I just got a call from Whiteline. They are looking at 3 months before we will anything in our hands. They currently have no inventory in their U.S. warehouse nor in Australia.
Keep an eye on our website and facebook page for further developments.
below is my opinion of how the rule should be worded. SMAC-NASA, feel free to copy and/or adjust.
Spec Miata offset bushing rule as I feel it should be written:
Only the front upper control arm bushings may be replaced with offset bushings. All other bushings must be oem Mazda bushings. Use of the Mazda performance bushings is not allowed.
Front upper control arm bushings may be purchased through any supplier or made by the competitor. The following brands and part numbers have found to be legal:
Mazdaspeed part #
Whiteline motor sports part #
Joe Blows bushing company, part #
The bushings must be the identical at all 4 pivot points. No mixing of material or design is permitted.
The bushing shall consist of an inner metal sleeve, with dimensions as shown in drawing A
Inside diameter xx.xxx inches +/- 0.005"
Outside diameter yy.yy inches +/- 0.100"
length zz.zz inches +/- 0.100"
The bushing material must be a form of plastic/polyurethane/delrin/etc. No metal may be used. No heim joint or spherical ball may be used. Dimensions shown in drawing B
The offset bushing may only be used to create more negative camber (i.e. top of tire farther inboard) by changing the location of the inner pivot point in a horizontal axis only. The offset may not be used to change the location of the pivot point on the verticle axis. Nor may it change the angle of the pivot points when viewed from the top or side.
A pin or screw must be installed through the outer bushing shell (which is part of the control arm) in such a manner as to make it impossible for the bushing to rotate within the outer shell.
Let me reiterate my opinion. This rule is wrong. If everybody has the same issues, we have fair competition. This was brought about because a few people decided that they needed an illegal advantage. And they do not want to give up their gains. Then the SCCA rulesmakers made a hasty decision without completely thinking the issue through.
Also, how many more wheel bearings will we be going through with more camber? How about more forces going to the front subframe, causing more tearing of the suspension pickups? Will the additional camber be putting too much stress on the ball joints?
Be carefull what you wish for.
Just my opinion
Dave