SS Reclassifications for 2007

[nateh]

Folks -

Once again, the rules season is upon us. One item of unfinished business from last year - and a year or two before that - is to update the SS classifications, taking into account new models and fixing a few discrepancies noticed in the past.

The current proposal from the Board of Stewards is based on work done by Kevin Foote and Chris Aylward. Kevin and Chris considered the following data:

- Weight
- Horsepower
- SCCA classifications (SS, IT, T1/T2, etc)
- Lap times and results for specific cars in COM events

Here is how Kevin summarized their proposal last fall:

"Basically, it's a rearrangement of the SS classes to be a better reflection of the cars that are showing up rather than what showed up 10+ years ago. The other thing this allowed was to give all the "tuner" cars that start out in ST a home in SS. The names of all the classes were kept the same to allow a carryover of all the track records, as all the new classes with the exception of SSU would be faster than the old ones. All wording referencing SCCA SS classes was eliminated.

"The net result was:
- Most of SSB was combined with SSC
- Most of SSA went into SSB
- Some of SSGT went into SSA
- The fast SSGT and slow SSU cars were put into SSGT

"Further differentiation of specific models with long production history (Porsche 911, Mustang, Corvette, etc.) were better divided up and specified than they are now."

The proposal received a preliminary viewing at last months Board of Directors meeting, and may be discussed again at next Wednesday's meeting after a few tweaks based on last month's observations.

Below is the current proposal in its entirety.

COMSCC Showroom Stock Reclassifications Proposal as of 9-29-06

SSU:
• Audi RS6
• BMW E46 M3, M Coupe/Roadster S54, V8 NOC, V10
• Chevrolet Corvette 1991+ NOC
• Dodge Stealth Turbo, Viper
• Ferrari NOC
• Ford Mustang SVT Cobra 2003-2004, 1995, 2000 Cobra R
• Lamborghini, all models
• Lotus Esprit 8-cyl turbo
• Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 Turbo, Lancer Evolution
• Nissan 300ZX V6 Twin Turbo, 350Z
• Pantera
• Porsche 911 Turbo, 993, 996, 997, 928 GTS
• Subaru WRX STI
• Toyota Supra Twin Turbo

SSGT:
• Acura TL, NSX
• Audi V8 normally aspirated, S6
• BMW E36 M3, E46 330, E28, E34 M5; M6; E39 540; M Coupe/Roadster S52, Z4 3.0i
• Chevrolet Camaro SS Ram Air, 1LE, SLP, Corvette C4 1985-91 except ZR1
• Ferrari 328
• Ford Mustang V8 1997-2001 Cobra, 1993 Cobra R, F150 Lightning
• Lotus Esprit 4-cyl Turbo, Elise S2, Exige
• Lexus GS400
• Maserati, all models
• Mazda RX7 Twin Turbo
• Pontiac Firebird Formula, Solstice Turbo
• Porsche 911 3.2L, 944 Turbo, Turbo S, Boxster S, 928 5.0L, Cayman S
• Saturn Sky Turbo

SSA:
• Acura Integra Type R, RSX Type S
• Audi S4, A4 NOC
• BMW E36 328; E46 323, 325, 328; Z3 2.8L, 528, 535, 633, 635, Z4 2.5i, E30 M3
• Chevrolet Camaro V8 (except SS Ram Air, 1LE, SLP), V8 NOC, Malibu V8
• Chrysler Corp., mass-produced FWD intercooled turbo, Omni GLH, GLHS
• Corvette (solid rear axle), C4 1984
• Datsun/Nissan 280ZX Turbo, 300ZX Turbo 1984-89, 300ZX normally aspirated 1990-96
• Dodge Stealth normally aspirated
• Dodge Neon SRT-4
• Ferrari 308
• Ford Mustang SVO, V8 1982-2004 solid rear axle, pre-1997 Cobra, V8 trucks/SUV's
• GM V8 Trucks/SUV's
• Honda S2000
• Mazda RX7 13B Turbo, RX8, Mazdaspeed Miata, Mazdaspeed Protege, Miata 2006+, Mazda6 V6, Mazdaspeed 3, Mazdaspeed 6
• Mercedes Benz 190E 12v and 16v
• Mercury Capri 302
• Mitsubishi 3000 GT normally aspirated
• Nissan 300ZX V6 normally aspirated, Altima 3.5, Maxima 3.5
• Pontiac Trans Am, Firebird except Formula, Solstice NA
• Porsche 911 2.7-3.0L normally aspirated, 944S, 944S2, 968, Boxster, 924 Turbo, 928 4.7L and under
• Saab 9000 Aero
• Saturn Sky NA
• Subaru WRX 2001-2005, Legacy GT
• Toyota MR2 turbo
• Toyota Supra 3.0
• Volvo 5-cyl turbo
• VW Golf R32

