IMHO, fantastic idea. I have wanted to see such a change for a long long
time. Current autocross class setup is irrelevant to the where the
technology, the money, the energy, and the youth, of the sports compact
scene is going. Too many outdated classes raced by the same group of folks
who want their aging class structure to simply exist forever regardless of
the auto demographic changes going on in the rest of the world. I don't
think it is too much to suggest that autocross can decide to be inclusive or
decide to linger in increasing obscurity.
I have taken the supercharger off my own Miata because racing it in MOD
against purpose built tube framed race cars was about as much fun as eating
sand. I am delaying install of a new turbo because of my preference to stay
in CSP. As a vendor I know all too well that there are many who simply
decide to stay away from autocross because the current class structure does
not welcome their turbo Miata, supercharged Civic, integra powered civic, or
turbo Neon, etc. Too often I have convinced a young enthusiast to give
autocross a try only to hear of their disappointment later when they
discover that their modified street car was classified in mod where they
faced trailered custom race cars of more power and half the weight.
Brian Goodwin
Good-Win Racing Supply
http://www.good-win-racing.com
-----Original Message-----
From: dg50@daimlerchrysler.com <dg50@daimlerchrysler.com>
To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>; werace4u@aol.com
<werace4u@aol.com>
Date: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 10:11 AM
Subject: PROPOSAL: Super Street Touring Class
>[This is long, and I'm looking for feedback. But PLEASE, if you respond to
the
>list, DO NOT quote this thing in it's entirety! Do the list a favour, and
snip
>out the little bits you intend to discuss. Thanks. - DG ]
>
>1. There exists a popular and growing demographic of motorsports
participants:
>the "Import Drag" or "Sport Compact Car" population.
>
>2. Unlike past automotive "fad" groups (eg. "Sport Trucks" or "Mini
Trucks")
>the vehicles used by the "SCC" population are well suited to Solo2/ProSolo
>activities.
>
>3. Furthermore, many of the members of this population are growing
>disenchanted with drag racing; they are looking for activities with their
cars
>that provide more seat time and a greater driver challenge.
>
>4. A large number, perhaps the majority, of these cars are prepared far
in
>excess of the current Street Prepared rules, but (in some ways) less than
the
>extent of the SCCA Road-Racing-based Prepared rules. When they arrive at a
Solo
>event, they are classed as Modified cars - a class intended for
purpose-built
>race cars.
>
>5. In regions where Modified classes are poorly attended, these cars are
able
>to carve themselves a niche. However, as soon as a "proper" Modified car
appears
>in their class, attendence plummets. They don't bother trying to attend
>Divisional or National events, on the assumption that "real" Modified cars
will
>be in attendence. Even regular attendence at Regional events is uncommon,
as the
>spectre of a "real" Modified car showing up is a real concern. The
potential
>participants are fully aware that their street-driven, DOT-tire cars will
never
>be able to compete against purpose-built race cars.
>
>6. The current Street Touring classes, while a step in the right
direction,
>still suffer from the "limited modification" philosophy typical of all
other
>current SCCA classes. An "SCC" owner, used to drag racing's open-ended rule
>structure, finds the SCCA's closed rules structure difficult (if not
impossible)
>to live with. Many of the improvements already made to the car (done for
drag
>racing, or because it was in a magazine, or because it was "cool" - or
cheap)
>are beyond the Street Touring preparation allowances. Furthermore, the cars
>eligible for the current Street Touring classes exclude a number of very
popular
>cars.
>
>7. It is therefore proposed that a new class "Super Street Touring" be
>created, using the rules in Appendix A. This is to be a relatively
open-ended,
>"bolt on street performance" class that would appeal to both the "SCC"
driver
>demographic and the aftermarket that supplies them. The name "Super Street
>Touring" was not chosen by accident - "Super Street Magazine" is one of the
Big
>3 magazines ("Turbo", and "Sport Compact Car" being the other two) that
cover
>this demographic. A savvy SCCA Marketing Director (hint, hint) should be
able to
>get regular magazine coverage for this class, and attract a large number of
>participants and sponsors (especially on the ProSolo front - this
demographic
>started out as drag racers, and they understand the tree) around this
class.
>
>8. One of the characteristics of this demographic is a tendancy to
turbocharge
>anything that moves (when you start out with small displacement motors, a
>turbocharger is a good way to make power) A side effect of this class is
that it
>will tend to attract existing turbocharged cars that fit the class
demographic
>away from the SP classes and into this one. This provides a potential
solution
>to some of the turbo car problems that have surfaced in the last two
years -
>some turbo cars will get a new home where they can be happy, and the SP
classes
>don't need to worry about them any more.
