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posted on June 15th, 2006 at 12:20 AM
Saw this in Zoom
Hi
I found this in latest issue of Zoom and I thought it may make interesting reading.
Steve
The rules and regulations for ANDRA Sport Compact are constantly evolving and changing.
As you all know, the ANDRA Sport Compact product is in a constant state of evolution and development. One of the main factors is the rulebook, which
every year comes in for a tune-up, wheel alignment and detail. Originally we started with a set of rules and regulations straight out of the US
courtesy of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA): Since those wild days we have modified our rules into a system that reflects the wants and needs
of today's Australian Sport Compact industry.
The process that involves the altering of any ANDRA rules and regs is viewed by many as a long and painful journey that takes what seems to be a
lifetime to achieve. The reality is very different, with many rules coming into effect immediately. The following gives you an idea of how the rule
process works.
Step 1 - All rule submissions must be into the ANDRA head office by December 31. They must be presented in a logical manner and accompanied by a $25
lodgement fee.
Step 2 - All rule submissions are then collated and distributed to the various state-by-state ANDRA Divisions for consideration.
Step 3 - The new rules are then discussed at an ANDRA NCC (National Control Council) meeting in Adelaide in mid-February. New rule submissions are
then accepted or dismissed for public comment. Any dismissed submissions are accompanied with a brief 'why it got knocked back' description for the
author.
Step 4 - The new rules are then put into the public arena for general comment, and correspondence must be received by the head office no later than
the close of business on the third Friday in March.
Step 5 - The ANDRA NCC then meet again in April to consider the submissions, input and information collected. From here they will:
1. Accept the rule submission
2. 2. Reject the rule submission
3. 3. Differ the recommendation of the submission for further consideration
Step 6 - New rules are then dealt with in two ways:
1. They are brought in immediately
2. They are brought in as of September 6
Now step back and have a look. The ideas come in by the end of the year and then they are discussed, debated and voted on. Then it gets public
scrutiny before being approved or rejected. From there it's enforced immediately or brought in by September - nine months after the rule was
submitted. That's nine short months from idea to reality.
Recently, the ANDRA NCC looked at seven rule submissions that related directly to Sport Compact. Two were submitted from outside parties and I
personally submitted five. My submissions were primarily 'general housekeeping' as I like to call it, where we clean up any little anomalies that
appear in the Sport Compact rules. I threw in a few curly ones designed to keep the whole deal rocking and rolling along.
The rule submission that received the most attention was the one regarding competition-oriented VW-powered vehicles into Sport Mod. The basic idea is
to take the 12 or so cars from around the nation that are VW-powered chassis unable to meet the current minimum weights and get them into meaningful
competition. At present only a select few are competition and they are 'wasting' away down in the ET Bracket classes.
My idea is simple, the Sport Mod class is the step before Pro RWD, so serious comp cars should be in there. Back-halved
RX-3s mixing it up with hardcore AWDs like Kier Wilson and the Rigoli boys. Into the mix I want to throw the Comp VW guys like Penrose, Penboss and
the C&V guys.
I see the VW participation working on a few levels. One, it brings the competitor numbers up, but most importantly it places serious racers into the
mix. These VW guys are hardcore traditional ANDRA drag racers that know every racing trick in the book. Their experience will rub off on the other
Sport Mod racers and prepare any of them for the quantum leap up to Pro RWD, where serious racing experience is the critical factor.
So my submission called for a separate VW-powered weight break for Comp VW cars. This set-up is currently employed in All Motor and works a treat with
Dynamic Dave Butler holding down the MPH national record.
The NCC looked at my submission and understood what I was on about. While they haven't given it the green light, they have asked me for more
information when I resubmit it in April. By then all the boxes will be ticked, i's dotted and t's crossed. Fingers crossed it gets up.
Bottom line guys, the system we employ here at ANDRA is designed for you the enthusiast to have a say. It's designed to constantly evolve and move
with the trends of the industry. It's designed to allow your voice to be heard. I have a saying that I tell anyone who will listen: there are no
permanent rules in ANDRA Sport Compact.
This is how I work, ANDRA works and the reason why the Sport Compact rules work well today. We made a product that constantly evolves.
See you in the tyre smoke!
Jason 0'Halloran ANDRA Sport Compact Director
