What’s hot in SCCA D Stock, circa 1985 | #TBT

As I recall, Fiat X 1/9s were still the hot ticket in DS in 85. MR 2s as well. 

I'd add that there were two completely different cars marketed as Chrysler and Plymouth Lasers over the course of that nameplate's life - the early versions from 84-86 were G bodies (K-body derivatives) with the FWD SOHC 2.2/2.5 powertrains. The 1990-up Lasers were Diamond Star Motors (DSM) products that were also manufactured and sold as Eagle Talon and Mitsubishi Eclipse with 2.0L DOHC potwertrains that were both FWD and AWD. FWIW, my Mom had a Plymouth Laser turbo that she loved for many years (of course, she also had a 67 Plymouth Fury 383 convertible, and a manual trans 68 Mustang convertible. And she never minded too much when my brothers and I had cars in many pieces in front of the house or in the basement. I come by the gearhead gene honestly).  

- Bill C

In reply to ZOO (Forum Supporter) :

The Laser was a Chrysler in the G Body years, the DSM version was a Plymouth.

Well Bill beat me with a much better explantation. 

Tom1200 said:

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to livinon2wheels :

Well, I play and own a few. Not sure I qualify as a player, though. :) 

We need to work on your marketing.

"My name is David Wallens, I'm a player and I get paid to drive Rad cars"

I do need to practice more. Lesson in just a few hours. 

BillCuttitta said:

As I recall, Fiat X 1/9s were still the hot ticket in DS in 85. MR 2s as well. 

Yep.

Solo Nats DS Champs:

1989 Todd Rupp Carrollton, GA Pontiac Fiero
1988 Peter Raymond Larkspur, CO Toyota MR2
1987 David Schnoerr Schaumburg, IL Porsche 944T
1986 Peter Raymond Larkspur, CO Toyota MR2
1985 Joseph Darwal Bedford, OH Fiat X1/9
1984 Jonathan Bruce Milford, MA Fiat X1/9

I was looking at the Dodge Colt specs. Can you imagine a turbocharged 4 cyl with roughly 100hp now?

Or a car that weighs 2000lbs?!

Or has two sticks!? Let alone one!

Tom1200 said:

David S. Wallens said:

When I started autocrossing, it was in D Stock. 

D-Stock those were for wealthy folks. LOL

We were in H-stock; with the Datsun I'm still driving today.

I my area H Stock was a knock down drag out battle between a Gremlin, my dad's Saab 99, some sort of E36 M3ty little Mazda, and a stock Subaru with a cage that ran Pro Rally and was used to deliver pizzas.

I was 8, and I brought my helmet to every event, and rode with EVERYONE. Everyone except the dude with the Park Avenue. Dad wouldn't let me ride with him. That Park Ave had an ex-Darrell Waltrip big block and a 4 speed and could (and did, on a runway) outrun a Countach to 150.

Good days...

BITD, I remember a non-turbo Omni doing well locally in H Stock. Can’t remember the dude’s name, though. White car with red numbers, I think.

Also, check out the 1984 H Stock national champ: future World Challenge star Peter Cunningham. 

In reply to RacerBowie :

We had 6 drivers in H-stock. I managed to be class champion one of the years I ran it.

I moved to DSP after my 2nd year.

In reply to Tom1200 :

I ran H-Stock in a Pontiac 6000 STE. My main competition was a guy in a Honda S-800. Maybe it was G-Stock.....whatever, it was slow. I won the Ontario region Championship in it.

David S. Wallens said:

Also, check out the 1984 H Stock national champ: future World Challenge star Peter Cunningham. 

I remember sitting in impound on the Salina concrete waiting on Solo Nats results with PD and Randy Pobst...just a couple of regular gearheads.  Circa 1987.

D Stock Civics were the first cars that I saw with real sponsorship deals at local autocrosses in the mid to late 80s. It was actually one of the main reasons that I bought a new Civic Si. 

