Wish you had a single car that was equally competitive in multiple motorsport disciplines? Then SCCA’s all-new Club Spec could be your answer.
The concept behind Club Spec is to offer a single class across multiple SCCA programs in which the same car can be equally competitive without furthe…
I really like the concept. I'm eager to see this develop.
So in 1997 I bought a Showroom Stock Miata that I competed with locally.
I road raced, autocrossed and rallycrossed it. I was season points champ in SSC, and runner up in E-stock (I think that was the class) and runner up in stock 2wd.
On top of that the car was my daily driver; I'm glad we are coming back to this concept.
Hopefully it won't turn into a wallet waving contest and we'll have cars that can be had for under 20K classed in this group.
So SSC stays. Add:
Miata
Corvette
???
M2/Supra? Porsche? Civic?
Here is my thoughts for this:
Lowering springs, sway bars and uprated dampers/shocks. (no coil-over kits for the lower classes).
Camber plates.
Muffler - open as long it doesn't exceed decibel level X
Tires - stock size.
Wheels - open as long as they are same dimensions and weigh the same as the originals.
My reasoning:
Suspension; Coil-over kits are $1000-$2500 (or more) than simple lowering springs / kits.
Camber Plates; help tire life
Tires; the single biggest expense and doing everything possible to keep the costs down is vital. Hence the stock sizes.
Muffler; you want something that sounds like a race car but also won't make you deaf or annoy people.
Wheels; people will want to personalize there cars but given the cost of ultra lightweight wheels.
Historically SCCA has lacked understanding as to what the average local competitor has to spend. This concept sounds great but would be very easy to have spiral our of control cost wise. I love the concept so I'm excited to see what they do with it.
If I can run the NA Miata I am already working on I am interested.
If I have to go buy something else. Not so much.
I think SSC works well because the cars involved were all built to the same spec. You don’t need to hunt for a unicorn–no need to find that non-sunroof 16v Jetta coupe.
What other fun, sporty, fairly reliable car offers a similar pool today? NC Miata? Eighth-gen Civic Si? A later Mustang? E9x BMW?
Very eager to hear what the people want.
Tom1200 said:So in 1997 I bought a Showroom Stock Miata that I competed with locally.
I road raced, autocrossed and rallycrossed it. I was season points champ in SSC, and runner up in E-stock (I think that was the class) and runner up in stock 2wd.
On top of that the car was my daily driver; I'm glad we are coming back to this concept.
Hopefully it won't turn into a wallet waving contest and we'll have cars that can be had for under 20K classed in this group.
We did something similar with an SSC/D Stock Neon. We autocrossed it, we road raced it, we hill climbed it, we drove it on the street.
If RallyCross existed back then here, we probably would have done that with the Neon, too.
Whatever we pick, could we include a seat swap allowance or pick a car with more interior room? I don't fit in Miatas, BRZs, Civics, or Corvettes with stock seats. Technically, I fit in a Miata but I would have to trailer it to events in case it rained on the way home.
The ~360hp early M2 would be a fun pick. Prices are depressed because you can get them with 80 more hp. Room for kids in the back. Carbon roof means extra headroom. DCT or manual.
i assume this will include all of the timed events and likely not door to door racing because i can't imagine it being safe driving a car on the road /w a full cage without a helmet.
so what will that entail autocross, time trials, touring? Will it include rally cross, drag racing? If it includes rally, autocross, and time trials it would be great to see an SCCA one-lap of america style event where they do track day/time trials autocross and rally between the events
in terms of makes what does everybody think? I would love to see 3 car types and would prefer new or newish cars that will have a long service life
FWD - hyundai elantra N comes to mind as being affordable, quick, and usable every day.
roadster - ND2 Miata - Mazda is a big SCCA sponsor and the miata is a track/autocross capable car right out of the box.
I like the concept, and I'd love to compete in a multi-discipline series, but I have a feeling the chassis chosen will be more expensive (new) than what I want to spend. NC miata would be the sweet spot for me, but they need $$ hardtops for rallyx.
How about AE101 corollas? Now we're talkin!
Lof8 - Andy said:I like the concept, and I'd love to compete in a multi-discipline series, but I have a feeling the chassis chosen will be more expensive (new) than what I want to spend. NC miata would be the sweet spot for me, but they need $$ hardtops for rallyx.
How about AE101 corollas? Now we're talkin!
i would think SCCA would look to partner with a manufacturer and try to offer a class where the vehicle is still available new. This likely means the NC miata and the geo prism you posted above is likely out.
