[Chuck Beach]

I think there are problems on both sides of the fence. I run stock eliminator and maybe put 40 to 50 runs on my car a year (6 races). At the end of each year I do some maintenance, freshen the tranny, change engine bearings .... etc. At this rate I could run the same engine for maybe 5 to 6 years before a complete engine rebuild. Looking at the internal parts at that time (connecting rods, pistons, camshaft, etc) do you think that they would need replaced after say 300 runs? Probably not. It would probably only take rings, bearings and freshened heads. If it's not broke don't fix it. Some manufacturers have a 3 year limitation on their parts. I have to ask ... do you buy a new computer every 3 years, do you buy a new mower every 3 years, do you buy a new heater and air conditioner every 3 years .... probably not. I would also have to ask, is this all the longer your parts will last? So why replace perfectly good parts with new ones just for the sake of contingency? Financially this would not make sence. Most of us would only replace these types of parts when necessary. So I can see where someone who doesn't race much could easily have 5 to 10 year old parts. I have a Turbo Action shifter that I have used since 1985. And how about the guy building a new car, sometimes that can take several years, his parts are already outdated before he goes down the track ...

I have suggested to some manufacturers to put SN#s on their parts and only pay maybe 5 or 6 times on that part or up to what that part costs new.

As far as the manufacturer is concerned, if they put the money up then they should pay regardless of the life of the part. I am Ok with proving to them that I use their product. My race car is a 1968 and I still get contigency for it ... lol