<VV> Seats - Autocross Classification

[Bruce Schug]

On Aug 6, 2009, at 10:57 AM, Chris & Bill Strickland wrote:

>
>> Bruce Schug wrote:
>>
>>> Bryan, you can't seriously tell me you would run IS if you had ...
>>> when my stock class vehicle is bored ...
>>>
>
> Ya know Bruce, I'm not Bryan, but "if" I showed up at an event wanting
> to run it, I'd run my car in whatever class they put me in -- some  
> folks
> put a premium on winning, while other folks may just want the thrill  
> of
> participation.
>

In virtually all autocrosses, including CORSA autcrosses, "they" don't  
put you anywhere. It's your responsibility to classify yourself. Once  
you do this, "they" don't usually question your choice of classes,  
either, it's up to your competitors to protest you, if they think you  
are in the wrong class. CORSA rules include a gentler mechanism,  
whereby a competitor can be asked to re-classify himself. This is a  
pretty neat way to get someone who has classified themselves in a  
lower class than they belong in, to move up to their proper class.

Here are the CORSA Autocross rules as they pertain to classification:


6.12.1 Each competitor shall be responsible for classification of  
their vehicle.
6.12.2 Competition Committee and/or technical inspection personnel  
shall aid in car classification when requested by a competitor
6.12.3 Any competitor that is protested for improper classification  
shall be moved to the correct class without penalty if the protest is  
upheld.
6.12.4 Any driver may request any competitor in his class to re- 
classify his car if he thinks the classification is in error. The  
requested driver shall have the opportunity to reclassify his own car.
6.13 Protests: All protests of event conduct, disqualification, or car  
classification shall be made in writing, shall state the car or reason/ 
circumstances of the protest, and shall be given to the Chairman of  
the CORSA Competition Committee, or other designated individual(s), no  
later than sixty minutes after the protested competitor’s  
disqualification, second run (car classification) or the event’s  
conclusion (event conduct). In protests involving classification,  
competitor’s may still complete their runs. In protests involving  
disqualification, runs may be completed under protest until the  
protest is adjudicated.


I think these rules are pretty thorough.

The biggest questions about classification are always whether a  
vehicle should be in stock or improved stock. I have been a long-time  
proponent of at least IS class cars "declaring" their modifications  
for classification. This would be in the form of a sheet with the  
modifications checked and their total points noted. This sheet would  
be taped to a window for competitors to see. This is not in the rules.

What is in the rules and is also quite good is the "Car Classification  
Form". This starts on page 15 of the rules and is too lengthy to show  
here. But it is a "cook book" of sorts, almost a flow chart, to use in  
determining whether or not you belong in stock or improved stock. I  
think Seth agrees with me as to the use of such a sheet and put this  
in the rules revision. This covers most modifications and in most  
cases will tell an entrant which class he belongs in. Every possible  
modification, such as non-stock seats, replacement dashes, etc.,  
simply can not be included in such a sheet or in the rules.

Understand, a competitor may classify himself in a HIGHER class if he  
pleases. Bryan has noted that he wold run IS with aftermarket seats,  
which are clearly allowable in stock. What a competitor can not do is  
classify himself in a LOWER class and gain an unfair advantage.

I understand the desire to compete, just for the fun of it, but that  
doesn't mean you should be in the wrong class.




Bruce

Bruce W. Schug
Treasurer & Membership Chairman
CORSA South Carolina
Greenville, SC
Stock Corvair Group
Performance Corvair Group
bwschug at charter.net

CORSA member since 1980

'67 Monza. "67AC140"