before I get time to race again! I know this will not answer you question, but I think you will find that's there is NO way you will be able to be accepted into pro class!
Almost all of these setups DO cross the centerline of the wheelbase
The above cars have a reverse mounted engine just forward of the rear diff.
...........
You can move your engine back so that the rearmost part of the block is just in front of the centreline, or you can move it so that every part of the engine block is completely BEHIND the centreline.
There is a big differece between people think it says and what it actually states. You just cant have any part of the block ON the centreline.
Judging by the seating is almost all of those cars will have the entire engine block behind the centreline. throw some landy guards over the corners and call it extreme 4wd.
there are a few grey areas around the firewall. I'm not sure on the outcome but Scott was pinged for not having a firewall over his transmission. I think you will find CAMS will just tell you to put panels on it, probuggy explicitly states 2wd.
Here is the engine block rule in extreme 4wd: The location of the engine is free, save that no part of the cylinder block may extend across a line drawn at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the car, at a point halfway between the front and rear wheel hub centres.
and the probuggy 2wd rule: SR 1.2 PRO BUGGY Buggies with engines not exceeding 6000cc. ELIGIBILITY/DEFINITION A one- or two-seat, two-wheel drive automobile, as defined in GR 1.
-- Edited by Patrol842 on Sunday 29th of April 2012 06:01:22 PM
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