Post Car Classing Help Questions Here!

[Mako Koiwai]

Many of us "embarrass" ourselves even after years of practice ... but no one cares. WE'RE having a LOT of Fun either way. Come out as soon as you can. Unfortunately I believe you're a bit late for registering for this weekends TWO races @ El Toro ... you'll just have to pay a late fee. This weekend is a Divisional ... so not the usual Sat Practice and Sunday Race.

A lot of our members also race in the San Diego events ... which doubles the available local events. Below are the SD Solo Links:

http://www.sdsolo.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2

http://www.sdr-scca.com/solo2/schedule/

[Daniel Vu]

Many of us "embarrass" ourselves even after years of practice ... but no one cares. WE'RE having a LOT of Fun either way. Come out as soon as you can. Unfortunately I believe you're a bit late for registering for this weekends TWO races @ El Toro ... you'll just have to pay a late fee. This weekend is a Divisional ... so not the usual Sat Practice and Sunday Race.

A lot of our members also race in the San Diego events ... which doubles the available local events. Below are the SD Solo Links:

http://www.sdsolo.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2

http://www.sdr-scca.com/solo2/schedule/

thanks! i will look into this

[David Crandon]

Ok, I think this is the right place to post this even though I can't post it as a new question.

I've been to about 6 events around Fontana, El Toro and Qualcomm. I want to say everybody I've met has been real nice. Thanks to all.

OK, so what class would my car be in:

About a year ago I bought a 2003 S2000. Before I did any autocross, I got the usual bolt-ons. Air intake, cat back exhaust, wheels and tires. Because of this, I believe I'm in the STR class. Also, I'm in this just for fun, and I've had a lot of it. I'm definatly not looking to beat the Schillings or Endicot!

Currently I'm using good street tires, Dunlop Star Specs, in an 18" size.

I just got an offer to buy a set of new Yok A028's for only a $100 apiece. I know this is not the "preferred" autocross tire, but they'd be a lot stickier than the Dunlops I'm sure. I'd probably put them on some other 18 in wheels. Since this is a street legal, but R-compound tire, would it put me in a different class?

Thanks all!

[Robert Puertas]

Correct, A048's would put you into BSP, where you'd get to chase the Berry's Evo.

Stay in STR with the Dunlops!

[Mako Koiwai]

STR is a street tire class, ie. wear factor of 140 or higher

[Ron Tsumura]

STR is a street tire class, ie. wear factor of 140 or higher

I think you are also limited to a 255 max tire width.

[David Crandon]

Thanks guys. Sounds like good advice. Maybe I'll use the A048's for the road racing instead. I plan on attending Buttonwillow's class in late August.

[Robert Puertas]

David, be careful with the A048s as they will heat cycle out long before they wear out.
You will have used tires with lots of tread but no grip.

[David Crandon]

Thanks Robert. I think that's what happened to my front tires I had on the S2000. They were Goodyears best, Eagle F1 Asymetric, but after a few autocrosses and laps at Adams Kart track in Riverside, they lost a lot of grip, even though lots of tread left. Even me, with no experiece, could feel it.

Car and Driver mag just did a test on track tires, including the R888, R1, Pilot Sport Cup and the A028's. The did track tests, not autocross. The felt the A028's were a good beginner tire and lasted a long time, but they didn't to any heat cycling. And the definatley weren't a grippy as the others. Maybe, for the money at $100 each, they'd be a good tire to bring to my first track day's at Buttonwillow or Chuckwilla. I guess at the track, you don't heat cycle as much as autocross.

The only hesitancy I have for the Star Specs at the track is can they take the abuse? I've read about street tires, even good one's, chunking and stuff at the track. Or, is that really a thing of the past with today''s good street tires?

Sorry for the non-autocross comments and questions....

[Mako Koiwai]

Star Spec chunking issues from Leonard:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3972&p=60824&hilit=dunlop#p60824

The current Grassroots Motorsports rag has a tire test in it ... Hankook R-S3, Falken 615K, Z1 Star Spec, and Kumho XS.

Auto Cross and Track Day use/testing. On the track the Star Spec was reported to be very consistent, heating up took it out of it's best grip zone but no further drop off in performance ... no mention of chunking, but this was with a light weight Civic. Leonard has had chunking with his fairly light NB Miata however. Usually the Star Spec is considered an excellent tire for heavier cars, ie. STI's and EVO's

[Jose Martinez]

Can someone please verify I fit into Street Touring?

08 MazdaSpeed3
OE everything except wheels and tires:

OE Tires: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 215/45R18
OE Wheels: 18" x 7" ET52.5

Current Tires: Falken Ziex ZE912 215/45ZR18
Current Wheels: 18" x 8" ET35

Rolled rear fenders to clear rear tires (ok per section 14.2E).

No other mods.

[Robert Puertas]

Jose, sounds like you're ok to go have fun in STU!

[Jose Martinez]

Thanks Robert,

Is STU the same as Street Touring or Street Touring Ultra as listed on motorsportreg.com?

[Leonard Cachola]

Thanks Robert,

Is STU the same as Street Touring or Street Touring Ultra as listed on motorsportreg.com?

STU=Street Touring Ultra

[Norman Kung]

Hi, I'm pretty sure I'm STS, but I just want to make sure...

Coilovers
Falken Azenis 225/45/17
Short Shifter/Shift Knob
Catback Exhaust
CF hood
Intake
Rear Sway Bar w/ Adjustable Endlinks
Strut Bar

If I do put down the wrong class, they can always change it at the event, right?

[Robert Puertas]

The cf hood is not legal for ST.

The strut brace is legal so long as it's not triangulated.

The rest is fine so long as you didn't cut anything off or remove anything to install them.

[Norman Kung]

So what class am I in, if not STS? I don't have a regular hood =/

If I'm doing TO, does it matter?

[Max Hayter]

So what class am I in, if not STS? I don't have a regular hood =/

If I'm doing TO, does it matter?

What kind of car do you have?

[Norman Kung]

Scion tC

[Max Hayter]

SMF maybe. The CF hood kills you.

[Norman Kung]

If I'm running as a Novice, don't I get compared to other cars in the Novice group at the end of the day? So it doesn't really matter what my actual class is?

I'm slightly confused

What's PAX?

[Max Hayter]

You could run CST, which is a local "anything goes" class as long as you have street tires. It's very popular.

[Max Hayter]

If I'm running as a Novice, don't I get compared to other cars in the Novice group at the end of the day? So it doesn't really matter what my actual class is?

I'm slightly confused

No, your class is still important, so as to index all the novices correctly.

[Norman Kung]

So if I put down Class - "California Street Tire" and PAX - "Novice" what happens? I'm not too sure how the points/awards/trophies/whatever system works...

[Max Hayter]

So if I put down Class - "California Street Tire" and PAX - "Novice" what happens? I'm not too sure how the points/awards/trophies/whatever system works...

Your time will be multiplied by the CST PAX. Other novices will have their times multiplied by their class PAX.