To Paul and ALL,
When Fred first posted this event and rules last year, it got my attention. Here was an event based on the most popular, available, reasonably priced (even now) and plentiful motor ever produced. The beauty of the rules are the simplicity of them. They allow a potential participant to exercise his imagination for the ultimate goal of achieving the highest speed using the Fox stunt .35. The 'box' is well defined. Stunt .35 case. Suction feed. Standard Fox friendly fuel. This leaves plenty of room for tinkering. As an example, I have been fooling within the rules for almost a year. Quite a few test flights and lots of fuel burned on the bench. Not all successful but the point is that it has occupied my attention and made me think about what might work. My repurposed B- team racer has had flights right around 95 mph so far. Not bad but what to do to go faster? Better airframe? Different engine mods? Props? As a speed event should be...... there are lots of options.
I think it would be a mistake to tinker with the rules instead of the, intended, tinkering with the airplanes. I would bet that there are plenty of fellows out there who would like to fly a speed event but don't want to go shopping for exotic engines and props etc. Or, want to fly a plane at 'real speed' times. Ie. 150+. At this point, I have no interest in flying at those speeds even though, 30+ years ago, my Formula 40 efforts were successful at the regional and national level. I have many great memories of flying with and, head to head, against many of the legendary speed guys. Especially my mentor and pal George Brown Jr and family.
One last thought. There are plenty of speed related events for Stock Fox .35's. Foxberg and Fox race. This event is different, as it should be. By watering it down it would be bland at best, hard to enforce and just not nearly as interesting as it is now. Go with current rules! There is No downside. TS