In reply to Tom1200 :
I'd be cool with that, except wheels. Stocks are generally heavy (maybe this is just a German car thing though?). I'd say no more than +2 on diameter and +1 on width from stock. There's plenty of great lightweight flow formed wheels for under $800 a set. Tires, 200tw and worse, no more than... 5%? taller or shorter than stock.
I'm partially saying this because I have a set of Advanti Storms with RT660s on them that have been floating between various 4x100 cars that I've used for autocross, HPDE, and time trial, of course.
If they truly want it to be this:
a vehicle that can be built once, then driven competitively in different Sports Car Club of America® (SCCA) competition types without further modification – and then driven on the street to and from events, or even to work.
Then it probably needs to be 200TW tires.
As for what cars to include? Maybe they could take a hint from NASA and use power:weight ratio. It would be pretty lame to only have one eligible chassis. But if I had to pick one that best aligns with this vision, probably the 86/BRZ/FRS.
ClearWaterMS said:i would think SCCA would look to partner with a manufacturer and try to offer a class where the vehicle is still available new. This likely means the NC miata and the geo prism you posted above is likely out.
In the spirit of using a decent all-arounder, if it's restricted to one chassis, I'd like to see it be a hot hatch. I don't think it needs to be in current production as much as still having OEM support. I'd like to see it be something like Mk5-7 GTI, Focus ST, Mazdaspeed3.
I guess the concept is okay, but it seems like it would be way easier to just do what lots of people have been asking for for years and allow a few track reliability mods in street classes. The issue I see is that a lot of people like *their car* and want to be able to do more things with it. Not having to buy and prep a totally different car that they might not enjoy driving or owning as much. Another point someone made is that, at least when there's other low barrier to entry options, spec classes are good at attracting people who are already involved but not so much at attracting new participants. I'm not sure anyone has ever shown up to their first autocross ever in an SSC car.
Also, no autocross/track geared spec setup is going to be rallycross friendly unless there's zero suspension mods, so no need to consider that in car choice.
There needs to be an aristocrat sub-class.
In reply to Qaaaaa :
Wheel weight is relative; if everyone has the same boat anchor it doesn't matter that the wheel is heavy. Why spend $800 if you don't have to. Note I totally get using a wheel you already have.............that was the reason I said stock wheels as they come with the car.
Crown Victoria P71 limited to Showroom Stock rules (but to include the little cheats that all the SS guys do). Takes a real man (or woman) to drive those fast! Inexpensive, safe, and fun...
Qaaaaa said:ClearWaterMS said:i would think SCCA would look to partner with a manufacturer and try to offer a class where the vehicle is still available new. This likely means the NC miata and the geo prism you posted above is likely out.
In the spirit of using a decent all-arounder, if it's restricted to one chassis, I'd like to see it be a hot hatch. I don't think it needs to be in current production as much as still having OEM support. I'd like to see it be something like Mk5-7 GTI, Focus ST, Mazdaspeed3.
the only one that I think the manufacturer would be interested in would be VW.. Ford doesn't sell cars except the mustang. Mazda abandoned the speed name plate and the current generation 3 doesn't have enough of a following to have readily available aftermarket to support it.
In reply to ClearWaterMS :
I have no doubt the NC miata or Corolla will not be the chosen chassis. Just wishful thinking.
Also, and hear me out on this .
Can the Challenge become a week long festival that's a championship for this? Autocross and drags on Saturday, trackday/HPDE/TT at The Firm on Monday and rallycross at The Firm on Tuesday and road rally on Wednesday.
Honda Fit, anyone? Cheap, plentiful, handles well, available with a stick, has a roof (rallyx requirement, no rollbar required)...
In reply to David S. Wallens :
My thoughts gravitate to the budget end of the spectrum but I think a kind of Showroom Stock A-D type of format would work well.
I'm thinking NB - NC Miata, Honda Fit, Honda Civic gen 7-9 and also add cars like Mustangs and Camaros. Note I do not know BMWs very well but I'm sure you could find some worthy candidates in the sub 25K range (used).
I think the biggest part of the equation will be popular cars that people already have. The key will be allowing limited mods to keep the cars fun and streetable. Hence my comments about sways bars, lowering springs and dampers.
As for me personally I'd go with either an NC Miata or a Honda Fit.
RadBarchetta said:Honda Fit, anyone? Cheap, plentiful, handles well, available with a stick, has a roof (rallyx requirement, no rollbar required)...
Need to go more stupid.....think Mitsubishi Mirage G4.
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