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

D Stock Civics were the first cars that I saw with real sponsorship deals at local autocrosses in the mid to late 80s. It was actually one of the main reasons that I bought a new Civic Si. 

When the 1986 Civic Si was classed in D Stock it sent the VW GTI to the dumpster (until years later when it was moved to ES).  D Stock (and CSP) then became the hot bed for all the Honda tuning shops like Jackson Racing, King Motorsports, Chuck's Racing Enterprises (CRE), and a few others.  And since Stock class allowed engine rebuilds with substantial overbores, all of those were selling hotted up rulebook-legal motors.  Also, Mugen parts were being sold through dealerships, so many local sponsorships were crafted.

In reply to Andy Hollis :

Mugen parts were being sold through dealerships

Oh how times have changed 

Andy Hollis said:

David S. Wallens said:

Also, check out the 1984 H Stock national champ: future World Challenge star Peter Cunningham. 

I remember sitting in impound on the Salina concrete waiting on Solo Nats results with PD and Randy Pobst...just a couple of regular gearheads.  Circa 1987.

I spent a bit of time with Randy at Pikes Peak this summer. What’d we talk about? Autocross. 

Saw PD at Daytona. 

Yup, both are still regular gear heads. 

Andy Hollis said:

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

D Stock Civics were the first cars that I saw with real sponsorship deals at local autocrosses in the mid to late 80s. It was actually one of the main reasons that I bought a new Civic Si. 

When the 1986 Civic Si was classed in D Stock it sent the VW GTI to the dumpster (until years later when it was moved to ES).  D Stock (and CSP) then became the hot bed for all the Honda tuning shops like Jackson Racing, King Motorsports, Chuck's Racing Enterprises (CRE), and a few others.  And since Stock class allowed engine rebuilds with substantial overbores, all of those were selling hotted up rulebook-legal motors.  Also, Mugen parts were being sold through dealerships, so many local sponsorships were crafted.

If I ever get another torsion bar Honda, I might have a set of Mugens stashed away. :) 

In reply to BillCuttitta :

In addition, there were a lot of 1.8l SOHC DSMs and given the marketing structure, I'm fairly sure that most of them came in the Plymouth.

That was always fun... get into a DSM, pull it in and open the hood, and there's a weenie motor under the hood bulge.

Back in 1980s, I had 3 Colts, and the last one was a turbo.  Remember when those early Colts had that super cool 8-Speed trans, which included 2-speed reverse.  With practice you could shift both at once with one hand.  Much FUN! 

Drove past a really nice and clean '90 or so Daytona while coming back from Lakeland yesterday.  Was taking the backroads to avoid Sarasota/Bradenton I75, and it was sitting at some business with the light blue Florida antique plate on it

Stuff like this is why I try to support GRM.

In reply to racerfink :

I have one of those blue Antique tags on my ’92 Miata. :) 

Mark L (Forum Supporter) said:

Stuff like this is why I try to support GRM.

 

Thank you for the support. Much appreciated. 

David S. Wallens said:

What were we running in Stock in 1992?

The SCCA rule book tells all.

$5 for anyone who can post a real picture of a Delorean autocrossing with a DS on the side from that time period.  

David S. Wallens said:

If I ever get another torsion bar Honda, I might have a set of Mugens stashed away. :) 

Fun fact: The 13x5.5" wide Mugen wheels (OE is 13x5) were D Stock legal for about four months.  I ran a set for awhile and Pro Solo said they were ok since they came from the dealership. 

Then the SEB took that back.  The whole process took a long time because in those days they did their work via snail mail, which then had to be published in hardcopy Fastrack with it's print lead times.

Andy Hollis said:

David S. Wallens said:

If I ever get another torsion bar Honda, I might have a set of Mugens stashed away. :) 

Fun fact: The 13x5.5" wide Mugen wheels (OE is 13x5) were D Stock legal for about four months.  I ran a set for awhile and Pro Solo said they were ok since they came from the dealership. 

 

Those wheels are super cool, but I'd hate to clean them.