make a setting for normalizing the offset and check that getBoundingClientRect function exists before trying to call it

jquery.mousewheel.js

@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@
         },
 
         settings: {
-            adjustOldDeltas: true
+            adjustOldDeltas: true, // see shouldAdjustOldDeltas() below
+            normalizeOffset: true  // calls getBoundingClientRect for each event
         }
     };
 
@@ -168,9 +169,11 @@
         deltaY = Math[ deltaY >= 1 ? 'floor' : 'ceil' ](deltaY / lowestDelta);
 
         // Normalise offsetX and offsetY properties
+        if ( special.settings.normalizeOffset && this.getBoundingClientRect ) {
             var boundingRect = this.getBoundingClientRect();
             offsetX = event.clientX - boundingRect.left;
             offsetY = event.clientY - boundingRect.top;
+        }
 
         // Add information to the event object
         event.deltaX = deltaX;