Originally Posted by
Paul Wilkinson
Being Devil's advocate, what about running other 'period' consumables such as the same spec brake-pads, shocks, clutch plates, brake fluids and oils etc? How about other consumables such as pistons and rings etc that these days are made with improved materials or using improved processes? You'll need to throw a handful of dirt in the gas tank each time you fill up some of the very old cars as period gas was often contaminated - you'd be allowed to filter it through pantyhose before using it though as that is period correct.
Cars are now faster, safer and more reliable than they were back in the day because of a level of pragmatism about these regularly replaced items. When someone like Paddy Hopkirk gets into a 'period' Mini racer and says they never had that much power and were never that quick back in the day, you know we're enjoying the benefits of modern manufacturing. Finally getting to my point, should it be a buffet where you get to pick and choose what gives you an advantage? Or should you appreciate that the rules are there to help aggregate enough cars to make 'racing' feasible?