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Driven5
Driven5 PowerDork
8/2/24 11:36 a.m.

While I've run plenty of non-SCCA autox events, most still relied heavily or entirely on the SCCA rule book. Even if not for classing, for event/vehicle safety and organization. If I had to guess, that probably makes it easier for small clubs to get event insurance.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner MegaDork
8/2/24 11:47 a.m.

In reply to Driven5 :

When I was organizing, the insurance company never asked about rule books or classing. They were mostly interested in the course design, hazards, crowd control and other infrastructure questions.

We did use the NASA classing for a while until I got a call from NASA telling me to become a chapter ("you can use our insurance, it's only considerably more expensive than what you already have!") or knock it off. So we stopped using their classing.

The last autox I ran a couple of years ago did use the SCCA course design guidelines, that's about it.

kb58
kb58 UltraDork
8/2/24 12:32 p.m.
Keith Tanner said:

...We did use the NASA classing for a while until I got a call from NASA telling me to become a chapter ("you can use our insurance, it's only considerably more expensive than what you already have!") or knock it off. So we stopped using their classing...

I don't understand - how can they they tell you to stop since it's just a set of made-up rules. It's like the state of Nevada telling the state of Colorado to stop using "their" traffic laws. What am I missing?

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner MegaDork
8/2/24 12:33 p.m.

In reply to kb58 :

They have lawyers, we didn't. I think we actually pointed people to the NASA classing documents. Ironically, this happened right around the same time I got my NASA rally license.

S'ok, wasn't a big loss. We just ran classless for a while and everyone had fun. Now the org runs under their own simplified classing that is basically just power/weight and treadwear rating. We never had enough registrants to require serious granularity.

karatewolf
karatewolf New Reader
8/2/24 1:51 p.m.

Honda Ridgeline already beat Ford to the punch. I have a 2021 Ridgeline that does all this and more with 280HP and 5000lb towing. Handles great with Goodwin racing sway bar. Can be lowered if you like with Goodwin springs. RTL-E model has all the bells. 

STM317
STM317 PowerDork
8/2/24 4:38 p.m.
karatewolf said:

Honda Ridgeline already beat Ford to the punch. I have a 2021 Ridgeline that does all this and more with 280HP and 5000lb towing. Handles great with Goodwin racing sway bar. Can be lowered if you like with Goodwin springs. RTL-E model has all the bells. 

And before that any number of small trucks that can be modified with aftermarket parts to be competitive. But comparing a modified car to a factory car isn't really apples to apples. The last factory handling inspired truck that I can think of was the Toyota X Runner

Driven5
Driven5 PowerDork
8/2/24 5:29 p.m.

In reply to karatewolf :

Your Ridgeline will actively help you drift it?

earlybroncoguy1
earlybroncoguy1 Reader
8/2/24 7:12 p.m.

This post has received too many downvotes to be displayed.


In reply to earlybroncoguy1 :

Okay grandpa.   Let's get you to bed.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner MegaDork
8/2/24 8:01 p.m.

In reply to earlybroncoguy1 :

So if it's RWD body on frame that makes something a truck, I have a 1966 Cadillac truck.

If it's 4WD body on frame plus an open bed that makes it a truck, then I used to have a Toyota pickup that wasn't a truck because it had a topper on it.

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) MegaDork
8/2/24 8:08 p.m.

In reply to earlybroncoguy1 :

Escapes are also trucks.

te72
te72 HalfDork
8/3/24 3:30 a.m.

I cut the bed off my truck because it wasn't wide or long enough. Does that make all other trucks somehow less truck than my truck?

 

Piguin
Piguin Reader
8/3/24 5:59 a.m.

In reply to te72 :

Oh... that looks nice.

 

Is there somewhere interested minds could be informed about the truck to end all lesser trucks and the exocet it carries?

te72
te72 HalfDork
8/3/24 2:49 p.m.

In reply to Piguin :

I had filmed a handful of videos for my youtube page detailing the process of putting the Exocet together, but I was in a time crunch to get it ready for an event, and filming took a back seat. Those are located here, if you'd like to watch: spoogie357 - YouTube

 

The Exocet is just a bone stock 2001 Miata SE donor. Ohlins coilovers  and extended lower ball joints are the only mods. It does well. =)

The truck, I didn't take any video, but I did take a lot of pictures of the process. The short of it, I bought the truck from work. It had been used to haul small equipment like skidsteers and mini excavators to customers. The truck had been parked a few years and basically forgotten, so I talked the boss into selling it to me. Little rough around the edges, but it's a good truck for the price.

I removed the stock long bed and rear bumper. Added 5' of c-channel frame, then a bunch of 2x1" c-channel cross beams, a permiter frame, and perimeter supports to tighten it all up. The rear "bumper" is 2x 6x6" square tubes. Ramp hooks were added to the square tubes. Lots of tie down points added around the under side of the frame. E-track and wheel straps hold the car down to the deck. Ramps are 8' x 12" x 3" aluminum ladders with aluminum diamond plate decking. Deck is made of the same diamond plate material, quite grippy. Ramps stash in some pockets under the bed now, and get pinned in place. All the tubes are welded shut, and it's all painted so rust is prevented.

 

After a couple years of using it, I now have it to where I can unload in 10 minutes, and load in about 15. Truck is 26' long, which is much more driver, traffic, and parking friendly than it ever was when I was towing a trailer. Oh, and it gets nearly 15mpg average, compared to the ~10 mpg it got with a trailer. I love it. =)

 

A couple more pictures for ya.

 

 

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