SCCA Solo II class?

[Joe Anstett]

What class is the 951 in for SCCA Solo II (aka Autocross)?

[WinfieldKS]

Reference: 2003 SCCA Solo II Rules

Stock class: B / Stock

Street Prepared: A / Street Prepared

Prepared: B / Prepared

Modified: E/ Modified

Comment: It is not likely that a 951, if legal for class, would be competitive in any of the above Solo classes. Turbo lag is just too much of a handicap for the car to be your top choice. The class where the car could be the most competitive would be B/Prepared but it would take a gutted-out, roll caged, full race car to do it.

There was such a 951 at the SCCA Nationals. It was a beautiful red 944T owned by Richard Beecher of the Florida Region. He pulled out a 4th place finish and took the last of the trophies in an eleven car field.

The straight 944 and the 944S2 are much better bets for Solo II competition. Both can be extremely competitive in their respective classes if properly set-up and brilliantly driven.

[Joe Anstett]

Thanks for the reply, WinfieldKS. My main goal is to have fun and get some experience in a lighter manual car.

I've been racing my auto Trans Am convertible in ESP for two years and I get my butt kicked by a long-time multi-generational semi-pro in a stripped Mustang, plus a couple of misplaced (IMO) WRXs, so I'm used to coming home light on trophies

At this stage I'm still doing it for fun and to hone my driving skills. Sadly, it looks like to be competitive I need to get a Civic There's a really good driver at my events who went switched to a Civic from a BMW Z3 M coupe. That tells me a lot!

The car came with R-compound tires with the rears slightly oversized (245 instead of 225) -- I assume this moves me into ASP? (Yoko A032Rs).

[WinfieldKS]

The Street Prepared classes are for all-out race cars in spite of the "street" name. At the National level they are usually the fastest of all the full-bodied cars including the Production cars. Bring deep pockets if you intend to be competitive in any SP class.

Regarding your tires, tire width is "OPEN" in all classes. There is no restriction regarding width. What IS restricted is wheel size in Stock or Production classes. Get and read a rule book for details.

There's an old saying to the effect that Racing is not expensive but Winning is. One can go out with any old car just for fun and that is perfectly fine. I hope that it always stays fun for you. If you intend to consistently win however you will need to invest time and money -- both in the car and in yourself. Of the two, invest in the driver first. Go to Evolution School and learn how to be a really good Solo driver. Then you'll be competitive no mater which class that you end up in.

My second tip is: Race the rule book BEFORE you race the car. Read it, understand it, consider all possibilities and ONLY THEN buy or build what you see as being your best possibility.

[Cali56]

my opinion is biased to volkswagen super beetle with short shift tranny and 13" rims, firestone slicks, koni coilovers, fiberglass half fenders.. saw a fiat run a 48. the honda s2000 prepared, gutted, shocks tires, brakes, cage running 49s.. The prepared camero was doing 54's the prepared vett was doing 58-55-56, the little honda civic was doing 60 and 58, the prepared crx was doing 57's The 951 on "oh dear jelly suspension" 90k mile stocker with full interior and street tires, would qualify for stock except it was chipped, ran 61-62 while managing to to slide all over the place, this guy slid all over the whole track and didn't take out one cone! The vw dune buggy ran 55 and 56 and 58 although he had too much motor for his little dune buggy.. The prepared 944 N/A with a late model 2.7 liter N/A engine, gutted, caged, suspension was running 52 consistantly. The supercharged viper gts had numerous DNF that thing was scary it had no traction for accelorating under that much power.