Most of you know I'm preparing for Solo-I next year. I'm waiting to buy the '02 GCR and in the meantime I've been reading up on some things. I've read that IT classes are legal in SP for Solo-II. How can this be? If the Solo-II rules say that a CSP (for example) car must retain a full interior, how can a stripped ITS car compete without being protested?

I will run a limited Solo-I schedule along with Solo-II events next year and I would like to continue to run CSP without too much contraversy. Can anyone shed some light? Are the '02 GCR's on sale yet?

John -- who should just buy the '01 GCR and figure it out for myself.

 

Because there is a special exemption in the Solo rules that allows IT and Touring cars to run SP. But, the cars must be prepped to the IT or Touring rules completely (no mixing of rules).

So, an IT car is gutted, but has over 100lbs of rollcage. SP allows larger tires and more engine work, so in theory, an IT or T car would never be nationally competitive.

 

When you say "completely", how is one to determine that defenition? Say I pull the interior, install a full cage, seat, steering wheel, and run the proper IT wheel width...can I still run CSP? It's not "completely" prepared to IT though.

As I write this however, what you're saying is that if the car sits like it's described above, I couldn't run 9" wide wheels for Solo-II events only. I think I get what you're saying now.

 

Or you can run smaller wheels in SP (like 13X8.5 or 13X9).

The biggest things that you can do in SP that you can't do in IT are a lightened flywheel, battery relocation, fuel injection (TEC II, Electromotive, Haltech, yada yada yada), and different intake manifold. And remote-reservoir shocks are illegal for IT in '02. So while an IT car may be lighter, the SP car should be faster because it has more power, a bit better throttle response, a larger footprint, and the suspension and weight distribution is tweaked a little more.

Edit: However, I think my IT SE-R would be faster than my old DSP SE-R mainly because the latter wasn't prepped as well (AC and sunroof still in, no engine work, only 14X7 wheels). Also, I meant smaller wheels in SP.


[Modified by slowSER, 3:05 PM 12/6/2001]

 

paraphresed from the 2001 Solo rule book:

Cars listed as eligible in and prepared to the curent nati0nal IT ruesl are permiotted to compete in the respective SP classes. Logbooks not required. neither SP or IT rules are permitted to interchagne prep rules.

So, if you want to run SP as an IT car, you must meet all the IT requirements (cage, fire system, wheel/tire, engine, etc). Not allowed to use the SP engine and tire rules.

 

The car must be IT LEGAL, not necessarily "completely" prepped.

Nope. Forgot the kill switch, harnesses, covered lights, and probably a myriad of other IT requirements I'm forgetting.

If anyone wants to run an IT car in Solo, it should probably say "IT" on the side somewhere, look like an IT car, and have a logbook. Else be prepared to start answering a lot of questions.

 

In SCCA-Sanctioned events a log book is required. If you beat someone with an "IT" car they can protest its legallity and you will be required to show one for the car.

 

What CM said above ("Logbooks are not required.") is exactly what's written in the Solo II rule book under Street Prepared. Is that not how it's supposed to be at SCCA events?

A log book wouldn't show a car's legality anyway. You would probably be better off having a copy of the GCR with you to keep the protestors happy.

Pat, who can't wait to see the look on a certain BMW owner's face (not you, whitney) when I kick his *** in DSP with my IT car


[Modified by slowSER, 3:22 PM 12/6/2001]

 

See I have heard differently. If you are running a full-fledged IT car you need to have a log book with it to verify that it is an IT car and not some CS/P car with a gutted interior, kill switch and letters on the side.

 

If it says otherwise in the rules, I don't see how it should be required to have a log book. As long as you had the minimum safety stuff (cage, kill switch, fire extinguisher, etc.), it shouldn't be a problem. Have a GCR handy to show that it's IT legal, and it should be OK.

Of course, to drive an IT car, you need nomex gloves, driving suit, socks and shoes, and an SA helmet, so would you have to wear all that when autocrossing?

 

Of course, to go IT racing, you also have to leave half of your brain at home. Are you required to do that at an autocross? Oh, jeez, did I say that out loud?

(Just joking, of course, but - damn, have I been hearing some horrible stories about driver behavior at SCCA races recently. I hope H-C doesn't suffer similar fate. BMWCCA club racing sounds like it is even getting meaner over time. Maybe new, friendly race series just need to be invented every few years, and all the old ones should get killed off before they get too serious.)

 

At the risk of sounding all jackassery, what's a log book?..... A list of prep work and modifications legal for a specific IT class?

 

It's just the book you're supposed to submit at tech to show your car has been inspected for safety. It does not list your modifications. As far as I can tell, Club Racing is somewhat like Solo II in that competitors police themselves. Although I think racers whine and bitch more.