I know a couple of guys were looking at trialling Smarts. The theory being good power to weight ratio. As they have 15 inch wheels ground clerance would be easily raised with high profile tyres. However, I have heard today that the MCC are probably going to ban them on safety grounds as they may tip over backwards to easily!
Michael
Whilst I cannot speak for the MCC specifically on this subject, the status of the Smart as far as the MSA is concerned is as follows. There is a Rule, E something or other, which states that any competing vehicle in any branch of the sport must have a minimum wheelbase of 72 inches (or rather the metric equivalent there of). The Smart, and a number of other modern microcars, does not satisfy this. The rule was, however, intended as a way of keeping "go-karts" out of sprints and hillclimbs. It was not intended to alienate genuine production cars. The MSA cannot condone organisers ignoring this rule, 'cos it has insurance implications. However, if someone wishes to use a production car with a shorter wheelbase in any event, the organisers of the event, (NOT the owner), can apply to the MSA to allow the vehicle to compete, and the MSA will issue a waiver. It is unlikely that any application will be turned down, and part of the logic behind doing it this way round, ever though it makes more work for the MSA is that it allows the MSA to see just how many cars there are out there before they change a rule which may not need fixing. I believe that such a vehicle is entered in this weekend's Exe Valley Trial (not a Smart). Any Questions...................?
ReplyDeleteThats interesting. It will be interesting to see how the "microcar" gets on this w/e. In a way its a shame about the Smart as to my knowledge its the only rear engined car in production today. I guess classes 4 and 6 will slowly die away as the existing cars and drivers fade away as there are fewer and fewer rear engined cars available to bring into the sport. Another interesting poit. As its only got two seats is it in class 5? Michael
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite sure why "its a shame", the MSA is actually bending its own rules to allow these cars in. We should be cheering for that alone. Class 5? Hmmmm, if its only got 2 seats, and its rear engined then its Class 6! Class 5 is specifically front engined, and Class 4 is specifically saloons. To return to your original point about Smarts being banned from events organised by our elder club, how could they possibly ban a car called an MCC SMART!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIs a Smart car rear engined? I thought the engine was either above or in front of the rear wheels. Didn't it have a problem with falling over which was why Merc chucked a load of electonics at it and disowned it. The electronics on the suspension should an interesting exercise in raising the ride height. Mark
ReplyDeleteI think it was the A class that fell over Mark. btw I saw the sports car version of the Smart in London today.I actually thought it was, well, quite Smart! Michael
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right Michael. Why did Merc drop it? As for the roadster/cabrio. It does look good. I go past the Chiswick dealer in the mornings. A look in the window with one complete with a price tag of 짙15400.00 had me walking on and put it in a different light! The dealer is less than 1/2 mile from the main Honda dealer with the 200bhp Civic Type R cars and ads for under 짙16000.00. Where do the prices come from?
ReplyDeleteInteresting point from Mark. If the engine is in front of the rear wheels which class does it go into? Not sure if there are any other rear engine production cars Michael but quite a few mid/rear-engined eg MGF, Lotus Elise/Vauxhall 220 etc. I guess it may be a while until we see one of these on the Exeter though.... The original MR2 is probably the most obvious one to use as it's small, now getting pretty old and I guess is probably better engineered than the Fiat X19's that have been tried...I wonder what other 'modern' cars we might see in trials some time soon - it must be worth someone trying a Mazda MX5/Eunos roadster. Incidentally was the 'micro' car out in the West Country a little Suzuki roadster??
ReplyDeleteDoes this raise an issue of what car is rear engined? I always thought that 'rear engined' meant that this hot noisy lump was behind me instead of in front of me in the car, (or even alongside dependent on passenger!) irrespective of whether it's behind or in front of the rear axle. Surely that addresses the quest for more Cl 6 competitors, via sports cars like X 1/9, MR2 and MGF's? Re. falling over, yes early A Classes fell over sideways, but Smarts are alittle prone to falling onto their backsides in slippery conditions: with a short wheelbase and minimum wheel travel it would be quite ride up Blue Hills!! Still, let's see what brave souls come up with, no point in standing still. Adrian
ReplyDeleteMike & Mark, What's this about whether Smarts are rear engined? Do we need a definition: I always thought that a in a rear engined car I would have the hot, noisy lump behind me when I sat in the car (or alongside dependent upon passenger!), irrespective of whether it lay behind the rear axle centre line. Therefore, there is surely not the dearth of Cl 6 contenders available, how about early X 1/9,s MR2's and MGF's? Re: falling over, yes it was the launch model A Class which managed to fall on its side when whizzing around virtual Elks, while the Smart has occasionally exhibited a tendency to fall onto its backside in slippery conditions. With a short wheelbase and minimal suspension travel, it would certainly be quite a ride up Blue Hills, but hey, no point in standing still so let's see what some brave souls come up with. Adrian
ReplyDeletePosted on behalf of Ken Green - Hi Mike, I am not now on the MCC committee - having a year out so these are my thoughts not the MCC. I think the smart car problem is not the MCC but the MSA see E 12.19.7 Is not the Smart car to short to comply ?? It would be a shame to get one at scruitineering and have to send it home Ken ps - has anyone measured the wheelbase of a smart car ??
ReplyDeleteAccording to their web site, the city coupe wheelbase is 1812 mm (71.3") and the new roadster is 2360 mm (92.9").
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