cpa7man

iTrader: (2)

I didn't know that. There are FD's running in SS with no precat. Would someone confirm this.

TracyRX7

What is the point in cheating to win in something that the only reward is your own self satisfaction of a good job done and maybe a few handshakes from some friends at the event?

Sure he could gut both of his cats, install a PFC (no commander), port his engine, upgrade injectors & fuel pump, etc, and still have a visibly "stock" looking car but what sense of satisfaction would you get knowing you just cheated to win?

macdaddy

For good or ill, amateur motorsports rely on policing by the participants. Tech inspection is primarily for safety, not compliance with class specs. If you suspect a competitor is cheating, you must file a complaint or challenge (and frequently post a bond to cover the tear-down and rebuilding costs if you are wrong). If you are only competing locally, you're no threat to the class winners, and your class competitors know you are not strictly legal and are ok with that (not uncommon with non-performance-enhancing deviations), I suppose there's no harm, no foul. If you win, however, it's really easy for someone to complain after the fact and strip your trophy from you (and get you banned from future competition in some venues).

Now, realistically, all high-end motorsports (amateur and professional) tend to live on the bleeding edge of the rules, and creative interpretations are sometimes necessary to be competetive.

In my case, all I have at stake in competition is my own satisfaction - winning with an illegal car is like shooting fish in a barrel - what's the point?

RenoCYM

Here in Washoe county in Nevada the smog tests are pretty stringent, as bad as California I would imagine since most of the new cars sold here come with California smog equipment. My FD passes now with all the factory smog equipment, but barely. Sometimes it will fail the first time and the machine runs a second test which it will pass (not enough warmup time usually). Fail twice and you're parked until you make repairs.

RenoCYM

I agree with MacDaddy, it would be like cheating at solitaire. Everyone trusts that you'll play by the rules - to the absolute limit of the rules for sure - but within their limits. It's ultimately the driver's talent that wins in autox, if I wanted to beat my competitors with my credit card and tool box I'd take up drag racing or road racing where you can spend your way to the podium. At the end of the day I want to feel I'm a faster driver than the guy who finishes behind me, not a sneakier mechanic.

DamonB

In any stock class you may only alter the exhaust after the main cat. For the FD in SS this means the stock downpipe must be left in place to remain legal.

Catback legal in stock, downpipe or gutted precat illegal.

tubbinator

I agree with the others that going to all that trouble to cheat in SS is pointless. One point to consider though is the reliability value of removing the precat, especially on a car that's pushed hard and not allowed to get out in the wind and cool down ... even more so in your hot climate. My advice would be to see if you can borrow a DP from someone and try emissions and if it passes move to ASP or maybe even just put the precat back on once a year. The DP was all that ever put me in ASP before I completely gutted my car and installed a cage, putting me in AP. Now I have a gutted car with race cage racing in AP ... still no other mods than a DP LOL

Anyhow, the race preparations have begun. It will be a full-bore race car within two years.

Tubbs

Fatman0203

Thats very nice =P
Not even a radiator?
Im sorry but a cat in that location, is another reason why I wouldnt race SS, not because of the class and where the FD is, but because my motor will bake after the first few track days in 95+ degree wheather here in South Fla.

DamonB

My car has done quite a few track days with the stock plastic radiator in 90+ degree heat.

Fatman0203

Have you used a digital or analog aftermarket guage to see where your numbers hover at?

Also youve done this with the precat?

DamonB

Water temps stay around 225F when running hard. If it's 100F out then I can make it overheat if I try, but that's only at the racetrack at full boost the entire time.

Engine is completely stock other than downpipe and catback. 80% water / 20% coolant mix, Miata thermoswitch and baffles on the sides of the radiator air inlet.

RenoCYM

Damon have you tried Water Wetter? Does it help?

Fatman0203

Thats what Im saying. I wasnt really talking about the stock radiator (even though a better one helps) I was more talking about trying doing track with the stock pre-cat, I bet your temps will be a bit higher, probably overheat.

DamonB

Haven't tried that yet but I'm planning to soon. I plan to spend a weekend within the next few weeks doing a bunch of little things and water wetter is on the list.