3-wheel automobile classification?

[superleggera]

Looking through the SCTA rulebook and I do not see anything thus asking now.  Friend is looking at running a 3-wheel automobile manufactured in limited production (over 500+ units) years ago.  Two front wheels in conventional car fashion; one rear driven wheel; two seat side-by-side open cockpit; utilizes an automobile engine and conventional gearbox.  Desire is to run it "stock" on the salt at Bonneville (with safety mods as needed of course).

Did I overlook in the rulebook that says the "car class" must have 4 wheels?  This definitely isn't a motorcycle in regard to the motorcycle rulebook.

Thanks

[Koncretekid]

BUB Speed Trials have been allowing three wheelers, but I'm not sure what class they run in.  I think probably FIM (international) which runs concurrently with the Speed Trials.

[Stainless1]

My guess is it runs less than 140 so it would be a candidate for the World of Speed 130 club.  I would guess if he wanted to spend $5k on safety equipment he could run Time Only at Speedweek.  Would require a full cage, firesuit, head and neck restraints, 5 point harness..... and so on and so on.
I would look at spectating in August and running 130 Club in September

[Malcolm UK]

What you have described is a "cyclecar", that is motivated by an automobile engine (many historic cyclecars were fitted with V-Twin engines such as JAP or Motto Guzzi driving the front wheels). Does it look like a Morgan?

The FIM does have classes and classification for such vehicles, but the SCTA does not have anything other than 'sidecars' in their rule book. Come to Britain and your colleague could race it here as the ACU will accept it too

Certainly Stainless has a way of running on the salt without getting three vehicles together to petition for a new class.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Sec. 4D of my 2013 rulebook says (on page 42):

"For classification purposes , an automobile is a land vehicle propelled by its own means, run on at least four (45) wheels, not aligned, which shall always be in contact with the ground."

I'll assume that the words "may be aligned or. . ." can be inserted after ".wheels, "

It's clear from that.  It's in the definitions pages - def. of an automobile.

[RichFox]

You can't have all four wheels aligned. Two can be aligned. No more. Three wheelers are not in the automobile section of the SCTA rule book. What kind of car is this thing? Got a picture?

[jacksoni]

Sec. 4D of my 2013 rulebook says (on page 42):

"For classification purposes , an automobile is a land vehicle propelled by its own means, run on at least four (45) wheels, not aligned, which shall always be in contact with the ground."

I'll assume that the words "may be aligned or. . ." can be inserted after ".wheels, "

It's clear from that.  It's in the definitions pages - def. of an automobile.

Also says steering by two front wheels and drive by two wheels (leaving front or rear available) so a single driven rear wheel won't do it.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I agree about the rear steering prohibition.  Steer with the back and you've got the same rigging as a forklift, and I remember how easy it is to farkle om a forklift.

[jacksoni]

I agree about the rear steering prohibition.  Steer with the back and you've got the same rigging as a forklift, and I remember how easy it is to farkle om a forklift.

There have been successful- As I recall, John Beckett had a rear steer lakester that did well- and unsuccessful ( I watched a poorly engineered- they had the geometry wrong- small liner do a barrel roll about 100ft from the starting line when the driver got crossed up) land speed cars. The latter episode led SCTA/BNI to ban all rear steer cars.

[superleggera]

Yes -- 500+ unit production cyclecar. (front steer)  Apparently not eligible as a car (thanks Slim as I missed that section but looked through there many times this morning!).  Not eligible as a motorcycle class either.

I will have them contact the SCTA-BIN officers to learn what other options there are or how to petition for a new class for the future.  Sounded like a fun endeavour and would have been interesting to see them shooting across the salt flats this upcoming August.

Thanks!

[Speed Limit 1000]

( I watched a poorly engineered- they had the geometry wrong- small liner do a barrel roll about 100ft from the starting line when the driver got crossed up) land speed cars. The latter episode led SCTA/BNI to ban all rear steer cars.

I remember that ride Not necessarily poorly engineered, it did need some work and slower steering. The fastest car in the world has rear steering. At least I wasn't injured and we made it into a great Lakester

[Glen]

Beckets car was a rear steer front drive modified roadster, never made it a 1/4 mile down the course before spinning. he was put on the trailer.

[jacksoni]

Ah, wrong on both counts. Oh well....
I think John's car ran at Maxton didn't it? Anyway, funny how traction makes a difference.

[dw230]

How to petition for a new class is also in your rule book, bottom of PAGE ONE. You must have overlooked that one too.

DW

[Stainless1]

I would still suggest they try in September.... the 130 Club is for street driven vehicles... they can drive it to SpeedWeek and race it at WoS. 
The three wheel class was retired quite a while ago... so they will be asking for it to be unretired... old records already exist.

If they think it is too fast for the 130 Club, they can always run it in the 150 Club.... but I would run the 139.9 first