SCCA DST Setup Thread(2025)

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

STI lip kit is legal, TRD spoiler is not.
You need a catted frontpipe.
Roll center correction kit is not legal.




At national events all of those would get attention, locally I wouldn't really care though I know they're not legal.

Gotcha, wouldn’t the lightweight pulleys not be allowed too?

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

Gotcha, wouldn’t the lightweight pulleys not be allowed too?

They're totally legal

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

They're totally legal

Interesting! Seems I only need to do a few things then. The lightweight battery might be a problem I think. I also do not look forward to touching the roll center correction kit, that job sucked.

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

Interesting! Seems I only need to do a few things then. The lightweight battery might be a problem I think. I also do not look forward to touching the roll center correction kit, that job sucked.

Lightweight batteries are legal if that was the concern.

and yeah, the roll center correction shit is easier to just buy new OEM arms... Annoying job for sure.

[RT-BRZ]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

Lightweight batteries are legal if that was the concern.

and yeah, the roll center correction shit is easier to just buy new OEM arms... Annoying job for sure.

Who's really going to protest roll center kits though? Locally, no one is. At a National level I don't know that anyone is going to do that unless you are stomping everyone and that doesn't seem to be a case here.

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by RT-BRZ

Who's really going to protest roll center kits though? Locally, no one is. At a National level I don't know that anyone is going to do that unless you are stomping everyone and that doesn't seem to be a case here.

Have you done national events? That would get called out immediately.

[RT-BRZ]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

Have you done national events? That would get called out immediately.

Admittedly, I haven't done national events. However, it isn't something that's really obvious and our cars sit low to the ground. Is it something that Tech would call out? I don't know how other competitors would even realize (at least without having a reason for looking).

I'm always eager to learn though.

[steverife]

Originally Posted by RT-BRZ

Admittedly, I haven't done national events. However, it isn't something that's really obvious and our cars sit low to the ground. Is it something that Tech would call out? I don't know how other competitors would even realize (at least without having a reason for looking).

I'm always eager to learn though.

So at Solo Nats, we had to pull both wheels off one side of the car in impound.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I walked around and looked pretty closely at every twin. I wasn't looking from a compliance perspective, I just wanted to see who has what parts, where other people get tire rub, and if I'm missing anything clever. Would have definitely noticed a roll center kit, especially if it was the bright yellow Whiteline pieces, and would have felt obligated to at the very least point it out.

Regarding my car, I have the SPC rear arms and swapped in Diftech bushings to be legal and someone has asked me about them every year I've taken the car to nats in STX/DST.

[cmiovino]

Originally Posted by steverife

Regarding my car, I have the SPC rear arms and swapped in Diftech bushings to be legal and someone has asked me about them every year I've taken the car to nats in STX/DST.

I also have the SPC rear arms and didn't swap in the Diftech bushings. They've been unavailable - likely not made anymore. I nabbed the SPC control arms off FB Marketplace used for like $75 shipped with no rust.

If anyone would like to protest, go ahead. I'll likely be midpack and haven't done national events in DST yet (did one in DS trim). And don't have a header or tune, so I doubt the bushing gains make up for it
I think the issue is there's a hair more metal there than factory and therefore it's illegal? If there is, it's not by much. Looks damn near the same as the factory bushing.

[RT-BRZ]

Originally Posted by steverife

So at Solo Nats, we had to pull both wheels off one side of the car in impound.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I walked around and looked pretty closely at every twin. I wasn't looking from a compliance perspective, I just wanted to see who has what parts, where other people get tire rub, and if I'm missing anything clever. Would have definitely noticed a roll center kit, especially if it was the bright yellow Whiteline pieces, and would have felt obligated to at the very least point it out.

Regarding my car, I have the SPC rear arms and swapped in Diftech bushings to be legal and someone has asked me about them every year I've taken the car to nats in STX/DST.

