<VV> CORSA Autocross Rules Answers

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/21/2006 9:07:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time,  
n556p at yahoo.com writes:

I've recently been reading the CORSA Autocross Rules and  came
across something that raises a couple of questions.
In the section on Improved Stock cars, there is a list  of
modifications each with a "point penalty".  There is no indication  of a
correlation to these "penalty" points and track  time. 
They really are not penalty points, they are a way of classifying cars with  
modifications. If someone runs any of the identified items, they are moved out 
 of Street Stock category and into Improved Stock (at least). They can add  
any of those mods in street stock, until their total reaches 100 points. If 
they  exceed 100 points, they move into Street modified class. 
 
 

It seems  to be
only a system of saying what type of modifications are allowed in  the
class.  If this is true, does a car with a full 100 points worth  of
modifications compete even-up with a car that would qualify for  Street
Stock class except that it has 65 series tires?
Yes, unfortunately, that is exactly what it means. There can only be so  many 
categories (five) and within Street Stock 5 classes and within Improved  
Stock 5 more. Please remember that the Corsa National Autocross rules are only  in 
force at the (Inter)National Convention. For any other event, they are  
suggested guidelines. Unlike the SCCA rules, they are not intended as a  "build-it" 
guide for an aspiring autocrosser. (Although some folks do "build" a  car to 
run at the Convention, by removing a part or two which would push them  into a 
higher class) Building a car to run it once a year at the Convention  is kind 
of silly. The intent of the point rule is to allow cars with  various 
different modifications to compete with one another. People show up with  their 
modified street Corvairs and hope to run at the Convention autocross. Most  of them 
can look through the rule book and calculate where their car should run.  
Yes, there are some "deal-breakers" - The 65 series tire moves the car to  
Improved Stock. This may change, by the way, all of the rules are subject to  
revision, but the tire availability situation may well drive the rules to  be more 
liberal in tire sizes.
 


Speaking of tires, the rules say that an IS car  can use "any DOT
approved tire".  How is this interpreted in light of  the many new
DOT-approved competition tires that have become available in  the last
few years?
Well - As an example of the "revision" of the rules, IS-5 was added as a  
class a few years ago to move all the cars with "R" tires (DOT legal, but  
intended for Competition) into a "higher performance" class, IS-5. This is based  on 
wear ratings on the tire sidewall. If the wear rating doesn't say a  number 
of 180 or higher, you run in IS-5, or SM if you exceed the 100 point  limit.
 


Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom and  experience.

Phil Raker
65 Corsa 140


Well - You get experience anyway!  - Seth  Emerson