Prep Differences Between SM and ITx

[Greg Amy]

Can someone detail for me what is allowed in Spec Miata that is not allowed in Improved Touring? In other words, what is it about a fully-prepped '99+ SM that is not compliant to ITS? Or what about a '90 or '95 SM that is not compliant for ITA?

For background, I'm asking for Scrutineering purposes in Super Touring Light. There's a lot of confusion - and outright cheating - that is causing some consternation among scrutineers.

I'd make a personal comment about "leave it to the Spec Miata crowd to f**k up a good thing" but I won't...

- GA

[Ed Funk]

You are the very epitome of restraint.

[ner88]

Mainly power steering rack. SM allows one to de-power the rack. The cars were available with manual racks but 99% are de-powered, mainly because manual racks are hard to find and can only be purchases new(new 99' manual rack is $580.)

On 1990-1993 or 1.6 cars, SM rules allow the later torsen dif. but it also is not IT complient.

SSM rules do not require a kill switch

[Chip42]

rear diff carrier and some allowed suspension (brake?) component swaps between years with same body but different engine is a big SM allowance difference from IT. SM has to maintain more stock components and only recently was allowed over-bores and the like and then only with added weight.

you see a fair amount of double dipper SM guys in IT who are in breach of IT rules. I'm sure you see the same in ST. ST requires one hell of a scrutineer.

[mossaidis]

I believe SM folks swap transmissions beyond the spec line years listed in IT. Jerry - please confirm.

[ner88]

I believe SM folks swap transmissions beyond the spec line years listed in IT. Jerry - please confirm.

although its possible, there really is no difference, gear ratios are all the same...
how would you know if a 142 Volvo or Opel GT has the original gear box???

[mossaidis]

I guess tranny codes. I know there's the rules and there's cheatin. Doesn't sound like trannies swapped out of an 90 into 98 or vice versa is cheatin'.

[Andy Bettencourt]

I would think that the 99+ SM's are running SM weight and taking out their RP's...keeping them legal for ITS. No allowances for those cars that would be illegal in ITS come to mind except ride height, but that applies to all three versions (1.6, 1.8 and 1.8 99+).

I can't think of anything for the 1.8's that would be illegal for ITA either except the mentioned de-powered steering rack for all years.

The 1.6 is a different issue. Conversion to the 94-05 diff assembly is legal in SM but not in IT as has been stated too, but they probably have the 4.3 gear in there per the SM rules, not that it matters.

Why types of issues are we seeing that are resulting in problems? As long as they are running IT weights, the cars are certainly not more potent.

[Greg Amy]

Here's the prettier version.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...99/Spotter.pdf

Andy, I left out the .025 head shaving part for breviry. If it gets to that point I'm confident the scrutineers are going to dig into the book first.

- GA

[Gregg]

Greg-

Perhaps I need to look a bit further but I'm not sure where you get the splitter 3" off the ground rule for IT.

9.1.3.8.c says that "No part of the car, except for the exhaust system and suspension components, shall be lower than the lowest part of the wheel rims."

There's no specific height off the ground listed in the IT rules.

Also, I think stuff like the updating/backdating of the diff housing and and subframe braces (ie. disallowance of update/backdate in IT between vehicles on separate spec lines) should find their way in there.

[ner88]

Greg, it all looks good to me!

Now, I'll put on my race chairman's hat...What's the down side of allowing the de-powered rack?

[Greg Amy]

...I'm not sure where you get the splitter 3" off the ground rule for IT....lower than the lowest part of the wheel rims."

Absolutely correct. Got my regs mixed up. I'll adjust.

What's the down side of allowing the de-powered rack?

In IT? Nothing at all. In fact, over the last decade or so I've requested that to be allowed in IT at least three times I can recall. Each were rejected back as "not within the philosophy of the class".

Allowing depowered racks in STL? It is allowed. But we're not going to get into regs adjustments that mix-and-match category regs, such as "IT regs but you can still de-power the rack." That's not the purpose of the alternate category allowances; their purpose is to allow alternate categories to compete. If you have a Spec Miata, race it in STL as a Spec Miata; if you have an ITS Miata then race it in STL as an ITS Miata.

But if you want to race a Miata in STL without a restrictor plate but with a de-powered rack, build it to STL specs and slap on some poundage.

- GA

[ner88]

Greg, I agree 100% but allowing the de-powered rack makes the transition much easier and is probably the number 1 abused/overlooked rule for Miatas crossing over to IT.

So, we pass off this list and suddenly we are tossing cars at a wholesale rate!

What we can't afford, as a club, is to drive away more entries.

[Chip42]

Greg, I agree 100% but allowing the de-powered rack makes the transition much easier and is probably the number 1 abused/overlooked rule for Miatas crossing over to IT.

So, we pass off this list and suddenly we are tossing cars at a wholesale rate!

What we can't afford, as a club, is to drive away more entries.

the answer is a very narrow view on what is allowed in IT that has served the class well over the decades, but still always seen as a stodgy and out of touch by many current participants. long term, it's best to leave the rules alone. short term, we need the entries, and Miatas are a lot of those. we have to make the decision individually about how much we care about rule infractions vs. numbers on track, and hope that works out well for the club.

the Miata is the best and worst thing to ever happen to the club in my lifetime.