OK then. I guess I didn't realize how tight things are ran at Nats. Honestly, after the dust up around the one protest this year and the reaction on Facebook, I doubt I will ever go now. I'm not a good enough driver for it to matter anyway and I've left DST behind for XA. Tom O. is also in my region and I already know that no one is going to beat him anyway.

[foshjowler]

I wouldn't let one or two people scare you off from nationals. With 1300 competitors, there are bound to be a handful of idiots (I'm keeping my words forum friendly) any time you get that many people together. The scale of it is unlike any other autocross, and absolutely worth going, even if you don't expect to be super competitive. I can't make it next year (will be in Austria at the same time), but otherwise intend on going every year.


As far as legitimate protests go, I'd be a little surprised if anyone protests a car out of the trophies, especially if it's a minor part. It would probably get mentioned of, "hey, that's not legal, get it fixed before your next national event". People are generally pretty understanding as long as it isn't taking a trophy spot.

[RT-BRZ]

Originally Posted by foshjowler

I wouldn't let one or two people scare you off from nationals. With 1300 competitors, there are bound to be a handful of idiots (I'm keeping my words forum friendly) any time you get that many people together. The scale of it is unlike any other autocross, and absolutely worth going, even if you don't expect to be super competitive. I can't make it next year (will be in Austria at the same time), but otherwise intend on going every year.


As far as legitimate protests go, I'd be a little surprised if anyone protests a car out of the trophies, especially if it's a minor part. It would probably get mentioned of, "hey, that's not legal, get it fixed before your next national event". People are generally pretty understanding as long as it isn't taking a trophy spot.

Honestly, I thought that what I read about the protests was handled fine. I think the mob with the torches and pitchforks on Facebook trying to shout down the Protest rep/SCCA leader almost pushed me to the point of leaving the club. I'm a region director and have been the Solo chair in the past and the climate around this stuff is completely out of control and it has now invaded a space that I really enjoy and I don't care for that.

Basically, if one side is filled with people that are down on other humans and the other side is down on the humans that are down on other humans (sounds the same at that point) then it's probably not the place for me.

Besides, why put up with that while I'm getting my ass kicked on the course at the same time? Seems like a lot of time and money when I can accomplish something similar without the drama while only driving 20 minutes.

[steverife]

This has kinda gone on a path that I didn't want to take.

So to be clear. I would say that protests are really rare and the overwhelming majority of people at tours and pros and nats are cool. When people have asked me questions about my car and the arms, I answered them, and they were like "okay cool". And I've never really seen anyone nitpick, but ST is basically a suspension class and noncompliant suspension parts is one of the things that people are likely to care about.

With all that said, it is totally okay to not want to go to nationals or any tours, too. You don't even have to come up with excuses (and if FB makes you not do something, you probably can't do anything). Enjoy the sport how you want. Personally, I have a hard time justifying spending a full day running a local event (when I could do like 6 different things I enjoy and can't do during the work week by staying home), but I don't think people that don't travel are any less of an autocrosser. It is a lot of time and money to travel and it comes at a huge opportunity cost.

[RT-BRZ]

Originally Posted by steverife

This has kinda gone on a path that I didn't want to take.

So to be clear. I would say that protests are really rare and the overwhelming majority of people at tours and pros and nats are cool. When people have asked me questions about my car and the arms, I answered them, and they were like "okay cool". And I've never really seen anyone nitpick, but ST is basically a suspension class and noncompliant suspension parts is one of the things that people are likely to care about.

With all that said, it is totally okay to not want to go to nationals or any tours, too. You don't even have to come up with excuses (and if FB makes you not do something, you probably can't do anything). Enjoy the sport how you want. Personally, I have a hard time justifying spending a full day running a local event (when I could do like 6 different things I enjoy and can't do during the work week by staying home), but I don't think people that don't travel are any less of an autocrosser. It is a lot of time and money to travel and it comes at a huge opportunity cost.

I apologize for taking this off the path. Consider this part of the conversation closed by me. It didn't add to the DST setup conversation.