Miata upgrades & SCCA Solo classes

[Nudnik]

Alright fellas, I have an SCCA question for you. I have a 1990 that has had some modifying done (listed below) & currently I'm running SCCA Solo events (along with some other groups) in the STS class. I'm curious what all can I do while still qualifying for STS. I'm also curious what class I would be in if I did a few things I want to do (see below). Also, any suggestions on the preferred modifications below? If I decided to do all the mods below what class would I be in & then what else could I do while still qualifying for that class (i.e. gut the interior, go w/wider wheels, etc.) I've read thru the SCCA Solo car classes & can't make heads nor tails of what I can & can't do.

Current mods:

• Bilstein with (cheap ebay) coilover sleeves (working great by the way).
• Konig lightspeed wheels (7.5" wide)
• Header (I think Raceland)
• Magnaflo (high-flow) cat

Preferred mods:

• Race seat (to get me lower)
• 4 or 5 point harness (keep me from leaning so much in the slalom)
• Roll bar (so I can do a track day next year)
• Remove soft top altogether
• Aftermarket steering wheel
• Better sounding & performing exhaust
• Better brakes (i.e. steel lines, bigger rotors, etc.)

[OZMDD]

You cannot remove the softop, change the steering wheel or eliminate the cat completely in STS. You are at the max wheel width for STS. Exhaust is pretty much open so long as it exits behind the driver and has a cat somewhere near the oem location. Brakes are pretty much open, with some limitations. I believe you can switch to braided lines, but you need to confirm the cutoff year for that. Harness is only legal in conjunction with scca-legal roll bar. Race seat is fine, but in STS it must weigh min 25 lbs, bracket and seat combined.

Most of the things you suggest would put you in CSP, though I'm not certain if the top would bump you all the way to SM

[sammm]

I think the only thing above not STS legal is removing the soft top and installing an aftermarket steering wheel (stupid I know).

PS - I don't think you can run bigger rotors, but you can install SS lines.

[OZMDD]

They expanded the allowances for BBK's and such starting in 2013, I believe. IIRC, the gist was that you could put pretty much any caliper/rotor you wanted so long as it didn't weigh less than the oem stuff. Its been a while, so you'll want to verify the specifics. I read all the proposals and stuff for ST* back then, but they are a blur now.

[POS Racing]

The SCCA also has a pdf file on the rule book on the SCCA website. Its a lot of stuff but there is some good and relevant information in it also.

Link - http://www.scca.com/solo/content.cfm?cid=44517

[modernbeat]

You guys offering advice that you -think- is right need to knock it off.

I'll suggest to the OP that you first read the rules (RTFM!), as awful as they are to read, and then come back with specific questions.

The SCCA Solo rules can be found here: http://www.scca.com/solo/content.cfm?cid=44517

[OZMDD]

You guys offering advice that you -think- is right need to knock it off.

The SCCA Solo rules can be found here: http://www.scca.com/solo/content.cfm?cid=44517

You have clearly forgotten which forum this is. Opinions=facts at dfwmiata!

I hope the op has the good sense to take what we tell him as general knowledge, but make his actual choices based on his own research.

[POS Racing]

I hope the op has the good sense to take what we tell him as general knowledge, but make his actual choices based on his own research.

When did we instate that change in the rules??

[Steve E]

Brakes are pretty open but you have to have a functioning ebrake which puts you waaay into diminishing returns in the aftermarket. For solo, ttack and street combo you do better with model year mixing and different pad combos. And the right ECU tune.
And I do know what I am speaking to on STS.

steve e..

[jrj512]

Unless you're going forced induction, you really don't need much more braking than you already have. Really, you just need better balance. I switched to NA 1.8 rear brakes after driving Steve E's car. That, along with ceramic pads in the front and grippier pads in the rear, have made my brakes much more balanced.

STS cars don't brake too much.

I wish I could replace my steering wheel.

[baker99miata]

Im paying zero attention to the SCCA rules. I will be going against the super fast cars, it is going to suck. These rules will put me in the worst class ever (Vetts and GTR). You guys are going to tell me "I told you so" I have never been to an autocross event, but I will be ready soon.

forced induction
aftermarket steering wheel
no AC or PS
BBK

[OZMDD]

Autox is best approached as a "have fun and dontvworry about the class you end up in" unless you are really in it for the competition aspect. Also, there are plenty of clubs in DFW that run very loose classing where lots of different cars run together. The op is asking about a specific SCCA class that his car is well-suited for, so it makes sense to mod carefully. For those of us who really enjoy pursuing the sport in tight competition classing, it keeps the playing field level and potentially affordable. Most go fast track junkies don't get it.

