How to deal with cheaters?
 

I went to an AutoX event yesterday in my region and finished 3rd in Novice Class. After the event was over I discovered that the driver who took 1st was using racing slicks. The last time I checked, only street tires are allowed in Novice. This isn't meant to sound like sour grapes, but it just doesn't seem fair to everyone else who actually followed the rules. What's the best way to deal with situations like this? Should I report it to somebody at SCCA? I've never been one to report people for infractions, but this just seems totally blatant.

Follow protest protocol. Ask a veteran how to file a protest.

Unfortunately, you have to do it at the event not after.

different regions deal with "novice" classes differently, I'd ask the club that organized the event first on how to proceed...

Are you sure they weren't "DOT Hoosiers"?


Those dont count as "Slicks" (at least in my race club) as they have two rain grooves.

That's what I'm leaning towards. Don't know anything about a "novice" class either. Sounds like they were running C Stock.

"C Stock" Doesn't exist anymore. It is CS(C Street) - Only 200tw+ tires are allowed. If you want to run lower than that you would end up in CSR(If you region offers that class.


Novice class ussually has nothing to do with the car, just a way to compete against other "noobs". We don't even offer a novice group in my region. Ever region handles this class different. Some are a straight N, some are N followed by your normal pax classing, like how some regions run a Pro index.

I guess it's a moot point now since the event is already over. I'll just have to pay closer attention to what the competition is doing next time. Either way though, running slicks as a "Novice" seems like a pretty sandbagger move to me.

our novice all get thrown into one class that is based off pax time. so r-compunds are fine, they just have their modifier for the class they would end up in. Currently a GS car is winning novice because of it.

I could see a 2 driver car where the owner has it spec'd out and he is just letting a friend of his try out autox with the car.

Our novice class here in WA doesn't allow R-Comps. If it isn't Street class legal you can't do novice in it. Like others have said, though, every region is different. All you really get here is a beer mug/pint glass. We did add novice as a full season trophy thing for our region, too, but no one has made the minimum 6 events to get that.

Isn't the point of autocross just a fun way to spend a little bit of money between real races? ;)

Sorry just never been a serious autocrosser even when I was winning every event. I think there was one event where I actually checked tire pressures though! So that's progress..

On topic though, I was in the situation the guy you are calling a cheater was possibly in before. Even down to being called a cheater. See, I had run HPDEs previously, had R comps, etc. Decided to try autocross, asked the SCCA classing guy at the event where I should run, told him I had R comps, and he put my in a street tire class. People were livid and protested me, event mentioned to me that I was a cheating asshole. It wasn't until I explained what happened that they understood and got over it. So even if it's cheating by the rules, understand that the guy may have been like me and didn't know anything about the rules and asked the organizers to place the car where it should be.

We do see a number of new people sharing cars with experienced drivers. So, the car could belong to an avid racer who is just "trying" to help get more people into racing.

**Letting a noob run a car on R comps is a terrible idea... they will quickly become addicted to purple sticker crack!

imo give yourself a mental silver medal, email the event organizers as a heads up as to what you saw in a polite and non-confrontational manner, and prepare for the next event.

My son is running the FR-S locally in the Novice class this year, his 1st year Autocrossing. Locally people don't cheat in Novice. They just show up in a modified Miata, a track prepped Evo or a new Alfa 4C. He is driving a butter knife against a Desert Eagle 50 cal. every week. Should I tell him adversity builds character? Just my 2 cents, DP.

I don't care for autox but the way I read this, if the slicks are in fact cheating. This is more of an over sight by the organizers as tires are clearly visible. It's not like it's something a racer took time to hide and get away with.

I agree with Dave, I thought autox was just for fun and some seat time. When people take it so seriously it just seems silly.