SSB:
• Acura Legend, Integra GSR 1.7, Integra VTEC, RSX, TSX
• Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce, Sports Sedan , GTV-6, Milano 3.0
• Audi A4 V6 2.8 and 1.8L turbo
• BMW E30 325; E36 325; E39 525, E28, E34 525, Z3 1.9, 2.5
• Chevrolet Beretta GTZ, Camaro 6 cyl, Monza 2+2
• Datsun/Nissan 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, 300ZX 1984-89 normally aspirated
• Dodge Shelby Charger, Omni GLH, Neon ACR
• Eagle Talon turbo
• Ford 302 Mustang II, Mach I, Cobra II, V6 1999+, 4 cyl Turbo; T-bird Turbo, SC; '89 Cougar, Contour, Focus SVT
• Ford Taurus SHO, Probe turbo and V6
• Honda Prelude VTEC, Si 92-93; Del Sol VTEC, Civic SI 2002+
• Lexus IS300 6 cyl
• Mazda RX7 13B IRS, MX6GT, Miata 1999-2005
• Mercedes Benz 190E 8v
• Merkur XR4Ti
• Mini Cooper S (supercharged) 2002+
• Mitsubishi Eclipse turbo, Galant VR4, Mirage 16v Turbo
• Nissan 200SX 3.0, Sentra SER Spec V, 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, Maxima 3.0L and less
• Oldsmobile Starfire Firenza, 305, Quad 4
• Peugeot 505 Turbo '88 and newer
• Plymouth Laser Turbo, Quad 4
• Pontiac Trans Am NOC, Fiero V6
• Porsche 944 8v, 924S, 924, 911 under 2.4L
• Saab 900 Turbo, 9000 Turbo, 9-3 4-cyl Turbo
• Subaru 2.5L+ normally aspirated
• Toyota Celica 4WD Turbo, GTS 2000+, Supra 2.8, MR2SC, MR2 normally aspirated 1990-1995, MRS
• Triumph TR8
• Volvo 4 cyl Turbo, 850
• VW Golf V6, Jetta V6, Corrado V6, 1.8 Turbo; Corrado G60, New Beetle Turbo