[cone-cerned]

You cannot remove the softop, change the steering wheel or eliminate the cat completely in STS. You are at the max wheel width for STS. Exhaust is pretty much open so long as it exits behind the driver and has a cat somewhere near the oem location. Brakes are pretty much open, with some limitations. I believe you can switch to braided lines, but you need to confirm the cutoff year for that. Harness is only legal in conjunction with scca-legal roll bar. Race seat is fine, but in STS it must weigh min 25 lbs, bracket and seat combined.

Most of the things you suggest would put you in CSP, though I'm not certain if the top would bump you all the way to SM

From the 2014 Solo Rule book.

Mazda Miata Hardtop/Soft Top
Per Section 15.1, the Miata covered by the listing in CSP may update/
backdate to the hardtop/soft top specifications of the Club Sport
package, which permit the car to compete with the hardtop on, and/
or with the soft top on, or with both removed.

[baker99miata]

I'm diffidently ready to have some fun, i picked this car to do just that. I have no idea how I will feel after my first event.

[sammm]

I'm diffidently ready to have some fun, i picked this car to do just that. I have no idea how I will feel after my first event.

Baker...sign-up for the NTAXS event this coming Saturday. Run what you brung...car classing is based on engine size only.

http://www.dfwmiata.com/threads/2650...14-TMS-Bus-Lot

[Nudnik]

You guys offering advice that you -think- is right need to knock it off.

I'll suggest to the OP that you first read the rules (RTFM!), as awful as they are to read, and then come back with specific questions.

The SCCA Solo rules can be found here: http://www.scca.com/solo/content.cfm?cid=44517

Just so you know, I have "RTFM!", numerous times & the problem is with the way it is written, I'm just a little vague as to what it's actually saying. The last thing I want to do is get it wrong so I figured I would ask the experts.

From the 2014 Solo Rule book.

Mazda Miata Hardtop/Soft Top
Per Section 15.1, the Miata covered by the listing in CSP may update/
backdate to the hardtop/soft top specifications of the Club Sport
package, which permit the car to compete with the hardtop on, and/
or with the soft top on, or with both removed.

I guess this means if I remove both tops then I'd be in CSP? (I feel 90% confident that I read that correctly)

Autox is best approached as a "have fun and dontvworry about the class you end up in" unless you are really in it for the competition aspect. Also, there are plenty of clubs in DFW that run very loose classing where lots of different cars run together. The op is asking about a specific SCCA class that his car is well-suited for, so it makes sense to mod carefully. For those of us who really enjoy pursuing the sport in tight competition classing, it keeps the playing field level and potentially affordable. Most go fast track junkies don't get it.

Because next year will be my 1st full season in AutoX, I want to try my hand at close competition racing to see how I compare to other drivers. Believe me when I tell you that I'm only doing this to have fun, but I am a competitive guy by nature. That being said, after next season, I plan on modding my car to fit my style & I'll autoX in whatever class I fall into, competition be damned.

Unless you're going forced induction, you really don't need much more braking than you already have. Really, you just need better balance. I switched to NA 1.8 rear brakes after driving Steve E's car. That, along with ceramic pads in the front and grippier pads in the rear, have made my brakes much more balanced.

STS cars don't brake too much.

I wish I could replace my steering wheel.

The main reason I ask about brakes is because I've heard that most tracks (specifically Eagles Canyon) are really hard on the brake systems for our little cars so I want to make sure my car is prepared to handle the abuse.

I also REALLY wish I could replace my steering wheel.

Thanks for the input guys. I'll see y'all this weekend for NTAXS.

BTW Oz, thanks for the trunk lid (& the car for that matter) it looks great on my new favorite car.

[stinkydragon]

This is a pretty good thread from m.net that clearly goes over what you can and can't do in each SCCA class: http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=539789

[baker99miata]

Baker...sign-up for the NTAXS event this coming Saturday. Run what you brung...car classing is based on engine size only.

http://www.dfwmiata.com/threads/2650...14-TMS-Bus-Lot

I would love to run this Saturday, but its very difficult to take off on Saturdays. I'm planning on making the Equipe Rapide #8 event on the 12th.

[POS Racing]

Nudnik another thing you may want to do is look at results over the past few seasons. No fun to get a car built to a class no one runs.

If it was me I'd stick to STS that is one of the largest and most active local classes going for vintage Miatas.

[OZMDD]

Note that the reference to CSP and Club Sport is an NB package. I would want to confirm that update/backdate rules extend from NB to NA, since they do not for NC. There was no Club Sport or other topless package for NA's.