[Rob Hood]

Not sure who the letter writer is pointing a finger at, but he's definitely pointing a finger...perhaps at NASA?

[teamDFL]

The "leeway" you describe is a VERY slipery slope.  It sounds GREAT as an ideal, but is ALMOST impossible to administer in a track environment with VOLUNTEER officials that ALREADY make a huge amount of decisions.  Sure putting "inferior" gas in the car SHOULD be an easy call.  Yet, the guys and gals in tech aren't chemists...they have a documented test from the SCCA to determine if the gas meets the spec....they most likely couldn't tell you if the pump gas was Rotten Robbie's lowest grade, or rocket fuel with the supplies they have track side.....that and the fact that intermixed with  the "casual competitor" is the racer who is racing for the $5 trophy as if it is the F1 championship, and takes it VERY SERIOUSLY ( I can point you to a Mitsu Evo for proof  (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) so rules, in any SERIOUS racing environment MUST be rules...

IMHO...if you want leeway, go HPDEing or a club more loosely defined as "run what ya brung" type of deals...

I agree that the devil is in the details, but it is my opinion that amateur motorsports should accomodate small variances from strict rules interpretation at the local level. I have always felt that the main purpose of amateur motorsports, whether it is IT, HPDE or Solo is fun, and forcing someone to sit on the sidelines because they have a meaningless infraction runs contrary to that.

Now, to your point about 'run-what-you-brung', I think every organization should have an established minimum safety requirement that all cars have to meet and then they are placed in this class if they are legal for no other. Unfortunately, many times this class that invites people in is never discussed and leaves a lot of people on the sidelines.