>
>9. The relatively open-ended nature of the rules in this class means that
it
>could become a fairly expensive class to participate in. This is not seen
as a
>problem to this demographic (ever price out a 9 second Honda?) What is more
>important is that the modifications to these cars are such that they can be
made
>in the space of about a weekend (per mod) without the need for large
amounts of
>fabrication. A turbocharged Civic with an Integra motor is fairly common,
but
>tube frame cars are very rare - this is the major difference between "Super
>Street Touring" and the existing Prepared/Modified classes. Creativity, and
>obtaining the maximum performance within the rules, is to be encouraged.
>
>10. This class could replace the existing "Street Touring Unlimited"
class, or
>it could augment it.
>
>Appendix A
>
>Vehicle Eligibility - any front engine, four (or more) seat sedan (meaning
2 or
>4 doors and a hard top) with a displacement not exceeding 2.5l
>turbocharged/supercharged or 4.0l naturally aspirated.*
>*these displacements are not graven in stone - comments welcome
>
>Wheels/Tires - Any DOT tire, as per Street Prepared. Any wheel, as per
Street
>Prepared
>
>Suspension - Any suspension, provided it uses the Stock mounting points
>
>Engine: - any engine of the same make as the chassis (or one that was
factory
>available, in the case of manufacturer joint ventures) provided that:
>
> a) The block must be Stock (.030 overbore allowed), mount to the
chassis
>using the Stock mounting points, and the crank centerline must be within
0.5" of
>the factory motor's*
> *the intent here is to allow common swaps, like the VTEC motor into
Civics,
>but to disallow race car trickery like moving the engine down and rear to
>improve CG Better wording?
>
> b) Stock (factory provided) cylinder heads must be used [I'm
considering
>banning ported heads. Comments? -DG]
>
> c) Superchargers and turbochargers are open, subject to the
displacement
>limit
>
> d) Nitrous oxide equipment may be fitted, but the bottle must be
removed
>from the car before competition.
>
> e) Fuel is restricted to no more than 94 pump octane, as indicated by
the
>[insert technical name of that little yellow sticker] on the pump. Octane
>booster and other fuel additives are strictly forbidden.
>
> f) All other engine components are open.
>
>Driveline - Any transmission, differential(s) and driveline, provided that
the
>number and location of driven wheels remains Stock (FWD remains FWD, RWD
remains
>RWD, AWD remains AWD) Any brakes are allowed.
>
>Chassis - The unibody structure, consisting of the engine cradle, firewall,
>front fenders, doors, roof, floorpan, rear quarters, and trunk/hatch area
are to
>remain stock (although holes may be drilled to allow items to be mounted to
the
>chassis.) This specifically allows for aftermarket hoods, front and rear
facias,
>body kits, wings, air dams, etc. Door handles may be shaved. All window
glass
>must be stock. Bolt-on chassis braces/subframe connectors are allowed. Roll
>bars/cages are allowed as per Stock rules, but not tube frame conversions.
Car
>must retain Stock dashboard, and have operational headlights, turn signals,
>reverse lights, park brake, heater, horn, windshield wiper/washer (single
wiper
>conversions allowed), interior door panels, interiour plastic garnish,
carpet,
>and functional side windows, where fitted from the factory. Vehicle must
retain
>at least 2 full sized seats with associated safety belts (race seats
allowed)
>Sound insulation and rear seats may be removed. Gas tanks may be replaced
with
>fuel cells as per Street Prepared (cool cans allowed) All other chassis
mods are
>open.*
> *have I overlooked anything nasty?
>
> There, that should do it.
>
>...and before someone accuses me of it, yes, this is an "I" class, in that
"I"
>would want to compete in it. However, I don't think this is set up so that
"I"
>am the only guy that could win in it. DSMs should be competitive here,
yes - but
>so should a Type R, or a Prelude, or maybe even a supercharged Grand Prix.
Or
>how about a Neon Turbo? (they exist...)
>
>One way of enforcing class parity I've been kicking around is to make this
a
>minimum weight class, with penalties for AWD, and breaks for sub-2.5l
non-turbo.
>Maybe.
>
>Feedback and comments welcome. Again, please don't resend the whole thing
to the
>list if you reply.
>
>DG
>
>
>
|