STL weights?

[Greg Amy]

Mister Two, the RX-8 ran as a full-boat STL specs car. Allow me to clarify.

For the IT part of this discussion, I'm referencing this reg, on the table on page 564 of the November GCR:

ITS, ITA, ITB, or ITC vehicles with a reciprocating piston engine of 2L or less engine displacement. (1985-) / Must completely conform to ITCS specifications.

This means that any 2L or smaller IT car - except ITR cars - can race in STL using their ITCS specs*. Since the IT-spec Mazda RX-8 is in ITR, and it's a rotary engine, it is not eligible for inclusion in STL under the IT allowance.

However, scroll down to the next page in that same table, and you'll see that the Mazda Renesis engine is explicitly allowed into STL at 2970 pounds (almost 300# more than a 2L piston engine). Further note that STL is an engine-centric class, meaning we do not restrict much access to what chassis you can install these allowed engines into, only to add weight for RWD and subtract weight for FWD struts. Therefore, the Mazda RX-8 chassis is allowed - with the RWD adder - and it can run the Renesis engine with a base weight (before RWD adder) of 2970 pounds.

"So then", you may ask, "why not run ITR-spec RX-8 in STL?" Good question, and it's for a few reasons:

- The RX-8's ITR weight is too low at 2850; in STL, with the RWD adder, it currently must weigh 3074;
- Max wheel size in STL is 17x7; ITR allows 8.5" wide wheels;
- The stock brakes on the Mazda RX-8 exceeds STL's maximum rotor diameter allowance of 290mm;
- I'm guessing the ITR RX-8 uses tires that exceed STL's 225 section width maximum.

If someone is willing to change these items to comply with STL regs - as did the Huffmasters - then they can run in STL in the RX-8. But then they would no longer be compliant to ITR.

Make sense?

As for the Huffmasters' RX-8, I don't disagree with you that this should be an STU engine. Despite the significant weight disadvantage, what we're dealing with here is yet another Miata-like combination of a decent engine and a fantastic chassis with excellent balance, braking, and handling. The STAC/CRB recognize how well it's doing, and are considering adjustments. Nothing has yet been decided, keep eyes open for the next couple Fastracks.

- Greg

* In reality, this reg really only applies to the Integra Type R, Acura RSX, and Honda S2000.