@airraptor
Just because I am the only one you see posting does not mean I am alone in my opinions.
I think you might be surprised at the number of participants that agree with me on the direction this is going.
What you fail to understand is that this is not a new issue. Rather, it is a recurring problem that has to be dealt with on a semi regular basis when some folks that dont "get it" with respect to the spirit of our warbird racing event.
Take a look at the history of our races at SAMs thru the years on this forum and on the various places you can view images of our events.
Here are a few albums from some years ago, https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/myphotos
You will find that this is nothing new. Every so often, a few people in the Gold class will lose sight of the goal, and decide they want to get into a pissing contest with respect to who can build the fastest plane. Doing this typically leads them down the path of straying in an obvious fashion from the scale outline of the plane they mean to represent in an effort to go faster.
Faster than they really need to I might add. With the breakout time we use, there is NO NEED to deviate from scale outline of any plane from history that qualifies as a warbird racer, or a Reno Unlimited Racer.
If you want to take any of this personal that is your issue.
This type of racing drew my interest not because of the speeds we can make the planes go. Sure it's fun when you run right at the breakout. But thats not what captured my passion. It was the fun of watching semi accurate representations of full scale warbirds racing that really kept me in this sport.
If you want to get into a pure speed contest, there are other forms of RC racing that are capable of higher speeds that I'm sure you'd be happy with.
To suggest that I should go and find my fun elsewhere is a bit of an arrogant this to say. When in truth, I am the one participating in what I prefer.
Now this may ruffle a few feathers , but I can't leave it unsaid.
Just because the rules aren't being properly enforced does not mean that you are right and I am wrong.
What we have is a situation where the organizers are afraid of scaring off some racers with enforcement of the rules in question here.
I too would rather everyone kept participating. But, with the understanding that the planes they bring to compete with should look more correct with respect to the wing planform and the side view proflies.
As I have already stated, I'm not counting rivets or measuring anything. We all KNOW what looks right and what doesn't.
Also, I'm not talking about banning any planes currently in use. Just know that if the organizers would implement enforcement, that in the next season, you will be expected to meet the rules, or count on being penalized in some fashion for not doing so.
"The only models qualified to be entered in a SAM Warbird event must be scale* models replicating heavier than air, fixed wing, piston engine powered, man carrying, fighter or fighter-bomber aircraft that were in production (or prototype aircraft intended for production that were flight tested) after January 1, 1937, or scale models of non-military aircraft that have raced in the unlimited category of the Reno Air Races.
*scale – models that do not approximately resemble the scale outlines of their full scale counterpart are not permitted. One such example would be the Phoenix Models Strega. Pilots should contact the CD with questions regarding acceptable aircraft prior to the event."

Plainly this rule needs to be edited to not the Mk1 Strega as the new Mk2 is a much more accurate version of the basic P-51 that the Strega was built from.

I tired of typing this for now so I'll just leave you all with some images for consideration.
Sorry if the following images hurt some feelings, but I gotta be me.
Credit to Taichiro Yama****a for the scale drawings from this site. http://www.taichiunlimiteddrawings.com.

Pretty good here,
Same plane, but ....?
This too looks good,
As compared to,..?

~

Here is how a Stiletto wing should look,
And of course , The Bear,
I will continue this later, Goin to go flying right now...