Autocross class questions

[mattg43]

I need some confirmation, thoughts, and advice on this front.

Right now I have a 99. No LSD. coilovers, sway bars/end links, shock tower brace. 15x7 wheels, 205/50 tires.

Factory seats, wheel, no roll bar.

From what I can figure out, that looks like it would put me in the Street Touring class?

But I have (and want to swap) to a quick release steering wheel, probably some aftermarket seats, and install a roll bar, probably a Hard Dog Hard core. I have also been considering some stiffening, likely frame rails.

I know those items will probably put me into a much faster class, is that correct? Looks like the steering wheel alone will kick me out of Street Touring. If so, do I have any options. Car has no tilt, non telescoping wheel now, and its a bit bigger than I might like.

I dont plan on being really competitive (read as "slow"), and I will probably not be the only driver of the vehicle, so mods need to allow for that as well, but I know autocross will probably be more realistic than track time, but I want a good balance for both.

Thanks!

[Robert]

They may change the steering wheel rule to let you do it in ST. Now you would be in STR and you can do all of your changes except the frame rails. Frame rails bump you all the way to Super Street Mod I believe, but I have not read the SP rules in a long time they could be legal in CSP.

[mattg43]

So assuming I want to stay in ST (Do I?), I am solid with all the other things, including the LSD? If so, I can live with out the frame rails for a while.

[Robert]

Yes, in STR you can do an aftermarket or stock LSD, and maybe the steering wheel.

[wrx74]

Two schools of thought:
1. Run it like it is. Five events left this season. Two clubs follow SCCA classing, two do not. Use these to see how YOU and the car drive. Then decide your path for both.
2. Do whatever you want to your Miata and run it in whatever class you end up in.
Next spring there will be more schools to attend and until then you can read up on the class rules.
First purchase should be the right tires.
YMMV ��

[Robert]

I agree with wrx74.

Also the “RIGHT” tire may change between now and when we start back up next year. Tires will make more of a difference in your times than anything else.

[mattg43]

It has Dunlop Direzza Star spec's that are only a few months old, and no track or autocross time on them, so I will keep those at least through the first few events for sure. I dont plan on it being a daily driver, but it will definitely see some miles in the spring and fall, so I am planning on daily wheels and track wheels/tires

Right now the plan is just to learn the car, have some fun, and become a better driver. I just know that I dont want to discourage the wife (who I hope will be driving it as well), and put us into a class that we have no chance of ever competing in as we get better. So if there are mods that move me from a "fun, run what you have" class into a "this is where all the serious competitors hang out on their way to nationals" class, I would rather skip those and keep it fun to suite current needs.

What are these "schools" you are referring to wrx74? I mean, I understand what a school is, is there auto-x schools locally? I have found instruction for track time out at Cresson, but not much else.

Thanks!

[wrx74]

Several clubs usually have schools in the spring. Stay tuned.
We may get some from http://evoschool.com
And http://Tracknightinamerica.com may be back.

[cone-cerned]

The SCCA Solo school will be on March 12, 2016 at Lone Star Park. The other school dates have not be announced yet.

[Davidss]

Evo school will be back next year. The date will not be booked until the local clubs announce their schedules for 2016.

[mattg43]

Awesome, thanks David.

[OZMDD]

Skip the frame rails. They do not do as much as for the car as some people think, and the 99 has several chassis reinforcements already. A torsen would be a good upgrade that is inexpensive, or go with aftermarket like OS Giken for even more benefit (and $$).

Roll bar is fine, steering wheel is most-likely fine (and is generally accepted at local events anyway, and is easy to reverse later), and seats are fine. Don't add harnesses until AFTER you have a roll bar. Not legal for SCCA, and potentially deadly in a rollover.

Star Specs are a very good tire, use them until they are well-worn. There are faster tires, but not by much, and you won't be able to tell the difference until you have some seat time. I would suggest you consider saving for new tires and wheels together, since you will want to go to an 8" or 9" wide wheel to maximize your car's potential in STR. Once you've worn out your current tires, you can keep the 15x7 for street/daily tires, or just sell them and run the bigger wheels all the time. All of the fast ST tires are great street tires as well if its not a year-round all weather DD car.

The 99 chassis is proven to be a capable car in STR, though not the front runner. Still, its a fantastic "fun car" and capable on the track and autox in STR trim. Enjoy it and find as much seat time as possible.

[mattg43]

Is the LSD and wheels width/tire width the only things pushing up to STR from STS? I dont mind holding out on the Torsen LSD until I do some other upgrades.

Essentially, I dont want to do 1 thing that pushes me up a class where I am not able to do multiple things - So if the LSD and wide wheels push me to STR, where forced induction is also allowed, I might wait on the LSD and wheels until I go forced induction as well. Or am I worrying too much about nothing?

Thanks for the heads up on the rails, and I wouldnt do harnesses with out the seats and roll bar. But does SCCA only allow the standard 3 point belts that come equipped, not harnesses at all?

[OZMDD]

99+ are not eligible for STS, regardless of diff and wheel size. STR is the only ST* class it can run in. I believe all cars are now limited to a single ST class.

Forced-induction is not allowed in ST on any car that didn't come from the factory that way, and I don't think there are currently any FI cars in STR, but I haven't looked at the list since I left STR.

Lap belts are legal, along with 3-point in a convertible that doesn't have a roll bar.

Honestly, you are overthinking the classing issues. Its a good idea to check rules before doing a mod, but the driving skill comes first. A decent driver can win in a horribly underprepped car, and an unskilled driver will get trounced in a National Championship winning built car.

[mattg43]

OK, with STR I really have no practical limits for tires on the car, and I can drop the LSD in without issues. Thanks for the "slap" on the class thing, I needed it.

Just a quick clarification on the harnesses - With no roll bar, keep the 3 point - check.

With roll bar, I can run a 4 or 5 point, and keep the factory ones in place for street driving?

[wrx74]

http://www.scca.com/pages/solo-cars-and-rules

[mattg43]

Thanks for the link, I have been going over those for a couple weeks. The Street Touring section does not address seat belts that I can find, and the general rules state as long as I have a roll bar the harness is OK, but OZMDD's metion above "Not legal in SCCA" made me wonder if the harnesses were out period in this class, or if he just meant they were illegal with out the bar.

Sorry for the dumb questions, do appreciate all the help!

[jrj512]

I have an issue with my STS car where the rollbar and aftermarket seat work in conjunction to keep my OEM seat belt from retracting, so I added a racing lap belt in addition to the OEM belt, but I just do not use the OEM belt. I would also go with a shoulder harness, but my helmet does not clear the roll bar because I need sliders on my seat for my wife to drive the car.

[mattg43]

Great info, thanks! I do have to keep this available for the wife as well, so that is definitely a consideration. Will have to figure out the height and roll bars for sure.

What seat are you using?

[jrj512]

What seat are you using?

Kirkey drag racing seat.