So I printoff the new rules (yay USACi for free rules) and get to reading them - hoping that someone shook some sense into them.

nope.

The wiring protection requirements in the Advanced rules are so overkill it's stunning. Hard conduit ONLY under the hood? please...
Not sure how I feel popping a hole in my car every 6" for every single audio related wire either. [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]

Now I can understand, maybe, the points for an upgraded battery. It's an easy replacement and we are adding draw to the factory system. To lose (or really, never have a shot at) points because I don't want to replace the alternator on my factory warrantied car though is disappointing. Their suggested power requirement charts made me scratch my head too - at least they are just suggestions..

The rest of the rules have some, well, interesting points but these ones stand out as "WTF" material.

What are other peoples thoughts on these points?

I don't get the whole alternator rule about having to upgrade your alternator by the amount according to their chart OVER AND ABOVE your factory rating. So some guy with a puny 60 amp alternator and a guy with a stout factory alternator of 140 amps have to upsize them by the SAME amount if they have the same amount of power? That's just dumb and shortsighted.

And the rigid conduit thing, perhaps some of the USAC fans out there can shed some light on this and maybe even provide some pics on how one is to put in rigid plastic conduit or bend up some metal EMT and terminate it in a pleasing fashion under the hood.

It seems that a lot of these rules were thought up by some tweaky, -retentive DYIer who has maybe only ever worked on his own car.

I think that the alternator rule is a stanby of being for dealers, what dealer doesn't want to sell you a $500 alternator? [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

As for the rigid conduit, that is whack.

I don't get the "popping a hole in my car every 6" for every single audio related wire" thing though. Why would you have to do that? If it is because you need to fasten them, just use the "pyramid" stick on tie strap thingies.

IASCA !!!!

MECA posts its rules on line

MECA does not have a lot of install baggage on their score sheet either. I don’t care if the power wire is wrapped in Techflex, conduit, EMI sheeting or magic pixie dust it will not improve the power transfer nor will it improve the SQ. Safety is the only priority, everything else is window dressing.

EDIT: I AM NOT slamming IASCA or USACi here meerly singing the virtues of an alternative

[ March 31, 2005, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: JohnVroom ]

So advanced class is overkill. That's why they call it advanced. Is it to hard for old IASCA guys?

Tim is the biggest keyboard commando alive. You do nothing for IASCA. The local guy that is doing a small show or 2 doesn't care if it's IASCA or USAC or any of these rules you mentioned. Every sport has rules people don't agree with. If you don't like the rules, get involved to change them. But you won't because that would be too much work.

holy crap where'd that come from???? :confused:

Wow.............all that for just saying one word :D

Bryce. First of all - you had better keep things straight. You seem to be mixing Tim's responses and my responses up. I was the one looking for opinions on the rules. Tim was the one voicing his preference for IASCA.

In either case, we were both competing and judging IASCA before you were even out of grade school. I used to get the same number of cars out to a Summer Thunder event in Lloydminster that JBs would get to PowerRama. Furthermore, Tim single-handedly carried IASCA in the Vancouver area for at least three seasons so you should be listening instead of talking right now. I realize that you have that two years of competition experience but don't even begin to think you know..

Before I made this post I was messaging with a member of this board and I told them some smartass would pipe up about it being the 'Advanced class' and you have to step if you want to play. Congratulations on being the ass.
Advanced class or not, the rules I mentioned are unusual and I was, and still am, looking at opinions on what people think about them and, more importantly, how they complied.


Dereck - the Advanced rules state that wires must be secured at regular intervals of 6" or less to maximize points. When I used to judge IASCA I did not consider stick on mounts as permanent and would not expect a USACi judge to either.