by "Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost)
Published 02/17/2017 at 00:24
by "Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost)
Published 02/17/2017 at 00:24
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So I’m running my first autocross in 15 years this weekend, and have been in discussion with the local club (
spokes.org
) on classing my Boostang. They’re not an SCCA club, but they follow SCCA rules.
Our discussion so far has centered on what mods have been done vs. what I’m planning vs. what the rules say. Honestly I’m not modifying for autocross. I’m modifying for me, and just happen to be doing autocross, so if I’m competitive in class I don’t really care. I just want to have fun and improve my driving. My only real competition is me.
The car is a performance pack Ecoboost Mustang with the upgraded brakes/suspension/tires and so far I have a COBB stage 1 tune with a high flow drop in air filter. Future plans include an upgraded intercooler, full turbo back exhaust with high flow cat and upgraded BOV and waste gate for the turbo. I’m planning on doing the intercooler sometime between now and June, because Texas gets hot and the ecoboost intercooler isn’t quite large enough. That’s actually a problem for the autocross folks...
D Street
- This is out since I don’t want to uninstall the tune every time I run, and it precludes doing any other changes. The point was made that only tire and suspension changes make much difference. I’m already running 19x9.5 wheels with 255/40-19 Pirelli P Zero tires. I do want to do a more aggressive lowering spring at some point, and that’s still legal here.
E Street Prepared - This is where I would currently fall with the COBB modifications. This class allows me to change the intercooler, but not the BOV or waste gate.
Street Touring U
- No changes are allowed to boost levels, intercoolers, or boost controls. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, since a lot of modified WRXs seem to end up in this class.
Street Modified
- Engine components are generally unrestricted. No rules restrict boost, intercoolers, or computer tuning.
Classic American Muscle Contemporary - This is a recent class, specifically designed to get musclecar guys who may have been doing autocross with Good Guys Car Shows into regular autocross. Mostly because their regular modifications are incompatible with every other available class. This sounds familiar.
I’m going to have to re-class on Sunday, as currently I’m in STU. I am running as a Novice, but it would be nice in a few months if I can lose that designation and be in a regular class that I’m going to stay in for a while.
Help me OPPO! You’re my only hope! (ok, maybe not)
"bmil128" (bmil128)
02/17/2017 at 03:43, STARS: 0
In SCCA most of the people that run prepared run Hoosiers (I don’t and neither does the only other guy in ASP with me), don’t know about Spokes if it’s mostly students may not run them. STU in Houston is usually just Evos. I would probably run the CAM contemporary.
"Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost)
02/17/2017 at 05:31, STARS: 1
I’ll likely either go with CAMC or SM, just to avoid arguements, though it is tempting to go ESP and conveniently forget to mention when I do future mods.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
02/17/2017 at 07:43, STARS: 0
If you have a tune, you’re in prepared this year.
Next year boost tunes will be allowed in street touring, so run STP
Also, are you only running locally or do you plan to go national? If you’re just running local events people might not really care if you’re bending the rules a bit. Boost tune rules suuuuuck right now so that might be pushing it depending on your region, but at least in my region people wouldn’t care if an STU novice had a bigger intercooler. If you really wanted to compete nationally with the Ecoboost DS is the place, it’s going to be THE car for DS.
I’m the Solo chair for my region, my concern is mostly for people to have fun. I’d hate to see a novice get out in prepared because of their intercooler, I wouldn’t mind if you ran in STU but your region could be different. We also have an ‘open’ class here split up by cylinder count that is a catch all for people that don’t know what class they belong in
"yamahog" (yamahog)
02/17/2017 at 08:48, STARS: 0
I would do either SM or CAM C, depending on which has less people in it. CAM is huge up here in Big 3 land, but a few years ago Santiago was literally the only person in SM for a weekend-long event.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
02/17/2017 at 09:41, STARS: 0
SM allows a lot of mods. And if you’re looking to just have a good time, that will work well. I used to run my Dakota RT in SM due to the amount of mods I had done. It’s a good class, I wasn’t competitive, but I didn’t figure I would be anyway. I had a good time every time. Good luck, and remember, a set of sticky tires will do you much more good than any other mod, as that is normally the weak link in autox.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
02/17/2017 at 10:49, STARS: 0
Run CAM-C. It’s an open class, so stock, or close to stock you’re most likely going to get your ass kicked. But if you enjoy modifying your car, you aren’t limited by some silly arbitrary class limitations.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
02/17/2017 at 10:51, STARS: 0
You run in DSSC?
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
02/17/2017 at 11:20, STARS: 0
No, this is many moons ago. I ran my Dakota for a couple years and then ran my neon acr for a couple years. Then I got married... and moved to metro Detroit area from northwest Ohio. I miss that Toledo express course, so nice.
"Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost)
02/17/2017 at 17:51, STARS: 0
I’m not planning on running national, just local.
It just feels like the rules are arbitrary and not at all set in keeping up with changes in automotive design and engineering.
they said I’d be fine in STU for now, if I wanted to stay there, but when it comes down to it, I’m a guy who likes to follow rules, so I don’t want to be the guy everyone notices because I’m in the wrong class. Ultimately I’m just wanting to have some fun and learn some additional car control skills.
I’ll likely end up in SM or CAMC, just because the rules are more open. I’ll get my ass kicked, but no-one will complain when they hear an after market BOV, or take a ride and see 25lbs of boost on the gauge.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
02/17/2017 at 18:40, STARS: 0
SM is safe. I’d need to look at CAM-C, not sure if the S550 is included.
The rules are slow to change, that’s for sure
"Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost)
02/17/2017 at 23:11, STARS: 0
I see no reason for the S550 to not be in CAMC, since it says 1990 and up... I’ve decided to just stick with SM. Like you said, it’s safe. I won’t win in class, but I’m just out to improve every run and at least in SM I don’t have to worray about “illegal mods”.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
02/18/2017 at 14:17, STARS: 0
SM PAX isn’t too bad either, should give you a decent comparison.
I’d be a bit surprised if the EB was in CAM. Check the class list at the end of the rule book, it should be listed in some regard. Not saying I don’t believe you, I just don’t recall seeing that the last time I looked at it