Gutting interior of touring car

[Gidyupp]

I'm considering removing the interior and caging my car.
Am I understanding the rules correctly that I can remain in touring classes as long as I keep the dashboard and passenger seat? I can't find any other mention of interior requirements other than its impact on the weight of the car.

Thanks.

[jvangelder]

That is my understanding as well. The rules also say you don't need the passenger seat if you have a petty bar.

[4EyedFoxbody]

The petty bar rule makes no sense to me. If you have a seat then you don't need a petty bar but without a seat you do? So am I to infer that a seat acts the same way a petty bar does regarding safety? I think not. I would talk to Chief or tech regarding the petty bar/seat issue.

[paultg]

I think the intent of the rule is for touring cars not to remove the passenger seat for weight reduction, or to place ballast in a more optimum place vs a seat. So seat required, unless it can't be there because of additional safety item such as a petty bar.

But i see how you could come to your interpretation.

[Gidyupp]

That is my understanding as well. The rules also say you don't need the passenger seat if you have a petty bar.

I do have a passenger seat, so it's a moot point for me.
Thanks.

[jlwhorf]

I'll give you the cliff notes version of the rule. The previous rule book stated that the street classes needed both front seats in place. So the intent of the rule was to allow a competitor to add the petty bar, as a safety item without moving the car into one of the prepared classes.

[jvangelder]

I think the intent of the rule is for touring cars not to remove the passenger seat for weight reduction, or to place ballast in a more optimum place vs a seat. So seat required, unless it can't be there because of additional safety item such as a petty bar.....

With weight being a major factor in classing a car, and 150lbs of ballast being allowed, having a seat vs not having one shouldn't really matter, student drivers aside.

[ED9man]

One point I'd like to make is for those of us who are licensed, and drive our Touring class cars to the track, it would be really nice to eliminate the passenger seat requirement. It makes it much easier to pack gear in the car when the seat is not installed.

[dinoracer]

One point I'd like to make is for those of us who are licensed, and drive our Touring class cars to the track, it would be really nice to eliminate the passenger seat requirement. It makes it much easier to pack gear in the car when the seat is not installed.

Mikhael

It's rule change season. See the rules submission section of the website. I encourage you to submit a well-reasoned argument, and suggested revision to the existing rule book. Then come to a meeting and sell it. Maybe it will pass, maybe it won't.

[Mick]

Here's a direct link to the form.
http://www.comscc.org/rules/submission-form/

[offcamber09]

In my mind the reason for not removing the passenger seat and dash in a touring car is not so much a functionality, competitive advantage or safety issue as much as a continuation of the spirit of the ST classes from the past. SS and ST were classes that street driven cars in either their stock form, or modified somewhat, had a place to compete.

[chaos4NH]

In my mind the reason for not removing the passenger seat and dash in a touring car is not so much a functionality, competitive advantage or safety issue as much as a continuation of the spirit of the ST classes from the past. SS and ST were classes that street driven cars in either their stock form, or modified somewhat, had a place to compete.

In that case, why do we allow removal of the rear seat, spare tire, head liners, package shelves, etc? In other words, stripping the interior? Does the fact that only keeping and a semblance of a dash and the passenger seat mean we maintain the spirit of the SS and ST classes? Heck no! In the past few years we have strayed so far from the "spirit" of SS and ST that a passenger seat seems useless and unnecessary.

[offcamber09]

In ST the rear seat, package shelf and spare tire were all allowed to be removed.
I guess our votes cancelled each other's out.