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I heard a lot of concern about the minimum weight being to low with the car. Many (including myself) wanted the minimum weight raised a few pounds. But after talking with a few people, and hearing a couple of different ideas I think that a better alternative to making the car heavier is to allow the competitors to make certain components in the car lighter, to bring those of us that are heavier down to 1300 pounds.

My argument to keep the car at 1300 lbs, as opposed to raising the minimum weight up, is cost and safety.

If we raise the minimum weight, e will be adding stress and wear to many components on the car such as himes, gearbox, tires, brakes. Over the life of the car this can save a lot of operating expense.

As from a Safety stand point, it is a lot easier to stop a 1300 lbs car than a 1350 lbs car. And if you don't get it stopped there is less inertia, or momentum once you do make contact with whatever you make contact with.

Also heavier cars go slower, and nobody wants to go slower...right?

The combined weight of me and the car with an empty fuel load is 1317 lbs. I know that there are some competitors that are at an even greater dis-advantage than that.

Some of the ideas I have about making the cars lighter would be to offer a Carbon Fiber Body (side pods and engine cover) and undertray option. These parts would obviously maintain the same shape and dimensions, but would offer a lighter alternative to the current body and undertray.

This would only cost those of us that don't want to go on a diet (which would cost us just as much anyway...).

I am curious what others think of this idea. I don't see any obvious advantage over the lightening of the body panels and undertray, but am open to thoughts.

Moses
www.mosessmith.com