Riverhead Raceway co-chief stewards Mike Cappiello and Jim
Maggio, along with technical inspectors Walter Bonczyk and Terry
Fallon, held an informal meeting with a number of the track's
competitors this week in an attempt to create an open forum for
discussion and to address such issues as how to lower costs and
increase car counts across the board.
A number of topics were brought up at the meeting, with both
drivers and officials offering input and suggestions. Issues
that were brought up for discussion included items of interest
for nearly all divisions at the track, and will hopefully be a
springboard for further communication between the officials and
the competitors, and could lead to policy and/or rule changes
for the future.
The topics that were discussed will require final approval,
and it is expected that formal announcements will come from the
Raceway office once the process is complete for each individual
area.
Coming from the meeting, it is expected that older Late Model
cars will be permitted to run in the Figure 8 class, provided
they can pass safety inspection and they meet the main technical
requirements set forth in the Figure 8 rules.
Late Models that come to Riverhead from other tracks will be
allowed to compete in the Late Model division in spite of some
differences in rules, as long as the cars can pass safety
inspection and are not determined to be incompatible with
Riverhead cars in terms of competitiveness. These will be ruled
on a case-by-case basis, and may involve the addition of weight
to the visiting car if necessary to level the field.
It was agreed that Charger cars would be permitted to use
electric fans, as well as adjustable ball joints.
The Super Pro Truck division can expect to see their double
point races feature a time trial format. The optional spot
mirrors that were allowed in the Super Pro Truck division will
be formally entered into the rules for the class.
The rule change announced in the Blunderbust division at the
end of last season imposing a 100 pound weight penalty for
alterations will also be formally written into the rules.
One topic that seemed to draw a positive response related to
the possibility of a two tire rule for the Charger, Late Model,
Super Pro Truck, and Figure 8 classes. Under the proposed
system, teams would be allowed to purchase no more than two
tires per week once the season is underway. No team would be
required to make a purchase, but unused purchases could not
be carried over from one week to the next. It was believed by
many on hand that this would cut down on costs for the majority
of race teams that feel they can not be competitive on a weekly
basis all season because of an inability to purchase complete
new sets of tires each week.
Further discussion is expected on the possibility of making a
move towards a spec-type motor in the Late Model division. That
process will require further research and a gradual shift in
rules to move the class towards that type of a motor.
All teams in the process of having motors done should be
aware of the need to now have two manifold bolts on the right
side of the motor, as well as two adjacent bolts on the left
side, with holes through them.
As the offseason goes on, keep an eye on LongIslandJam.com
for further developments and information.
Source: Tracy
Chirico/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
December 4, 2008