SSC:
• Acura Integra 3 door
• Alfa Romeo Alfetta, GT, Spider 2000, Milano 2.5
• AMC Spirit, DL, GT Liftback 258, 4 spd.
• Audi Fox, Coupe, 4000, 5000, 80, 90 (including all Quattros)
• BMW all 2.0L and less normally aspirated NOC
• Buick Opel Isuzu, Skylark, 1.8 HO or 2.0, Skylark, 23i, Skyhawk, 2.8 HO, 4 spd., Skyhawk Turbo
• Chevrolet Chevette, Monza, 4 cyl, Cavalier 4 cyl, Citation 4 cyl, FWD V6, Nova 16v
• Datsun/Nissan 210, 310, 510, 610, 710, and F-10, 200SX 2.2 5 spd.
• Dodge Colt, Colt Turbo, Daytona, GT2000, Charger2.2, Neon except ACR, 1600, Omni, Challenger 2.5, 024 1.7, 2.2, 2600
• Eagle Talon normally aspirated
• Fiat 124 Sport Spyder, 131, Spyder 2000, X1/9, 128 Sedan, Strada 1500, 5 spd.
• Ford Fiesta, EXP 1.6 HO (non-turbo), Pinto, Escort GT 16V and 4 cyl, Focus 2.0, 2.3, Mustang 4 cyl, V6 1964-1998
• Geo Prism GSI, Storm GSI
• Honda Civic, Civic Si 1975-2001, CVCC, Accord, CRX, CRX Si, Prelude 2.0
• Isuzu I-Mark Coupe, RS
• Mazda Protege, 808, 1600, GLC, GLC Sport, 626, 626 Turbo, 323, Miata 1990-1997, RX3, RX4, RX7 1979-1985, MX3, Mazda3, Mazda6 NOC
• Mercury Bobcat 2.3, LN7 1.6 HO, Lynx, Tracer LTS, Capri 4 cyl and V6; Tracer LTS
• MGB, MG Midget 1500
• Mini Cooper normally aspirated
• Mitsubishi Eclipse, Galant normally aspirated; Mirage 8-valve turbo, Lancer normally aspirated
• Nissan 1991 NX 1600 & NX 2000, Nissan 240SX, 200SX Turbo, Pulsar 1.8 DOHC, Sentra SER
• Oldsmobile Firenza, 1.8 SOHC, 2.0, Starfire, V6, Omega, 2.8 HO
• Opel NOC
• Peugeot 505, 505 Turbo, 405 Mi16
• Plymouth Laser normally aspirated, Horizon, TC-3, Arrow 1600, GT, Champ 1.6
• Pontiac Phoenix 2.8 HO, Sunbird Turbo, all 4-cyl normally aspirated
• Porsche 912, 914 4 cyl
• Renault Fuego Turbo, 1.6, Fuego 2.2, LeCar, Alliance, Encore, GTA
• Saab 900 and 9000 16V normally aspirated
• Saab 99, 900 and 9000 16V normally aspirated
• Saturn NOC
• Subaru normally aspirated 2.2L and under
• Suzuki Swift GTI
• Toyota Celica GTS 16v 1982-93, Corolla GTS, FX-16, (1.6 & 2.2), MR2 1985-1989 normally aspirated, Corolla, Corona, Starlet 1.3 5spd., Celica, GTS, GT, ST, GT Liftback
• Triumph 4-cyl, GT6
• Volvo 242/4, GT
• VW Rabbit, Golf, GTI, Scirocco, all 8 valve, GTI 16v, Jetta 16v, Scirocco 16v, New Beetle 2.0L

[dinoracer]

Thank you Nate for posting this, and Kevin and Chris for about 18 months of work coming up with it.

To answer a few questions, especially for the newer members, before the renewed discussion gets started:


NOC- means "Not otherwise classified". When looking for where a car is classed, start at the bottom (SSC) and work your way up. You'll see a lot of very specific descriptions are used, as some car models have been sold with a wide range of performance options. If a particular make/model/engine/drivetrain package is not specifically classed, it usually ends up as a "NOC" case.

considered the following data:

- Weight
- Horsepower
- SCCA classifications (SS, IT, T1/T2, etc)
- Lap times and results for specific cars in COM events

"Consideration of the weight and horsepower" means the ratio of pounds the car weighs vs. the horsepower it has. Compiling this basic information gives us a baseline way to compare a lot of dissimilar cars. From this starting point, everything else (front/mid/rear engine, FWD, RWD, AWD, SCCA info, historical results) is considered and factored in before placing a car in class.


Number of classes. Notice that in SP and P classes things are a lot simpler - 3 classes, basically based on number of cylinders ( except for those wacky Wankel-cars). There are 5 classes in SS because over the years the performance capabilities of new cars available keeps growing, mostly getting higher. SS has grown to 5 classes in an effort to offer all our members a reasonable chance to be competitive in a class with the street-driven car they bring to the track. However, this doesn't mean that within each class everything is equal; it isn't, and it will never be. This could be solved by adding more classes, splitting things up even more, but before long you end up at 100 one-car classes, and lots of unused trophies. We do the best we can (see above) but inevitably some cars fall into the lower 50% of each classification in "raw potential".


