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ENCOUNTER 2005 Newsletter Valve Cover Races! Updated 6/25/05 ENCOUNTER 05’s FIRST ANNUAL EVENT: VALVE COVER RACE PLANNED Yes, Virginia there is an International Valve Cover Racing Commission!! It’s alive & well according to our region’s ambassador of gravity powermetrics, John Davies. John’s committed all the criteria for building the racers, constructing the racetrack, and rules of competition to memory which is already filled with the wiring diagrams for virtually every post WWI British vehicle from Alvis, Bentley, Rolls to Triumph & Wolseley. Knowing Lucas electric eccentricies so well, he has steadfastly prevented the Commission from allowing anything electrical or magnetic on these racers. He certainly had the safety of builders, officials & fans in mind while pleading his case over the years.
Here are the official rules for building your racer: 1. The car should be designed and built to develop fastest ET while rolling down a straight, 8-foot long slope: the slope’s decline is 2 feet followed by a 20 foot level run-off. Each lane of the sloped track is two feet wide. 2. The car can be any length; width must satisfy 14 inch wheel track.
3. The car’s body must be constructed from a BMC valve or camshaft cover and have four wheels. Any type of streamlining or decorative bodywork is permitted. 4. Any style and width of wheel may be used. It may utilize any type of bearings and lubricant(s). Wheel diameter limited to 6 inches, however.
5. The car shall have no power source. All motive force is provided by gravity. 6. Wheel base shall not exceed 24 inches. Front wheels must cut the car’s front plane (no bumpers). Wheels must cut the finish line not a part of the body.
7. No electrical or magnetic devices may be installed on cars. 8. There is no construction material, weight or height limit on cars. 9. Cars must run true-enough to remain within shouldered incline lanes and unshouldered runoff lanes. 10. There is no limitation on decorating cars. A most beautiful beast award may be awarded depending on number of entrants.
John promises a “bloody-good” competition, so
get started on your racer now. If you have any questions, e-mail the
Encounter ’05 committee at:
encinfo@austin-healey-stc.org
Following are the Official Race Rules (As interpreted by John Davies) The Course: 1. The course shall consist of a launch incline eight(8) feet long followed by a level run of twenty (20) feet. 2. The launch incline shall be divided into two (2) lanes, each two (2) feet wide. The incline shall be two (2) feet high at the rearmost part & level with the course at the front edge. 3. The starting line shall be two (2) feet from the rear edge of the incline. 4. The run-out section of the course shall consist of two lanes, each three (3) feet wide. 5. The finish line shall be marked twenty (20) feet from the front edge of the launch incline. The Race: 1. Cars are run in heats of two cars each. 2. The cars are launched with their front wheels on the starting line. The first car to have its front wheels cross the finish line is the winner. If neither car makes it to the finish line, the car going farthest wins. 3. If a car’s wheels touch the lane marker, or cross over the lane marker, the car is disqualified. 4. Winning cars will advance to the next round until all are eliminated except one car. To purchase a valve cover, contact leo.kob@villanova.edu. Cost is $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping. All proceeds will go the the Make-Wish-Foundation on behalf of the club. Back to the Encounter '05 Main Page.
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