Reply To: Rotax Engines

[George Durdin]

The Rotax engine passport should not be the concern as it is just a paper document that can be lost or altered and they don’t necessarily track the service work on a particular engine. I have yet to see indepth information regarding the service work on any passport that has passed through our shop.
The seal should not be the focus of concern unless it has been mistakenly or fraudulently been applied to a Rotax engine that has not been designated for competition in the United States. Rotax has designated specific engine serial numbers to various competing RMC countries around the world to protect the interests of the sponsors and investors in the International Rotax Challenge. SSC Racing has proprietory rights to the use of Rotax engines in Challenge competition within the continental United States to protect the integrity of the series.
What Tim George hasn’t mentioned is that he has brought in Rotax engines from accross the border or over the oceans that are legal for American TaG racing because the sanctioning bodies are not observing the sanctity of the SSC’ Rotax seals but are illegal in the American Rotax Challenge because they are foreign engines not designated for use in the American Challenge by their engine serial number.
I would tend to think that the value of these engines are less because they can only be used in TaG competition in the United States and can not be legally sealed for RMC competition. American Rotax racers have more than one venue in which to race which has to be of greater value.
The Rotax engine serial number should be the number one concern if you want the full benefits of being an American Rotax racer.