SCCA Solo C Street Discussion

[cjd]

Originally Posted by RMP

I would like to start attending track days in addition to autocross and added an oil cooler due to documented issues with overheating. I don't believe this adds any performance in the context of autocross. I submitted a letter to the SEB asking for an allowance of oil coolers in the street classes.

I'd like to know what your thoughts are regarding this mod for the street classes. Would you object to having it be allowed?

If you're serious about your autoX, build to the limits of the rules. If you're not quite so serious, find the class that allows your mods and have fun.

If you're just running locals you could ask around too, just don't complain of someone objects.

[RMP]

Originally Posted by TrqlessWonder

Yep. It got shot down recently. "not aligned with the philosophy" or something of that nature.

But, with a little extra expenditure on the way you join the lines and mount the cooler, I don't see how it would be an absolute disaster to make a removable one. Just keep those hoses pointed up when you take it back out.

I was thinking about something along the lines of what you're suggesting.

I installed the Subaru Forester oil cooler which is a water cooled unit that sits under the oil filter.

The oil cooler has a coolant inlet hose and a coolant outlet hose. When I run autocross I could remove the oil cooler and connect the two hoses using some kind of screw on fitting (e.g. Earls AN, NPT, etc). The outlet hose returns to the heater core. The inlet hose was tapped by removing a water block off plug on the engine block.

Would removing the oil cooler in this way be legal for Street classes? Or, would I need to reinstall the water block off plug on the engine block? I read the SCCA rules and it did not mention you could remove a water block off plug on the engine so I do not think it would be legal.

EDIT:

This is in the rules:

I. Thermostats may be added or substituted. A thermostat is a device
which controls the passage of water.

It's pretty contrived, but according to their definition if I remove the oil cooler and connect the coolant lines as described above it becomes a rudimentary thermostat.

[qoncept]

Originally Posted by TrqlessWonder

For the idea of needing/wanting it for the street - the vagueness did bother me at first, but, a month of driving (and none of those DIYs) is all it took to develop a feel for the clutch.

I've decided it never really was much of a problem - my issue was more with the lag introduced by DBW. I used to get a bit of rpm blip when I pushed the clutch because the throttle body was still open for a split second with my foot off the pedal. I've adjusted.

[SeanRTR]

People talk about protests like they happen frequently at the local level. They don't. Your oil cooler isn't going to do shit, so unless you're competing for a trophy at nationals, just run it in C-Street and be done with it. Mention to your competitors you have it, and for which reasons and they're not going to care. Simple. No one is protesting your oil cooler.

[GeorgeJFrick]

Originally Posted by RMP

I would like to start attending track days in addition to autocross and added an oil cooler due to documented issues with overheating. I don't believe this adds any performance in the context of autocross. I submitted a letter to the SEB asking for an allowance of oil coolers in the street classes.

I'd like to know what your thoughts are regarding this mod for the street classes. Would you object to having it be allowed?

Originally Posted by SeanRTR

People talk about protests like they happen frequently at the local level. They don't. Your oil cooler isn't going to do shit, so unless you're competing for a trophy at nationals, just run it in C-Street and be done with it. Mention to your competitors you have it, and for which reasons and they're not going to care. Simple. No one is protesting your oil cooler.

In Milwaukee, a couple of the CS guys might have changes, but I've never protested and I don't plan to, especially over something I consider preventative.

Further, if you really want the oil cooler, you might consider STX. I took last in CS during the last event, I wouldn't have been last in STX. If I go to STX, I can do a catch can, brake lines, and other things I'd like to do as preventative mods.

Just my thoughts as a noob.

edit: changed to "might", honestly don't want anyone in trouble or to be making an accusation.

[simpleisbest]

Originally Posted by RMP

I was thinking about something along the lines of what you're suggesting.

I installed the Subaru Forester oil cooler which is a water cooled unit that sits under the oil filter.

The oil cooler has a coolant inlet hose and a coolant outlet hose. When I run autocross I could remove the oil cooler and connect the two hoses using some kind of screw on fitting (e.g. Earls AN, NPT, etc). The outlet hose returns to the heater core. The inlet hose was tapped by removing a water block off plug on the engine block.

Would removing the oil cooler in this way be legal for Street classes? Or, would I need to reinstall the water block off plug on the engine block? I read the SCCA rules and it did not mention you could remove a water block off plug on the engine so I do not think it would be legal.

EDIT:

This is in the rules:


It's pretty contrived, but according to their definition if I remove the oil cooler and connect the coolant lines as described above it becomes a rudimentary thermostat.

Technically, you could be protested, but most likely won't even for national level events. Local events will really depend on the cast of characters in your class. Also, since most local events don't do an impound after runs it is doubtful the subject will even come up (since it should not be effecting your times out on course).

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[cjd]

Originally Posted by GeorgeJFrick

I took last in CS during the last event, I wouldn't have been last in STX.

