Challenge Q: What's up with the Challenge Specials?

5.Only Production-based passenger cars are allowed in the regular competition. All Locosts, kit cars, Zambonis and the like are allowed only in the Special class (See Rule #27).

So, I read this rule, and have an "Aw, shucks" kinda moment. My personal idea for a Challenge car falls squarely into this category. I'm not whining, I actually expected my entry to be cool but uncompetitive, a sort of Locost with style kinda thing. I was hoping to score a few concours points for my troubles. Oh well, I'm still gonna build it anyway, just because the Challenge is awesome. I was gonna declare success if it drove to Florida and back, anyhow.

I am very curious though. To someone who is still a Challenge virgin, the rule came as a surprise, considering it's, well, The Challenge. I thought purpose-built was kinda the point.

What's the history behind this ruling? Did somebody blow it for everybody? Or did GRM just decide to discourage SAE style cars and things like that? Since a Challenge Locost got pretty serious ink in the magazine, I'm kinda scratching my head about it.

To clarify, I don't want the rule changed, as I think I see the wisdom. I'm not whining, I'd just like to hear some firsthand accounts of how this rule came about.

Originally the Challenge was open to two classes. Cars and Race Cars.

Cars were driven on the street, Race Cars were purpose built race cars.

Everyone who brought Cars were cool.

Everyone who brought Race Cars were Clowns or Editards.

Everyone liked the cool people cars more.

Abridged version that may or may not contain a semblance of truth.

My guess would be that it would be fairly easy to build something like a bike engined kart that would be far from a good idea and destroy everybody who shows up in a production based car

Why no specials? Like several Challenge rules, that one came about to stop people from complaining. We still let specials, Locosts and the like run for exhibition, and they'll get ink in the magazine.

Darn.

I was kind of hoping to hear a story about how "Well, one year so-and-so showed up with something that was just some tubing, two huge wings, a seat, and a rocket motor, so we decided to make that rule to calm things down a bit."

Oh, well. At least when I finally show my face, I can write "I'm Special" on my helmet and act retarded. Not a big stretch for me.

You've got 1 day and 26 minutes. Get busy.

It would be very possible to make an AMod or BMod car for under $2000 if you were willing to do a lot of fabrication. From the rollhoop forward, you could copy the LeGrand plans in steel (ala Mike and Chris Moulcker's "Gazorman"). But, to keep costs down, you could go against the typical DSR sports racer trend of chain drive.

1) 1" square steel tubing 2) shaftdrive Yamaha R1 3) Miata torsen, shortened axles, front and rear uprights 4)??? 5) Profit.

I'd build it as a BMod car as it would have a better chance of being competitive afterwards (ie: in Solo). That would mean an 80" wheelbase and 8 square feet of wing area. Minimum weight of 1020 with driver.

The Editards speaketh

In reply to Per Schroeder:

For some of us, that doesn't leave much weight for the car...

David S. Wallens wrote: Why no specials? Like several Challenge rules, that one came about to stop people from complaining. We still let specials, Locosts and the like run for exhibition, and they'll get ink in the magazine.

Better still, they get the exact same prize money.

FindlaySpeedMan wrote: "Well, one year so-and-so showed up with something that was just some tubing, two huge wings, a seat, and a rocket motor, so we decided to make that rule to calm things down a bit."

After someone shows up with a critter like that the rules are tweaked for the next year. The BatVan was banged for "major body panels" and the following year a rule was added about "safe ingress and egress". I had only one door on the passenger side; if the thing flipped and burned you couldn't get out. I disagreed but it's their show. Another car was cited for the same thing.

So build what you want, hope for the best; I don't think you'll be shut out for too much horsepower.

Dan