STU & STS2

[miata#37]

Just when you thought our classing issues were settled....


Forwarded from the evolution list

From: "Chris Dorsey" <dorseyseb@h...>
Date: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:18 pm
Subject: STS2 and STU official news.

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The Solo Events Board met at the SCCA National Convention in Kansas City
February 6th through 8th. Attending were SEB Chairman Colan Arnold, board
members Chris Dorsey, Mari Clements, Ron Bauer, Andy Hollis, Marcus
Merideth, Mark Sipe, and Mark Sirota. Also attending were Tasha Goodale,
Howard Duncan and Doug Gill of the National Staff, and BOD liaison Bob
Introne.

During this meeting, the SEB discussed and approved the addition of two
supplemental classes to National Tour events; STS2 and STU. These classes
reflect what the SEB envisions to be the continued growth of the Street
Touring category, and are being evaluated in conjunction with evaluation of
the feasibility of combining several less-subscribed classes and of
restructuring some less-subscribed preparation categories.

Reflecting the success of the ST concept both nationally and regionally, the
two supplemental classes were developed as the next logical steps in the
progression of this category. Variants of one or both of these classes are
already being offered in several regions across the country.

STS2 will follow the STS rule set, but the eligible cars will be restricted
to two-seaters with engine displacements of 1.8 liters or less. This class
will provide a home for a number of popular vehicles, including the Honda
CRX and del Sol, Mazda RX7 (non-turbo, '79-'92) and Miata ('90-'97), Toyota
MR2 ('85-'89), as well as other similar vehicles. STS category rules 14.1
to 14.10 apply. Further, as in STS, only original equipment viscous limited
slip differentials are legal in STS-2. Excluded vehicles include Lotus
(all), Mazda Miata (99+), and Toyota MR2 ('91-'95 and '00+).

STU will follow the STX rule set, but will raise the displacement limit for
otherwise STX-legal vehicles to 3.1 liters for forced induction and to
unlimited displacement for natural aspiration. To accommodate the greater
power of these vehicles, restrictions on wheel width are lifted and the
maximum tire width will be increased to 275 for front or rear wheel drive
vehicles (but will remain at 245 for AWD vehicles). Other than these
limited exceptions, the STX rule set as described in 14.11 applies. This
class extends the Street Touring concept to cars including the Audi S4, BMW
M3 (E36), Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Neon SRT-4, Ford Mustang, Mazda RX-8,
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. 8, Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac GTO, Subaru WRX STi,
Volvo S60 R, and Toyota Supra. Excluded vehicles include the E46 M3 and the
E39 M5.

In conjunction with the planned evolution of this category and of the sport
as a whole, these two supplemental classes will not be considered for full
national status until 2007. One or both classes could then potentially be
recommended for full national status provided that rules stability is
attained, member participation is strong, and the classes continue to
reflect the needs of the current enthusiast market.

Please feel free to forward this information to other lists.

-Chris Dorsey
RMDiv. SEB

[MNbiker]

Yes, it appears the SCCA will eventually have a whole category of Street Touring classes, if STU & STS2 take hold. A few notes, as this announcement relates to MAC:

1. It's unclear whether we'll offer these classes in 2004, until the official announcement is published in a FasTrack. STU & STS2 will be Supplemental (read, experimental) classes for National Tour Events, but I'm not certain yet how that will impact regional/local events. Translation - if the new classes are optional, we'll need to vote on whether to offer them this year or not.

2. If/when we do offer these classes, it will likely reduce the size of the indexed Street Tire class.

3. MAC is obviously not alone in wanting more Street Tire classes. The SCCA must have been lobbied pretty hard by members, in order to create two new classes so late.

I'll be watching this closely, and will post notices as the impact to MAC becomes clearer.

-Steve Garnjobst

[StevenMosley]

Interesting....

[miata#37]

The most interesting part of the announcement is the talk of combining other, less well prescribed classes.

Does SM2 have national status yet?

[SaturnRaycer]

This is great! We can be proud of the fact MAC once again was ahead of the game when we created the SC1/SC2 classes last year!

It had to be a matter of time before SCCA realized that these 2-seaters didn't have a place to play on street tires if they had a few mods.

Rex

[phile]

I believe SCCA will stop when they have a class for each of their 50,000 members.

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by phile
I believe SCCA will stop when they have a class for each of their 50,000 members.


Phil,

You forgot to count the Drifting classes!:p

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by miata#37
The most interesting part of the announcement is the talk of combining other, less well prescribed classes.

Does SM2 have national status yet?

Yep, SM2 and STX both received National status for 2004.

I anticipate we'll see some consolidation of Prepared & Modified classes. I believe there are some classes that have missed the participation minimums for multiple years, which puts them at risk.

-Steve

[MNbiker]

On Monday, March 1st, the Met Council agreed that the STU and STS2 Supplemental classes WILL NOT be recognized at Met Council events for 2004. The April SCCA Fastrack that defines STU and STS2 only specifies them for National Tour events, and indicates the classes can become National classes no earlier than 2007, depending on participation. We will re-evaluate the status of these experimental classes in early 2005.

Based on the Met Council decision and my interpretation of the rules, I'm recommending that MAC not recognize STU/STS2 for 2004 MOWOG events. Our class structure has already been approved, and it's questionable that participation for the new classes would be sufficient to justify their addition this year.

Thanks!

Steve Garnjobst
Met Council Rules Chair