Marlin,
The reason for the rules "changes" are because of JJ and I. Last Nov. the crops were off early, and the weather east looked awsume, so JJ and I each spent a grand each in fuel, hotels and beer and thought we would help the car count at this fairly new event. Besides, Andrew H had been bugging me for years to go down to that track. We had a good idea we would be the quickest, but also knew we would be racing each other all week-end,( best 2 outta 3), so no one should get there panties in a knot.
The week end went well with amazing barometer reading, and everyone was about 3 mph and 3 tenths quicker than normal. Wayne Nelson set a new record in FAST at 10.59
(He was back last week-end and was stuggling to get high 10's.) Anyways, we had a good time, car went a 11.75 and JJ 11.58 and seemed everything was cool when we started back on our 13 hour return drive.
The next week, we get gangbanged on there message board, so they decide we have to race in FAST next time against overbored, rollerized, punched and stroked cars.
They don't have to worry cause we won't be back. I don't need to drive 26 hours round trip to take that kind of abuse.
So they get some dork to come up with the rule that a car must pull 15 inches of vacuum @ 900 rpm, or automatic FAST class for you. You can take a time machine back to 1969, and you will not get a ZL-1 Camaro or a L88 Vette to pull that kinda #. Actually , it also makes LS6 cars, L72 cars illegal
Not up on my Pontiac #'s , but pretty sure a Ram Air 4 would be stuggling to get that reading as well.
I would need to go out and start my Nova, but I think the Nova would have to idle @ 1200 to get close to that number as well. You better check it before you leave Marlin. Good Luck!
Peter