Cams, lights, ... now hydro head Sciroccos

[nealtovsen at yahoo.com (Neal Tovsen)]

> I don't recall the details but it struck me as 'guilty until 
> proven innocent' on the SCCA's part.

This is true, and it is 100% intentional.

The SCCA rules don't tell you what is illegal. They tell you what is
legal. And the competitor is primarily responsible for proving that
he/she is legal. All competitors (at National-level events) are
required to carry documentation for their car and any/all parts on it
that are not specifically listed as "unrestricted" in the rulebook.
Yes, that even includes 100% stock cars. A factory manual and/or
parts list is typically sufficient.

But think about it: how would you expect someone to prove that
something NEVER happened? You can't. Thus, the competitor is
responsible for proving their legality. He couldn't, and thus lost
the protest.

As for the "weenieness" of the protest, that's another issue
entirely, and is only of importance to the court of public opinion.
But be assured there is more to the story than just what was listed
here.

(for those new to the SCCA, this kind of stuff only happens at the
National Championship level...don't worry about it at your local
events)

As for the P.C./"gay" thing, yes there is freedom of speech in this
country (USA). Does that mean you won't be offended when I call you
an ignorant prejudiced bigot? The 1st Amendment allows me to do it,
but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be offended when I use an term
that implies something bad to describe you, or vice versa.

For the record, I'm not gay, and even if I was I wouldn't be offended
by the term. It is just a word, after all. But all the same I could
see how someone else might be, and so I try to be respectful. I find
that the world is generally a better place when people respect each
other. It really isn't too hard.

(back into lurk mode)

Neal Tovsen
'77 Scirocco G60


Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 14:00:48 -0800 (PST)
From: Ron Pieper 
Subject: RE: Cams, lights, ... now hydro head Sciroccos 
To: "Marc_Scirocco_Québec" ,  Eric S
	,  David Utley
	
Cc: Rocco list 
Message-ID: <20040121220048.8545.qmail@web10302.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

This is very interesting, because in 2002, a guy at the SCCA Solo II
(autocross) Nationals was
protested after the event for having a hydro head in his Scirocco. 
Big discussion and debate
followed on the vwautox list!  According to the protestor, a hydro
head was never installed on a
Scirocco.  I don't recall the details but it struck me as 'guilty
until proven innocent' on the
SCCA's part.  Personally, I thought it was a weenie protest because
*neither* could *prove* his
case, and the excellent driver with the hydro head lost out, from
what I think was at least a
podium finish.

Ron