Even if I hadn't been horribly slow and just plain sucked? That was my first race in this car and I was worried sick about wasting time with a spin out. Plus unprepared car. Just one worry and it held me back a lot, I think. So many noobs, I didn't want to be an obvious part of the slow day. :/ I fully plan to stop driving so badly. I'll have a prepped car, at least, and will probably always be just a bit slower than I could be...

I'm aware of one protest, years back. Treadwear rating, right when Falken changed the game for STS and a good non-local driver was using that as a competitive advantage, though the fact it wasn't a local made it hard to know if it was intentional...

[GeorgeJFrick]

Originally Posted by cjd

Even if I hadn't been horribly slow and just plain sucked? That was my first race in this car and I was worried sick about wasting time with a spin out. Plus unprepared car. Just one worry and it held me back a lot, I think. So many noobs, I didn't want to be an obvious part of the slow day. :/ I fully plan to stop driving so badly. I'll have a prepped car, at least, and will probably always be just a bit slower than I could be...

I'm aware of one protest, years back. Treadwear rating, right when Falken changed the game for STS and a good non-local driver was using that as a competitive advantage, though the fact it wasn't a local made it hard to know if it was intentional...

I wasn't saying it to be rude :-(
I suck and I'm working on it. I meant for my point to be that for newer guys who aren't competitive, CS vs STX over some preventative mods isn't that big of a deal.

[cjd]

Originally Posted by GeorgeJFrick

I wasn't saying it to be rude :-(
I suck and I'm working on it. I meant for my point to be that for newer guys who aren't competitive, CS vs STX over some preventative mods isn't that big of a deal.

Hah. I didn't take it that way at all, just that the point of reference may not be as bad as you thought... The next STX car was 3 seconds faster than you, 4 faster than me. I agree though, driving is what makes most of it. You should be in the mix mostly stock, even if toward the tail. Also helps of the top drivers aren't quite as tough as mke...

[Jawnathin]

If you guys are still pretty new and developing, one thing to keep in mind when using illegal modifications in Street Class is that you aren't going to get protested unless you start winning. So if your class leaders are still a few seconds ahead, you've got a little while before you got to worry about a protest. Once you start beating them it is a different story

With that said, a protest at the local level is pretty darn rare. Don't think I've ever seen it. As long as you don't get some huge performance advantage by having that mod, I figure people would not care enough to bring it up as there isn't really anything at stake. I do think you should follow the class rules whenever possible, but I'd be very surprised if anyone tried to protest anything like an oil cooler at a local.

[TrqlessWonder]

Originally Posted by qoncept

I've decided it never really was much of a problem - my issue was more with the lag introduced by DBW. I used to get a bit of rpm blip when I pushed the clutch because the throttle body was still open for a split second with my foot off the pedal. I've adjusted.

Some of this, too. Prior to buying the FR-S, the only other Subaru I'd driven felt pretty much exactly the same. Otherwise, for the previous 8 years and 161k, it was the exact same Honda. With that level of familiarity built-in, anything different would have felt weird.

That and the axle-back made the car loud enough to provide useful info. I don't necessarily need to feel the bite point if I can hear it.

[Laloosh]

Went down to play with the Philly region. 180+ entries, 2nd in class. Coned this run but it looks like it would have been top 15 pax, instead I got 23rd I think. I am on 245/40/17 stones, winner of the class was BRZ on 225/45/17 stones (taller). I was banging off the limiter for the last 3 gates, he was grazing it. Not a fan of the course but a fun day and some more seat time on the stones prior to next weeks NJ PRO. Anybody on here going next weekend?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWIpbSWOqRQ"]Philly SCCA 05/03/2015 - YouTube[/ame]

[DocWalt]

Ah, that explains why Steve was suddenly so much faster than me. We've been having prius tire battles since last year, heh. I hadn't noticed that he was on the 'stones.

Nice run! Looks nice and smooth, and really good besides the cone.

[loading_please_wait]

Dang it. I'm new to autocross, I've only done 5 events. All I have is a drop in filter. I've been running in the novice group, but the tech guy said to please move to my class in the next event I attend.

Anyways, recently I just did the sound generator delete and put in a Perrin Inlet Tube. Apparently, according to the first post in this thread, it's not allowed. And this tube that adds maybe 1hp bumps me to STX? Am I correct or incorrect? =/ I'm still a noob, I don't want to go to STX yet, and especially when I'm in a pretty much stock vehicle. Looks like I'm going to have to put back on that sound generator and stock inlet tube this weekend.

For those in CS class, has something like this ever happened to you before? Maybe when you were new to autocross?

Have any of you in CS did the sound generator delete, but left the stock intake tube, and plugged the hole that would lead to the sound generator? e.g. - http://www.dynosty.com/2012/06/dynos...be-delete-kit/ If that's allowed in CS, I may do that.