Important message for SoloII SM2 classers!!!
 

Copied from sccaforums.com:

Despite what you may have heard otherwise elsewhere, as of this moment, SM2's FUTURE AS A NATIONAL CLASS FOR 2004 is UNDECIDED.

There is a window of opportunity open to us to get SM2 approved as fully National for 2004.

The SEB is having their conference call on next Tuesday, Sept 23, and one of
the agenda items is going to be the plan for SM2. They may decide to make SM2
fully National at this time, or they may prepare a list of objections to making
SM2 fully National.

If there ARE objections, they are supposed to communicate them to the SMAC,
and we are supposed to get an opportunity to respond to them on a very short
timeframe.

In the meantime, they are asking for member feedback regarding the future of
SM2. If you feel that SM2 should be a fully National class for 2004, then write
the SEB (really, e-mail them) and let them know. Your letters of support may
well help overcome any objections they might have before the fact. Lots of letters
may result in them approving SM2 for 2004 at their conference call.

TIME IS SHORT - you MUST have the letters in by next Tuesday.

I would also council you to keep the letters positive, and concentrate on the
reasons why you compete in SM2, why you think it is a growth class, and other
positive aspects of the class on your SCCA experience.

Items and opinions like "If SM2 isn't National next year I'll probably go drag
racing instead", if that's how you feel, are valid, but please try and avoid
discussion on procedural points - "We met the attendance targets and so you
owe us", or similar letters, will not advance the cause any. Focus on the benefits
that SM2 provides you, your Region, and the Club as a whole.

We CAN get SM2 on the books offically for 2004, but you all have to step up and do your part. Remember - COMPETITOR APATHY IS
THE ENEMY!

Rest assured that the SMAC will do whatever it is called upon to do in order
to make this happen. We've got your back.

Feel free to spread this message around.

DG

What's the email address ?

street modified 2
 

I emailed them the other day on this issue, as should all the SM2 folks out there. Although I think my driving is pretty far from National caliber, having the SM2 class nationally recognized has a trickle down effect on the quality of the local/regional competition.

Here's a slightly off topic question about SM2:
Does a E36 M3 (2 door coupe) belong in SM or SM2? I thought it was SM because it comes from BMW with 4 seats. What could someone do (besides being underweight and adding forced induction) to knock an E36 into SM2? http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Rule..._modified.html

All M3's are eligible for SM. SM2 would only be for underweight or overdisplacement (which I imagine would be pretty hard to do with that inline 6). Adding forced induction would be allowable under SM rules. :)

The SM forced induction rule is for 3.0l or less, so 3.2l ('96+) M3's would go to SM2 if they FI.

I sent my letter in. FC w/20B install in progress

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, John,

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you, but I've been busy with the
Solo Nationals and then the Valvoline Runoffs. Now I'm working on over
300 e-mails...

Just wanted to let you know that your letter has been logged and sent to
the SEB for their consideration.

SM2 will continue in 2004 as a supplemental class for National Tours,
ProSolo events, and Nationals. There is no discussion to discontinue
this class.

Thanks for your support of our club and solo.


- Doug

Doug Gill
SCCA Solo Technical Manager
1-800-770-2055
785-232-7215 fax
dgill@scca.com
solotech@scca.com

Dear John--


Thank you for your recent letter to the SEB about national class status for
SM2. Because there has been some confusion about what is and is not
happening with SM2, I wanted to take this chance to give you an update on
where things currently stand.


The SEB is committed to the growth of Solo 2. SM and SM2 have been
phenomenonally successful parts of that growth in the last few years.
Certainly, both classes are clearly integral to the future of Solo. Because
they are so important, ensuring rule stability, clarity, and completeness is
crucial to address. As the number of technical bulletins, clarifications,
and rules proposals generated for SM this year testifies, this goal of
clear, stable, and complete rules for SM has not yet been met.


Both the Street Modified Advisory Committee and the Solo Events Board have
been working hard to identify and resolve areas of ambiguity and
incompleteness in the SM/SM2 rules. It is our hope to present the Board of
Directors a clarified set of rules that will become effective for SM2 upon
publication. The establishment of such rules will better protect
competitors' investments of time, effort, and money in preparing their cars
for competition by ensuring that a car prepared to the rules today will be
legal for competition throughout the year.


Because SM2 is currently a supplemental class, we have the flexibility to
address problems in the rules in a rapid manner. This means that any
identified areas of ambiguity or incompleteness can be remedied. As you
likely know, once a class receives national status such a process is not
possible. Proposed changes to rules for established national classes must
be published in Fastrack, undergo member comment, and be presented to the
Board of Directors for implementation the *following* year. This means that
the work on the SM rule set must progress along two parallel tracks. Areas
of incompleteness and ambiguity can be resolved before we present a proposal
for SM2 national status for the 2004 year to the BoD whereas such rule
changes for SM cannot be enacted until 2005, as the 2004 rules season ended
in August of this year.


Having said all this, let me be very clear that it is our hope and
expectation to forward a complete and clear rule set to the Board of
Directors later this month. The Board of Directors will ultimately make the
decision about whether or not to grant SM2 national class status for 2004.
Unfortunately, this proposal will reach them well after our August 2003
deadline for 2004 changes. Despite this, I am hopeful that they will give
the proposal to grant SM2 national status in 2004 their very careful
consideration. Regardless of their decision, I would like to say very
clearly that any rumor you may have heard about SM2 being discontinued is
untrue. SM2 will continue to be offered, either as a national class or as a
supplemental class, in 2004 and beyond.


Again, thank you very much for your input to the Solo Events Board. I hope
that I've answered your questions, but if I have missed something, please
let me know.


Mari Clements
SoPac Solo Events Board and
one of the liaisons to the
Street Modified Advisory Committee

I'm with Coulthard, I'm far from being anywhere near national caliber, but I support FD3S SM2 drivers that can take their talent all the way to the highest level!