I've watched the rules changes for several years now, gradual changes in the car rules from 1991, more drastic bike rule changes from my beginning of racing on motorcycles in 2000. I have seen the rules change, for better or worse? perhaps. If we went back to 2000 bike rules, there could be no difference between altered and modified classes, as building to the rules edge of modified sorta made the bike look like an altered. right now 2006, the altered and modified do have differences, but back then, all I needed to do to change class, was to raise the seat height. I do understand the bikers' opposition, as I also was caught by the rule changes that restricted both altered and modified in 2002 and 03 and 04 and 05....however, in fairness, although I might have written the changes with more notice, and included reasons and input from the racers, 2006 rules seem better, although as we have seen on this board, there still could be changes made..... as I don't have a rule book handy, are cars restricted to only one class per year? or are bikes singled out with this rule of not being allowed to change class.....and why? seems to me the fee helps the organizations' bottom line.....it has always been my feeling that if I were to drop a wallet on the Salt, it would be returned intact, as the Salt racers are basically honest. we seem to be a self regulated group, for the most part, needing only guidelines, unlike nascar, which is soon to begin racing generic cars to offset the cheating that goes on there....my belief is that, we race only for personal glory, and bragging rights, and should not be treated as though we would cheat at every corner....safety, yes, those rules are needed, however, as has been pointed out here, there seems a fine line between some of the bike rules, common sense, and the desire to maintain a dynasty, as these are at opposite ends of the spirit of some rules and classes.....
