What class am I?

[Wes]

I am a novice, been in only 1 Solo2 event this past December, but I plan on competing in every event this year. When I registered, I was placed in STS. It's my understanding that this is for modified cars, which is kewl and all, but I was wondering if I could do something to get into a slightly LESS extreme class.
My mods that matter are:

17 5Zigen FNO1R-C
Injen Intake
Mazdaspeed exhaust
Eibach springs


What can I do, if anything, so qualify for a different class. I tried reading the class breakdown the best I could but it really makes no sense to me.
I know this kinda doesn't matter since I am in the Novice mark, but Im just curious.

 

[xelderx]

The Protege5 can be very competitive in STS, but you have to be right at the limit of the rules to be competitive with the much lighter Civics. You have a few choices if you want to really compete. The thing that I learned first was that show cars make terrible racecars.


Your best bet is to run a "Street Tire" class if your region has it. In my region there is hardly anyone who ever runs in it, but we do offer it. It's pretty much a catch all class for anyone that shows up on regular compound street tires.

I wouldn't advise going back to stock class since you've already made some changes to the car and it would be a waste to remove everything you've done and still have to buy R-compound tires for your stock rims. If you want to move to STS then thats cool, but you aren't really going to be competitive with your current setup.

 

[dmitrik4]

you're not going to be competitive anyway as a new driver. the only "less modified" class is Stock, where your springs, wheels, and intake would be illegal.

my advice would be to keep the car as it is and run in STS. get lots of help (people to ride with you and/or drive your car as you ride along, or ride along with others); that will greatly quicken your learning curve. you'll find that most autoXers are extremely friendly and more than happy to help you improve.

autoX is 90% driver, 10% car anyway. almost any protege can be competitive in STS regionally as long as it's driven well. concentrate on that (your driving) for now, and the rest will follow.

good luck and have fun!

 

[AKYellow]

Hey wes how'd ya like the racing?? I am thinkin of doin the same but not as much competition up in these parts. letus know how you do!!

good luck!!

 

[Wes]

Hey wes how'd ya like the racing?? I am thinkin of doin the same but not as much competition up in these parts. letus know how you do!!

good luck!!

Well, the gentlemen that posted above were correct. I placed 6th overall in the Novice class of 17 racers... that was back in December. I didn't make it to this month's event.

I wouldn't consider my car "show" considering I have modified it in the image of any European Touring car package. However, it does seem to me that given the rules set under SCCA that my car is extremely out gunned in the STS class. So I don't know what to do, I think it is a bit unfair that due to a few minor modifications, I have to run against modified Integra Type-R's and such.
The races are great though Casey, lots of fun and adrenalin. The people are class acts too..

 

[Wes]

BTW, last time I got ride alongs in...

Porsche 914
92 RX-7
03 Sooby STi
03 EVO
Corvette Z06

And I got promised a ride in a dude's Lotus Elise next time I see him. sweeet

 

[rando]

The most important part of Autox is the driver; do not spend any money on the car; put the money on the driver. That said, send the first year learning. You will then learn what you need to do on the car and what class will fit you the best. This can not be said too may times.

Wes, you missed a good one. Dan had his supercharged Miata there. A crazy fast car, the results are not posted yet but I think he bet the formula.

 

[Wes]

aw man, I was already kicking myself for missing it... then you gotta lay the SC Miata on me! haha

How is the Verizon spot? was it a good 1st race turn out?

 

[rando]

It was a SM2 Miata. It was a great trun out and a great place to run.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

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I know you know how friendly the people are, so take advantage of them.<o></o>

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Here is a site that has a state wide schedule and some good links.<o></o>


http://www,texassolo2.org

 

[Wes]

Kewl beans... I will definately be at the next one! (wrc)

 

[dmitrik4]

Well, the gentlemen that posted above were correct. I placed 6th overall in the Novice class of 17 racers... that was back in December. I didn't make it to this month's event.

I wouldn't consider my car "show" considering I have modified it in the image of any European Touring car package. However, it does seem to me that given the rules set under SCCA that my car is extremely out gunned in the STS class. So I don't know what to do, I think it is a bit unfair that due to a few minor modifications, I have to run against modified Integra Type-R's and such.
The races are great though Casey, lots of fun and adrenalin. The people are class acts too..

most cars are extremely outgunned in their class.* don't sweat it. unless you're willing to build to the limit of the rules, you're going to be leaving time out there.

certain mods are allowed in certain classes; some of your mods aren't allowed in Stock, so to ST you go. just be glad you don't have a carbon fiber hood, or you'd be in Street Mod.

your region has a novice class? cool.

glad you had fun- keep it up, and you'll find yourself at the top of the novice class in no time. if you were 6th at your 2nd event, that's not bad.

