Expert: Dan Liddy - 1/19/2008

Question
How can I determine what modifications are "legal" for a specific vintage race car?

Answer
Easy:  By contacting the sanctioning orgnaization and asking for their competition rules.

 One word of caution though. In  SCCA for instance, the rules may be very different than they are in HSR or other groups. Some of them are very strict as to compliance, even down to which size tire, and which type of wheel. Safety equipment is one exception. If you intend on running in more than one association, you need to consider ALL the various rules and build accordingly.  

My primary activity is in SCCA, and in Central Floida Region. Here, the rules are very open. Many of them aren't enforced due to low car turnouts. However, in HSR, they have huge turnouts and also pay little attention to the smaller issues. As long as you don't have a V-8 in your Saab Sonnet you'll be alright.

I've driven a few vintage races , the most recent in SCCA, at Sebring, Florida in a Porsche 356. It was fun , that little car is a rocket (when it's not broken !) but even at age 68 I'm much too aggressive a driver for the vintage groups.

I hope the above is a help, feel free to write with more if you have it !

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida