We'll be having a valve cover racing competition at the $2012 Challenge. Here are the rules; if you have any other questions you can email me at TomS@GrassrootsMotorsports.com
This event will be held in the main banquet hall on Friday night. Practice is from door opening until 8:15 pm. At 8:30 pm, sanctioned racing will begin. We'll run elimination rounds until a winner is found.
PRIZES AWARDED: The top-finishing valve covers will earn GRM swag for their owners. This could be anything from a bumper sticker to Margie's desk. We'll try to find interesting things.
$2012 Challenge Valve Cover Racing Rules
Valve Cover Regulations:
Entire valve cover racer must be less than 25 inches in length.
Valve cover track width may not be more than 4 inches wider than base valve cover width at the widest point.
Only valve covers from production vehicles or motorcycles may be used.
Valve covers may not be excessively modified, except that one end may be cut off in order to shorten the valve cover if it was originally too long. This will be judged by a GRM staff member.
This is a gravity race, cars may possess no easily retrievable potential energy at the start of the run (with the exception of their height from the ground at the start, which will be provided by the launch ramp).
Excess energy generated during official runs at the $2012 Challenge may be stored onboard the cars to be used during later runs. For example, you could store energy during a race against a slow car, then use it to beat a fast car in a later heat.
Wheels cannot exceed 6 inches in diameter.
Finished total weight cannot exceed 8 pounds.
Cars must have at least 3 wheels.
Cars cannot have more than 10 wheels. This includes wheels that don’t touch the ground.
Cars must contain no more than $50 of materials. This will be verified by a cursory examination of your car by a GRM staff member before the race, as well as a short explanation by the contestant.
Track lanes will be 4(ish) feet wide. Make sure your racer tracks straight.
Ramp will be placed at one end in the center of the boundaries.
Car launch must be made with the front wheels on the ramp launch line and must not be pushed in any way.
If the valve cover goes out of bounds it will be judged at the point that it crosses the established boundary.
The winner is the first racer to cross the finish line.
The track distance will be established by a GRM staff member on the day of the event.
The GRM staff retain the right to change any and all rules without notice or compensation, and assume no liability or responsibility for any part of this unofficial event.
lets say I wanted to construct a racer, but am not going to be able to personally attend. would it be permissible for me to send my racer with another attendee and have them race my vehicle in my stead?
Sure, as long as somebody is there to run it. This event isn't overly formal.
You're being biased against those of us who think a 426 Hemi valve cover would be the class dominator.
Fit inside a 5 Gal bucket and weigh less than 8 pounds? Sounds like all you want to see entered is import car valve covers.
I think you're biased against those of us who would build a 426 Hemi valve cover racer and dominate.
We're not biased, we just can't have any giant valve covers going through the hotel's drywall.
My import cover doesn't fit the length requirement... Time to get a saw out! 
Valve covers may not be excessively modified, but I'll add in an exception: You can cut one end of them off to make them short enough to compete.
Also, keep in mind you could put it in the bucket on an angle to gain a few extra inches.
Well now...
That leaves out the Jag V12 cover... Maybe I could cut it in half and race two...
Anyone know of any valve cover that is less than 14" long (the depth of a 5 gal bucket)? Can't think of any good reason for the limit being so small. It's weight not size that would cause damage hitting things. Do you really want to eliminate 90% of the valve covers?
The first year should be a very gentlemans competizione event . I would hate to see manufacture cunstructor penalties for violations of build standards and or doping violations stripping teams of awards .
Karl La Follette wrote:
The first year should be a very gentlemans competizione event .
I guess that kills my multi plane blow through diffuser.
1992 maxima cover is about 13 1/2 inches..
Vw Corrado cover is almost 16 inches..
Hmmm. This might be tougher than it sounds...
BTW, aircooled vdub covers are around 10 inches...
Define "excessively modified"
Okay, fine. Size limit has changed. New size limit: 25 inches long
Better. Thanks. Everything else is good.
Tom Suddard wrote:
Okay, fine. Size limit has changed. New size limit: 25 inches long
That's what she sai..... Nevermind.
Prototype 4 2012 MGB valve cover , tracker trucks , Powell Peralta wheels ,powell peralta red bonez bearings
Tony Alva Link piks
You guys thought that the Nissan Delta Wing was put in mothballs after LeMans. Not so fast. The Nissan Delta Wing lives as a valve cover racer! See you in Gainesville.
Are there additional awards for fit & finish? Theme? Bizarreness? Enquiring Minds want to know (or is that nap?)!!!
Anyone home besides us crickets...chirp, chirp? 
Additional awards may be created on the spot. Karl will provide any additional prizes.
