Originally posted by Knestis@Jan 23 2006, 09:24 PM
Rules Creep 
- the process whereby incremental changes in rules over time result in a substantially changed nature of a racing class or category. These changes may be explicit (codified in changes to regulation text), may be the result of evolving interpretations of existing rules (applied by entrants and adopted to the degree that they become tacitly approved), or may arise from unintended consequences of either rule text changes or new interpretations. The net result of these marginal changes, when allowed to run their course, has in the past resulted in categories that become de facto new categories, with attendant increases in performance, cost, and complexity. Rules creep is furthered by a variety of forces including but not limited to individual entrants' desire to gain a relative competitive advantage, the introduction of new or more affordable technologies, individual or collective beliefs about what "race cars should look like" or "what would be cool," and/or racers' general desire that their cars be faster than they currently are - for whatever reason. (See also, Increased Budget, Limited Production, and Lexan Windows.)
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