Development of these classes takes a lot of car knowledge, a lot of research, and a lot of experience with driving and performance on track. These class assignments are not cast in stone, and discussion of specific decisions on the proposal is encouraged. However, please consider the vast effort that has already gone into this proposal, and if you wish to argue a call, don't just bitch, bring some tech to back it up.

[JackFFR1846]

How will the new classifications affect previous track records?

If we continue without any consideration, we should probably just wipe out all previous SS records as they're going to be blown out of the water by the upgraded performance of the new classes.

jack

[mossaidis]

Hi, I like it. Thank you for the all the hard work.

I assume the cars in SS classes can be upgraded into similar ST classes (with some exceptions)? perhaps STGT, ST1 and so on... true, not true, ideas?

For labeling consistency, maybe include a new STU class could be created, though track records would be affected by the additional. thoughts?

Perhaps topics for next year.

[enjoythemusic]

Once again, the rules season is upon us. One item of unfinished business from last year - and a year or two before that - is to update the SS classifications, taking into account new models and fixing a few discrepancies noticed in the past...

Wow, that looks like a very good result from A LOT of hard work. Hope to make some 2007 events for sure once we figure out what classification my car will be in after all the mods to her are done.

[brucesallen]

Yes, the new SS classes dictate corresponding new ST classes.

[DanDarcy]

Wow looks like some people were very busy . Good job.

Being a Mustang Cobra driver (1997) I did notice that a 1997 and up are SSGT but a 1996 is SSA. The 1997 and 1996 are the exact same car with solid axle and 305 h.p., The Cobra was still a solid axle with 320 h.p up to 1999. Maybe the earlier 1998 and down solid axle 305 h.p. should all be in the SSA class.

Keep up the good work !

[nateh]

I based my conclusion on the Internet Auto Guide
(http://www.internetautoguide.com/car-sp ... index.html)
which says the 1996 has the earlier, lower powered motor.

I've now found 2 sources (Wikipedia and Consumer Reports) that support Dan. So I'll change the proposal unless someone comes up with different info.

Thanks, Dan!

- Nate

[mossaidis]

Yes, the new SS classes dictate corresponding new ST classes.

I assume: STU, STGT, STA (ST1), STB(ST2), STC(ST3) Thanks.

[grovefromnh]

The Soltice N/A and Sky N/A in SSA? 170 hp @ 2800lbs.

[nateh]

Yes, the new SS classes dictate corresponding new ST classes.

I assume: STU, STGT, STA (ST1), STB(ST2), STC(ST3) Thanks.

Bruce is not saying that ST classes get renamed. Only that ST classes derive their definitions from the SS classes. For example:

...
STREET TOURING 1 (ST1)
All SSGT cars modified to Street Touring rules
...

[nateh]

The Soltice N/A and Sky N/A in SSA? 170 hp @ 2800lbs.

Having checked my figures, I tend to agree. Also the Mazdaspeed Protege. So, unless something else comes up, I'll move these three into SSB.

Thanks, Grove!

[WillM]

The Soltice N/A and Sky N/A in SSA? 170 hp @ 2800lbs.

Having checked my figures, I tend to agree. Also the Mazdaspeed Protege. So, unless something else comes up, I'll move these three into SSB.

Thanks, Grove!

If this is done, then we should move the 2006 MX-5 Miata into SSB as well. The Solstice, Sky, and 2006 MX-5 Miata are all very similar. In test comparisons, while the Miata is usually the one chosen as most fun to drive, the Solstice and/or Sky turn faster lap times.

At this point, we now have these cars running up against the 1999-2005 Miatas, which are in SSB. So should the 1999-2005 move to SSC? Where do we draw the line?

[JayBay]

How about we add...

SSD:
• Nissan Sentra 1.6L

[mossaidis]

I think that car is in the SSY class, for Showroom Stock Yugo...