STS clutch rule

[GOSPEEDGO]

I have searched the 2001 rule book and can't find anything in regards to clutch replacement for STS. Does anyone know if the TRD or the ACT clutch is legal.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[nxracer]

Since it does not say it's allowed you cannot. Rule 14.10.L (street prepared) states any clutch is allowed SO that means after market units are not allowed in Stock or STS

[GOSPEEDGO]

nxracer,

thanks, thats not wanted to hear, but it is what I figured.

[2000celicaspeed]

would the trd clutch be considered aftermarket, cause you can purchase it with the car and have it financded in as an option? i am just owndering, after all it is a toyota product and option. No warranties voided. SO does this rule apply to TRD clutchs?

DOn

[silver2001gts]

Originally posted by 2000celicaspeed
would the trd clutch be considered aftermarket, cause you can purchase it with the car and have it financded in as an option?
Yes, I think so. However, I have heard of Miata owners swapping in a Mazda Factory Racing ECU and staying in Stock class. So the rules are a bit blurry. Can someone clear this up?

i am just owndering, after all it is a toyota product and option. No warranties voided. SO does this rule apply to TRD clutchs?

DOn
Yes, I believe so. See Stock rule 13.10.K: "...Clutch mechanisms ... must be standard as herein defined." Also note that STS is based mainly on the Stock rules, and makes no mention of clutch allowances. You can not bend the rules.

Note: If you want to cheat, go ahead. It does not matter at local events too much. At National level events, you had better not try to cheat, or your car might be disassembled.

[nxracer]

Yes a TRD Clutch is after market. It's also not a factory option and more than likely not even made by TRD. A "stock" (or standard) part is one that is installed by the factory (or sometimes their port). Your Toyota dealer is not the factory (or port) so having them install it even if they let you finance it does not make it a stock part.

Same deal for ECU's. In stock class they must be stock. In STS you can replace the ECU.

I love the "if it's financed" idea but it make me wonder... If that was legal don't ya think those of us that have been around awhile would have figured it out years ago?

[2000celicaspeed]

I am not planing on cheating in fact i dont even race i was just wondering. Can you import cars and use them in the sts class, seeing as they are stock for over seas? or does this class rule out imported cars?

[nxracer]

12.4 Standard Part
An item of standard or optional equipment that could have been ordered with the car, installed on the factory production line, and delivered through a dealer in the United States. Dealer-installed options or deletions, except as required by factory directives, no matter how common or what their origin, are not included in this definition. This definition does not allow the updating or backdating of parts.

13. STOCK CATEGORY
Cars running in Stock Category must have been series produced with normal road touring equipment capable of being licensed for normal road use in the United States, and normally sold and delivered through the manufacturer's retail sales outlets in the United States. Car models not specifically listed in any Stock Category class must have been produced, and must have met the above requirements and must have been sold through normal U.S. dealerships, in quantities of at least 1,000 in a 12-month period to be entered in the Stock Category.

Except for modifications authorized below, Stock Category cars must be run as specified by the factory with only standard equipment as defined by these Rules. This requirement refers not just to individual parts, but to combinations thereof which which would have been ordered together on a specific car. Any other modifications or equipment will place the car in Street Prepared, Prepared or Modified Categories as appropriate.

Option package conversions may be performed between specific vehicles of a particular make and model, but only between configurations from within a particular model year. Such conversions must be totally complete and the resultant car must meet all requirements of this section.

The entrant has the burden of proving that his car conforms to these Rules by his owner's manual, manufacturer's shop manual, manufacturer's catalogs or other official manufacturer's documentation, which must be in the possession of the entrant at the event if ever available to the consumer from the manufacturer. At a minimum, the competitor must be in possession of the manufacturer's workshop manual. All manuals, catalogs and official documentation must be for non-competition purposes. If protested competitor possess the documentation required by this Section, but that documentation does not include sufficient information on the protested item, the burden shifts to the protesting competitor to prove the item illegal. Failure to provide appropriate manufacturer's documentation regarding vehicle specifications will result in disqualification.

(OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer's -- ed.)

Alternate components which are normally expendable and considered replacement parts (e.g., engine and wheel bearings, seals, gaskets, etc.) may be used provided they are the same type and size as the standard parts and used in the same location. This does not include camshafts, differential covers, or ring-and-pinion sets.

Hardware items (nuts, bolts, etc.) may be replaced by similar items of unrestricted origin. These allowances are strictly to allow components to be replaced from alternate sources other than the original manufacturer. They should not be construed as an allowance to replace components with those which could be considered a 'higher performance' alternative. Parts available as replacements through the dealers parts department, the factory, or any other source which do not meet standard part specifications (e.g., hardness, size, etc.) are not legal in Stock Category, except as specifically provided elsewhere in these rules.

Cars listed as eligible in and prepared to the current national Showroom Stock Club Racing rules are permitted to compete in their respective Solo II Stock Classes. This does not include Showroom Stock cars with installations of post-factory "performance packages" otherwise known as "trunk kits". Neither Showroom Stock nor Solo II Stock cars are permitted to interchange preparation rules. Showroom Stock cars may use tires which are eligible under current SS rules, even if they are not eligible in Stock.

For more see http://moutons.org/sccasolo/Rules/stock.html
When reading these rules keep this in mind. If the rules do not specifically say you can you cannot

Specific vehicle classifications are located in Appendix A of these rules.

***************************

17. STREET TOURING CATEGORY
The Street Touring category of vehicle modifications is meant to fit between the current Stock and Street Prepared categories. This category provides an natural competition outlet for auto enthusiasts using affordable sport sedans equipped with common suspension, engine, and appearance modifications which are fully legal and compatible for street use anywhere in the country.

Vehicles for this category include all coupes/sedans with a minimum of four seats, four seat belts; that are not sports car based, with a maximum engine displacement of 3.1 liters, normally aspirated and certain small displacement turbocharged sedans. No limited slip differentials are permitted except for factory standard viscous coupler type units.

A sports car based vehicle would include those that are 2+2 variants of 2 seat sports cars.

17.1. AUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS - STS

1. All Solo II Rules Stock Category allowances and the modifications that follow:
2. A. Equipment and/or specifications may be exchanged between different years and models of a vehicle if:

(1) the item is standard on the year/model from which it was taken,
(2) the years/models are listed on the same line of Appendix A (Street Prepared Classes)
3. The updated/backdated part or the part to which it is to be attached may not be altered, modified, machined, or otherwise changed to facilitate the updating/backdating allowance. The updating and/or backdating of engines, transmissions, or transaxles must be done as a complete unit as available from the factory, including those items required by emissions regulations for a particular configuration. Example: the Neon throttle body used on automatic transmission cars cannot be used on a manual transmission car. Component parts of these units may not be interchanged. Cars not listed in the Street Prepared sections of Appendix A may not be updated/backdated until approved by the SEB and published in SportsCar magazine. Air conditioning systems may be removed in whole or in part. This rule should not be interpreted to allow modification of the heater system.

for more see http://moutons.org/sccasolo/Rules/street_touring.html

When reading these rules keep this in mind. If the rules do not specifically say you can you cannot

[GTS LAID]

quick question... i know i'm lazy... whats the lowest level a GTS will be in with teins and sways... scap what do you run? STS or DSP

[preparedcivic]

STS it is, as long as the wheels aren't over the max. width for the class.

I see you're from Joisey. Planning on running with NNJR-SCCA at
E-town?

[GTS LAID]

Si... but they dont have a website... do you know what their schedule is?

[preparedcivic]

go to www.autox4u.com and click around. Complete details and schedules on all NY-NJ-PA autocrosses. That said, coming up there is a school, pre-registration only, on March 16, a non points event March 23, and the first points event March 30.