Question for any autocrossers out there. In the back of my M Coupe I've boxed in the sway bar mounts and reinforced the tabs on the trailing arms. There is some welding involved there of course.

Can anyone quote the SCCA rule in regards to this subject and tell me what class this would put me in? I'm looking for the exact rule, thanks !

You have moved out of stock class. I would run the car where I wanted on something that does not make it faster like that.

Question for any autocrossers out there. In the back of my M Coupe I've boxed in the sway bar mounts and reinforced the tabs on the trailing arms. There is some welding involved there of course.

Can anyone quote the SCCA rule in regards to this subject and tell me what class this would put me in? I'm looking for the exact rule, thanks !

The problem is that rules allowing most of this work dont exist in stock or street prepared, so you can't do it (and I can't pinpoint a speicic rule disallowing it). Sounds like it's all the way up to prepared.

The problem is that rules allowing most of this work dont exist in stock or street prepared, so you can't do it (and I can't pinpoint a speicic rule disallowing it). Sounds like it's all the way up to prepared.

Thanks, I'm thinking the same thing. Anyone have any other thoughts?

Not legal by the rules, but not a performance advantage either. I think I'd run it in stock class until someone finds a reason to bitch. ;)

technically its SM which allows some reinforcing i believe.

technically its SM which allows some reinforcing i believe.

actually, by the book it's past sm, and into prepared. sm doesn't allow welding in reinforcements.

actually, by the book it's past sm, and into prepared. sm doesn't allow welding in reinforcements.

Correct, essentially SM basically goes as far as street prepared with some "additional" twists.

The mention of welding anything first comes into play with a couple of prepared rules as far as I can find.

Does anyone have any experience with such a modification being protested at a national level event? Myself personally no and I usually compete in either ASP or SM depending on how many people are running in each class. Technically as per the rules I think I'm in the wrong but I don't think any official will admit that it is any real performance advantage.

Does anyone have any experience with such a modification being protested at a national level event?

Such a modification could (and likely would) be protested at a National level event, especially if you place well.

Such a modification could (and likely would) be protested at a National level event, especially if you place well.

At least for me there are 2 specific rules which I want to quote...

1. Street prepared 15.7 in regards to roll bars: "Bushing material, method of attachment, and locating points are unrestricted" This rule doesn't mention allowing reinforcement or welding so that means its not okay

HOWEVER

2. Street Modified 16.1 O : "Any minor modification, intended to allow or facilitate any allowed modification, is permitted as long as it does not provide any intrinsic performance benfit in and of itself, does not provide a weight reduction of more than 1 lb, and is not explicitly prohibed elsewhere within these rules. This rule is intended to allow minor notchin, bending, clearancing, grinding; the drilling of holes; affixing, relocating, and strengthening of brackets; removal of small parts, and similar operations performed in order to facilitate the installation of allowed parts or modifications..."

Again it doesn't mention the word "welded" but in SM I am allowed to weld in subframe connectors and it is a mod that doesn't offer any intrinsic performance advantage.

In my opinion I think its SM but I just wanted to find someone with experience with this. Maybe I'll email Victor Sias and ask...

2. Street Modified 16.1 O : "Any minor modification, intended to allow or facilitate any allowed modification, is permitted as long as it does not provide any intrinsic performance benfit in and of itself, does not provide a weight reduction of more than 1 lb, and is not explicitly prohibed elsewhere within these rules. This rule is intended to allow minor notchin, bending, clearancing, grinding; the drilling of holes; affixing, relocating, and strengthening of brackets; removal of small parts, and similar operations performed in order to facilitate the installation of allowed parts or modifications..."



Hmmm....seems to me some minor reinforcement should be allowed. The "strenghening of brackets" should put you in the clear

Hmmm....seems to me some minor reinforcement should be allowed. The "strenghening of brackets" should put you in the clear

yep, thats myinterpretation. Is essentially a little triangular gusset that get welded/attached to the bottom side of the tab. When I replaced my rear swaybar, the tabs bent within 2 weeks of street driving and no auto-x events.

I guess it wouldn't matter now as I run no rear bar.

For Street Touring the rules read.

14.7 anti-sway bars
Subsitution, addtion, or removal of any anti-roll bar(s) is permitted. Bushing material, method of attachment, and locating points are unrestricted. Components such as anti-roll bars and strut housings that serve dual purposes by also functioning as suspension locators may not be modified in ways that change the suspension geometry or steering geometry. Non-standard lateral members which connect between the brackets for the bar are not permitted

So with what is described you should be fine for ST* based classes.
as long as no dual purpose changes affect the geometry.

Of course I don't think your M Coupe qualifies for any current ST class at this time. I'll have to see how the SP rules for sways vary from the ST ones.

Thanks - Jon

For Street Touring the rules read.

14.7 anti-sway bars
Subsitution, addtion, or removal of any anti-roll bar(s) is permitted. Bushing material, method of attachment, and locating points are unrestricted. Components such as anti-roll bars and strut housings that serve dual purposes by also functioning as suspension locators may not be modified in ways that change the suspension geometry or steering geometry. Non-standard lateral members which connect between the brackets for the bar are not permitted

So with what is described you should be fine for ST* based classes.
as long as no dual purpose changes affect the geometry.

Of course I don't think your M Coupe qualifies for any current ST class at this time. I'll have to see how the SP rules for sways vary from the ST ones.

Thanks - Jon

SP rules for sway bars are basically the same. So as long as it's just for the sway bar bracket itself, it should be legal in both ST and SP classes. Not legal in stock since it's the rear sway bar.

Chris