Now onto the hottest three topics. These generated phone calls, emails and pms. In this post I am going to try to cover what has been said about each subject pro and can wise.
Starting with 4 inch exhaust.
Pros for letting it in THS: Can be purchased from two different vendors and there are already custom exhausts in the class, why limit an off the shelf piece. Many people mentioned if the downpipe has a 3.5 inch limit, the 4 inch exhaust has no performance advantage.
Con for letting it in THS: The class has a rule that reads 3.5 inch single or dual as a limit stick with it. It was even said I should have allowed it from the start if it ever was to be allowed. I have to defend myself on this one, back in 2008 when I started working on THS I wrote the rules on the exhaust around what I had seen available commercially. The 3.5 limit came from the Terry Houston single shot exhaust that was around years ago. I had no crystal ball to show me that 2 vendors would later be offering 4 inch exhaust systems.
Now onto the issue of a stretched inner fender wells.
Pros for letting it in THS: We already allow notched outer frame rails and some pound the fender wheel back with a hammer to match the clearance added from the outer frame rail notch, why penalize a person for taking a more elegant approach. Others have said if you use the same size tire and stock location suspension point how can it be an advantage.
Con for letting it in THS: The rules say no mini tubs. No matter what is decided I think we need to clear up the wording of this rule.
The last and what seems to be the rule that comes in question every year. Fiberglass hoods.
Pros for letting it in THS: Nice stock hoods are getting hard to come by. No real performance advantage. (I did look up the weight saving on Kirbans web site and he has it listed as 27lbs, just so everybody knows the true weight savings here). It has also been mentioned that since we allow conversion cars (aka non vin7 and 9 cars) this would make it easier for them to meet the rules. Last thing was that alot of the iron headed cars are way over the allowed min weight and this could help them get closer to that.
Con for letting them in: Since they are lighter it is a performance advantage and a person could move weight around on their car with the use of one.
It was brought up if fiberglass hoods are allowed in that they need to be stock appearing and I have to agree with this as a cowl hood changes the looks of the car a lot and the class is more about a stockish looking car that runs fast.
I think the racers that have raced THS in the past and plan to race it again in 2013 should decide on the above three rules. So post up your vote in this thread and lets get on with it. Lets leave it open til next week Friday, as that should cover everybody even if they only get on the board once a week.
Take care, Kip