For all of you that compete SCCA BS autox I have a question. My reading of the rules seems to allow that we could use the 17" wheels, using the update/backdate/option permission. I have no idea if they would fit on the GT that came with the 18" wheels, but in exploring tire and wheel combo's for competition it seems that 17" would be easier on the wallet. What do you guys(and ladies) think?

om-nc

 

you will NOT be stock-legal with 17" wheels.

 

Option package conversions are permitted. But your car would have to have the same specs as it would have come from the factory with that option installed. I.e., if you bought the base model you can't put anything on your car that came with the touring package unless you install the whole touring package.

 

we don't have 17" 'stock' wheels, it's either 18" or 16" (which won't fit the 6 speed's larger front brakes)

 

There is no update or backdate allowed in Stock -- you might want to have a word with whoever provided you with your rulebook.

Steve

 

If you're bent on getting the 17"s, you can always try BSP or STU

 

Thanks for the input. I am not bent on getting the 17" wheels, it just seems that we could change the gearing very slightly and lower the CG of the car with the 17". If it is not stock, then I am not going to do it anyway. I am still going to get another set of wheels and tires for competition anyway. Anybody competing SEDIV?
Paul

 

Paul,
I've been thinnin' about getting back into it. Maybe we should insist on an "OF" (old farts)class, huh? It's been 20 years since my last serious season. My most recent event was in my youngest son's BSP 280-Z, and that was only one time, 3-4 years ago (he beat me like a drum).
Regards,
Dave

 

You should Dave. my 18yo went out last month for his 1st time and was only 3 secs. behind me. After slalom school next spring, I need to watch out. It was my third time in 25 years and I got within a half second of the 350(who competes every weekend somewhere) on a 30 second course. When i get better tires and the new sway bar on I will see just how much of an "OF" I really am. I am having a blast and it is good to see people from 20+ years ago that are still in it.

BTW, Have you seen about our upcoming hillclimb? Go to www.crowmountainhillclimb.org There should be some video up in the next couple of days with a 8 in the video. Also some in car video as well. We were scouting for corner workers/paddock/safety/etc and had a little fun while we were at it. :D

Also, War Eagle.
Paul

 

FYI, many of the available 18" competition tires do just that. You don't have to stick to the OEM tire size - as long as you can get it on an 18x8 wheel and it's DOT approved you can run it in stock class.

 

Thanks George. I was planning going to a 255 or 265-35. Now if Kuhmo will just make the sizes I want to try. I am going to have to upgrade tires anyway as the S2000 and 350 that I am trying to catch are running Hoosiers and S03's.

I may never catch the S2000 (past National champion) but I should be able to be competitive with the 350. It is still WAY fun after a 25 year absence.
Paul

 

You won't have to worry about the S2000, they are moved to AS in the 2005 season.

 

I thought the older ones are left in and only the 04 and up move to AS
Paul

 

When approved by the BOD, it will move the 2000-2003 year S2000s to AS.

http://www.scca.org/_Filelibrary/Fil...2-fastrack.pdf

Page 15.

 

finally, I have a chance!

 

If my interpitation of the rules in accurate. You can run 17" wheels and compete in the new STU class. That would be a lot more competitive for the RX-8 than in B-stock It also allows for a few more mods than B-stock. Though, if you have a lightweight flywheel you're going to be stuck in BSP. Add a MS spoiler or MS sideskirts and you get thrown into SM.

 

Yes, you can run 17s in STUs, but it remains to be seen how competitive the RX-8 will be in both STU and BS. In STU, you are up against STIs and Evos (although you get to run more tire than they do). In BS, you are up against 350zs and 968s.

Many people consider the RX-8 the car to have in BS, now that all the fast (and not-so-fast) roadsters have been moved to AS. I've not heard the same about STU.

 

I ran my 8 in BSP this past season with much success. In my region (south jersey SCCA) there really weren't that many cars in BS or BSP. My main compeition in BSP was a 350z. I have to say that the 350z has some handling problems on tight courses that Solo II has. The person driving that car has a year more experience than I have yet he would always spin out or had major oversteer through the turns and corners. I was going to run in STU, but my lightened flywheel kept me out of that. Next season I'll be in SM since I just added the MS sideskirts to my 8. My local club would let me still compete in BSP, but there is a bit more competition in SM.

In BS, there is a guy with a Porsche 944 Tubro that blows everything out of the water, he is always a contender for best raw time and PAX times.

Now to get back on topic. You don't have to run in BS if you don't want to. You can always go into any class above BS even if your car is setup for BS. Most people do this because there is sometimes more competition in the other classes. BS this year for my region only had 1 driver compared to BSP and SM which had 4 drivers in each class. Just my 2cents worth.

 

Thanks for all of the responses. I am wanting to stay stock right now as I went down the modified path years ago (and with a much slimmer wallet at the time I might add) and I would just like to make it simple this time around.

If I wanted to go SM or BSP I would go ahead and start from the ground up and build the car the right way. I think the 8 should be VERY competitive in BS even with the S2000's. I have done better than a couple of them even though I just returned to autox. I do feel that in the right hands (i.e. not mine) the 8 could even be close to the s2k's with a lesser driver than whom I face locally. Just my .02 worth.

Again, is there anyone doing the SEDIV regionals next year?

Paul

 

When will you guys have a schedule? I go to one or two Jersey events a year.
PSTX #66 (me): http://www.autox4u.com/2004results/6122004nnjr.htm This event there were 4 of us who went down from New England Region... and cleaned up in the PAX standings. :D (4 of the top 7).

--kC

 

GeorgeH wrote:

Yes, you can run 17s in STUs, but it remains to be seen how competitive the RX-8 will be in both STU and BS. In STU, you are up against STIs and Evos (although you get to run more tire than they do).

What is the max width you can run in STU ? Where did you find this info, I've searched and can't find it.

 

There is a link off the SCCA main website. I'll post the link once I find it. Should have it for you in a little bit.

 

Here is the data I found on the qualifications for STU class. It's a quote of the Philly SCCA website.

STU will follow the STX rule set, but will raise the displacement limit for otherwise STX-legal vehicles to 3.1 liters for forced induction and to unlimited displacement for natural aspiration. To accommodate the greater power of these vehicles, restrictions on wheel width are lifted and the maximum tire width will be increased to 275 for front or rear wheel drive vehicles (but will remain at 245 for AWD vehicles). Other than these limited exceptions, the STX rule set as described in 14.11 applies. This class extends the Street Touring concept to cars including the Audi S4, BMW M3 (E36), Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Neon SRT-4, Ford Mustang, Mazda RX-8, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. 8, Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac GTO, Subaru WRX STi, Volvo S60 R, and Toyota Supra. Excluded vehicles include the E46 M3 and the E39 M5.

 

STU In a nutshell:

STX rules with the following exceptions...
AWD 245 tires on any rim.
RWD/FWD 275 on any rim.

3.1L max forced induction from the factory (like SRT-4).. not a Turbo Civic.
Any size normally aspirated engine (factory)

--kC

 

echo? hehe.. j/k