I searched but did not find any specific comments on the dash requirement in the production class so would like to ask a couple clarification questions.
In the main entry on Production class 2006 rules, pg 64-65 part
5.E it says:
" ... A stock or full width dash board is mandatory. A fabricated non-flammable equivalent is acceptable. "
On page 66 part
5.E.1 it says:
"The following items shall be retained in the stock location, and of the same year and manufacture as the body: frame, fenders, hood, grille, drip rails (must not be filled), windows, door handles,window trim, dash board, head lights (high and low beam), tail lights, parking lights, stoplights, radiator, both bumpers and horn.
I presume that the second entry is not intended to mandate that only a true OEM original manufacture dash may be used contrary to the previous entry which clearly states a non-flammable equivalent is acceptable". I think that an extremely literal reading of the second would in fact counter the first, and perhaps the wording should be modifided slightly if that is not the intent.
If that is correct, is there any need for the builder to accurately mimic the actual shape and form of the dash board as originally produced?
Many modern gauge clusters are very difficult to fit with adequate gauges for a high performance engine.
I suspect the intent simply is to see that the car has a solid fabricated dash panel rather than a jungle of wires and gauges hung all over the interior of the car off of random brackets which would present a safety hazard in a crash.
Second related item. In this era of plastic grill pieces, it is getting very hard to find an un-broken / complete grill insert for some of the late 1970's- and 1980's manufactured cars. many were made of light weight injection molded plastic and are quite brittle and often the first casualty of a minor fender bender.
Even if you could find a solid as new item,some of them might not be able to handle the stresses and buffeting of air speeds near the 2 century mark, let alone the sudden pressure changes and flow reversals you would see during a high speed spin. In many cases the damage found on junk yard items involves broken or missing mounting tabs or pins which are essential to firmly secure the grill insert.
Would it be acceptable to fabricate a more durable copy?
Such as a hand layup, machined, or cast clone of the OEM grill insert out of modern fiber reinforce plastic or metal or some other more durable material. Provided it was a faithful copy of the OEM part in all important (aero) respects and the builder had an OEM insert on hand for comparison during tech?
Larry