Opel racers unfairly disqualified. Please Help!!!

[JCB]

My name is Joe Bowers. My son Clint and I have been racing Opel Mantas for a few years now at the paved-oval track at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Or. Last year, we won the championship in the Mini-stock class, and have won all six feature races this season. Prior to Saturday’s race (7-30-05), we stood 1st and 2nd in the points standings. After the race, ALL season points were taken away due to an unfair decision based on a difference of opinion regarding intake manifold porting.

Here is the problem:
-Rules 39 and 42 in the Engine Section of the Douglas County Speedway Mini-stock rulebook state: 2005 Rulebook

39. OEM intake manifolds, must have manufacture’s identification marks. Any OEM intake for make of car.

42. Porting and polishing allowed.

-Rule 49 is the only reference to porting, which leaves it open to ANY kind of porting.
-We ported our manifolds using RallyBob’s “Race-Ported Intake” as described in
his “And now by popular demand…” tech article.
-We are inspected regularly, and this weekend their attention was focused on the intake manifolds of the top competitors.
-After a successful night of racing, we were shockingly disqualified for an “illegal intake manifold.”
-Officials stated that porting involved ONLY removal of material.
-Our contention is that ADDING material to improve the flow DOES fall under the definition of porting.

We need your help:
-We are looking for information or documentation that supports our position in that porting includes both removing AND adding material.
-We are looking for any kind of help:
-links to online tech articles
-professionals in the industry
-testimonials or how-to’s
-book references
-anything that would help!

We thank you in advance for your help in an attempt to regain our points standing, but more importantly, maintain our reputation as a team with integrity.
Joe and Clint

[Gary]

Here is one not too promising post: http://www.opelgt.com/forums/showpos...96&postcount=5

But:
Rule 39
39. OEM intake manifolds, must have manufacturer’s identification marks. Any OEM intake for make of car.

39.a. Maximum (2) inch thick carburetor adapter plate allowed. Must be bolted or welded to the factory intake location of manifolds only.

I would say forget the porting term and argue that you have an OEM intake that was modified. 39.a. states you can weld an adapter plate to it. So OEM intakes can be modified by welding the adapter plate.

You followed 39.a by not moving the carb location. The rule does not state modifications cannot be made to the intake.

Weak rebuttal? maybe, but it's a start.

[GTJIM]

Clearly 39 a. allows the addition of an adaptor plate by welding to the OEM carb flange area - so your welding and porting in that part of the manifold is clearly "legal"
This leaves the added material in the bottom of the plenum in dispute, I guess. I would argue that "welding" is specifically allowed in the carb flange area - one argument could be that this is just part of the carb "adaptor" and is contained within the OEM outer dimensions of the manifold. Clearly welding is specifically allowed - it just boils down to where that welding is not allowed. If not specifically prohibited - then it is implicitly allowed.

First: Clear up with the Tech Inspectors EXACTLY which part of your modifications they consider "illegal" and try to ascertain who protested to them. Do it politely - but firmly - pointing out the following you have among fans at the track and the detrimental effect that removing an extremely competitive car from the racing line-up will have.

Clearly your modifications DO "push the envelope" but point out that the rules do not specifically disallow the addition of metal to enhance porting as long as the manifold starts out as OEM and still has all the OEM markings on it.
Also show them Rally Bob's article and let them know that this is an old and proven "porting" modification to Opel OEM intake manifolds. Clearly the "modification" to OEM manifolds to enhance air flow by changing the port shape - ie: "porting" - is specifically "legal" as long as the manifold retains the external appearance and markings of an "OEM" manifold.

If all else fails just pack up for a couple of weeks and get your most staunch fans in the stands to protest to the Track owners.

Someone has a bad case of "sour grapes" by the sound of it and is attempting to win by eliminating you as a competitor.

..of course that 'bump' in the bottom of the plenum is actually the result of repairs to an old OEM manifold that had been attacked by exhaust gases in that area and it was not possible to weld the repair in any other way at the time and the "bump" is only a blob of weld that just stuck there ...... besides which the night they did the inspection was the only night you ran the repaired manifold so the removal of previously earned points is grossly unfair.
Do they want a race to entertain the fans in the stands - or just a parade of Fords ????

You get the point - if all else fails, stand on your diginity and let the fans know that you are there to win races 'on the track' and not protesting about tiny "bumps" of metal inside intake manifolds.

[RallyBob]

Well, I just looked at your rulebook, and I don't see anywhere in the rules where the modifications in question are disallowed.

You have an OEM intake (verifiable by part #). You have or are allowed an adapter. That's it...it fits the rules. Show me where it says the intake has to be stock...it simply must be an OEM intake.

Oh, and I love the fact that the rules will allow you a dry-sump system ($2500 or more), but they are bickering over some welding in the intake.

[jeff denton]

Sometimes when you spank the Ford rednecks so badly and regularly as you have they have to fight back somehow... A lot of racers just don't have the brains, the knowledge, the guts, the experience, the equipment, the abilities, maybe even the money that you compete with. The Blue Oval boys are a bunch of "monkey see, monkey do" racers, they rely on that rather than thinking for themselves. With an Opel, you have to be a little more inventive, and coming to gt.com is step one to success!!
I would look at the issue this way. Whatever the definition of "porting" may be, it is done to improve airflow. So the idea is to improve airflow, right? If it is OK to remove some material in certain areas to improve airflow, what would be wrong with adding material to improve airflow? What's the difference? Did the rules define "porting" as strictly "removal" and did the rules prohibit "adding"?
To wipe out your points is to have found you to be blatantly cheating. Sounds like they closed their case just like that.
Fight back! Let me help any way I can! Anything I've written here may be passed on. If you need more, let me know!
Looking over your rules I see that your track does not have many compared to ours. Very liberal over there in Oregon, aren't they? How I wish I could drop a wild 2.4 in my car!!! And run any rear end!!!

[JCB]

Late this afternoon I received a call from the head tech official from the speedway. He told me that their interpretation of the "porting" rule had been reconsidered today and because they decided it was too vague, they overturned the disqualifications!, and are going to ammend the rule.

I want to thank everyone who helped us with this successful appeal and all who provided moral support!

We are now looking forward to the conclusion of our once again successful racing season!

Thanks again,

Joe

[Stan Arza]

[Deleted for being a slow typing jerk]


Congrats on the decision

[GTJIM]

Late this afternoon I received a call from the head tech official from the speedway. He told me that their interpretation of the "porting" rule had been reconsidered today and because they decided it was too vague, they overturned the disqualifications!, and are going to ammend the rule. Joe

Time to let those other guys know how to modify their Ford manifolds and get a few of them to do it! Strike now - or you will find that "adding metal to manifold ports" becomes prohibited with the Rule ammendment.
You have to get the guys who race with you to support you now and make the modification a "done deal" - want to bet if they modify their manifolds how loud they will squeel if the Rules are ammended?

[jeff denton]

Very good news, Joe.
Now, just for fun, slap a totally stock untouched intake on and go run some laps. If it seems to work reasonably well, race it that way and see what happens.

[DirtTrackManta]

Joe,

I am really happy to hear that things are working out for you! You know... I used to live just outside of Roseburg in a little town called Winston OR. My family owned and operated a Mercantile out there called The Brockway Store. In high school I worked there before, during AND after school. LOL! Back then it was the big stop for the lunch hour and so I would work the counter then hoof it back to school.

Great to hear that you guys are doing so well on the track. I'd like to come watch you race sometime... I could stand to learn a thing or two!

Regards,
DirtTrackManta