*btw, modded ITRs are in STX, not STS.

 

[Wes]

I would have to know what an ITR is before I could put it into an STX. The class they labled me with was STS, it's right here on the sheet, was that incorrect? Should I be in STX?

 

[Katya4me]

No, you should be in STS w/ your mods. Your Kartboy, intake, springs and wheels toss you into STS. I have a friend who has only a B&M in her car and she has to run STS w/ it. STX is the same, but allows for more mods and a wider selection of cars, it is tougher too. MSPs go to STX instead of STS when they mod their cars. A friend of mine went to STX when he put 8 inch wide FD rims on his Mazda6. ITR is an Integra Type R.

 

[Slider]

I don't see how anyone answered your question so I will.

To go back to a stock class you will need to take the intake off, you can only do minimal mods to your car and still stay in the stock class. I found that out when I got bumped up to street prepared with only a CAI on my Eclipse. I was not happy to be going against guys with thousands of dollars of mods but that is how the SCCA does it.

You can of course make some really wise mod choices and not be bumped up, like tires (to a certain level), brakes and suspension work.

I decided I wasn't going to worry about what class I was in and/or the cars I compete against and how I placed, I just do it to have fun.

 

[smithers_0990]

I started out 2 years ago in D Stock and was very competitive (top 5 every time).

Last year I moved up to STS (which is full of little civics) and am running in the middle of the pack.

Just keep working at it and you'll get better.

 

[Katya4me]

I don't see how anyone answered your question so I will.

You can of course make some really wise mod choices and not be bumped up, like tires (to a certain level), brakes and suspension work.

I decided I wasn't going to worry about what class I was in and/or the cars I compete against and how I placed, I just do it to have fun.

I did answer his question.

No, you should be in STS w/ your mods. Your Kartboy, intake, springs and wheels toss you into STS.

You have to run stock wheel size to stay in stock class. You can't put in a CAI or SRI, no short shifters allowed, and you can swap struts, but not springs. You can also upgrade the rear swaybar size. You can't do stainless steel brake lines and you can't do bigger brakes and stay stock.

My bf is running ES in his '90 Miata right now and he is doing a strut upgrade and is getting R-comps later this spring. He has 2 extra sets of stock Miata wheels because it is hard to find wheels in the stock width. He can't even use '95 Miata wheels and stay in ES since the width is different.

 

[dmitrik4]

in Stock you can only change the FRONT swaybar. the rear must be untouched. don't ask for the logic behind that decision.

FWIW, i also pointed out that the shifter, intake, springs and wheels were a Stock class no-no. and he didn't actually ask which of his mods bumped him up...

 

[Slider]

I did answer his question.



You have to run stock wheel size to stay in stock class. You can't put in a CAI or SRI, no short shifters allowed, and you can swap struts, but not springs. You can also upgrade the rear swaybar size. You can't do stainless steel brake lines and you can't do bigger brakes and stay stock.

My bf is running ES in his '90 Miata right now and he is doing a strut upgrade and is getting R-comps later this spring. He has 2 extra sets of stock Miata wheels because it is hard to find wheels in the stock width. He can't even use '95 Miata wheels and stay in ES since the width is different.

but I was wondering if I could do something to get into a slightly LESS extreme class.
.

You didn't tell him what he needed to do to go "back in class", you just told him that he should be in STS.

Whatever.

 

[Katya4me]

OK, true. But he would need to take off all of his mods except for the exhaust to go back to stock class. Catback is allowed to be swapped in stock. In my region, stock is very competitive, but I know some people who have done well in the modified classes, but they are also very good drivers.

Whatever he decides to do, he should have fun, enjoy himself and try to improve his skills.

 

[sjdmp5]

You all have me scared about what class I would be in. I'm thinking of coming down to the U.S. to try a couple of events and as you can see by my sig I have and AEM intake, Tein springs, Whiteline rear sway bar and I'm running Yoko R-compounds. If I read the rules right, I think I'd be in FSP as is and in STS on street tires, is this correct?