soundguydave Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 With all the drama surrounding Aaron's fascia, I just had to ask... I'm re-assessing my car, and want some guidance on the points to take here... The fascia in question is a Steeda piece, and here are some notes: the outer openings were for aftermarket foglights, which I have not installed. They lead nowhere, passenger's side dead-ends into the washer bottle, and the driver's side vents into the space ahead of the inner fenderwell, and the only thing in there is the relocated oil filter. Neither lead to the air box. I can/will tape them off if necessary. The inner openings, right next to the foglight holes, are purpose designed for brake ducts, and as such should be exempted per no-point-mod number 25. The lower grille opening is EXACTLY the same size as the OE fascia, in fact the OE lower grille trim physically fits in there, but there are no mounting tabs. The OE fascia has the outer 4" completely blocked off behind the trim, but even with the OE fascia, I would have cut that out to allow airflow to the aftermarket oil cooler that resides right there. The lower grille area feeds directly into the radiator and oil cooler, and does not feed to the air box. Steeda is an information-exchange partner with Ford, and the fascia is completely identical to the OE piece down to the curves, angles, dimensions and accent lines, excepting the ducts, lower grille, and silly little lip spoiler. In essence, the fascia is the same thing that I could have made myself, if I bolted a lip spoiler to the OE piece, and grabbed a sawzall to open up the ducts and lower grille, except that it actually looks good... To sum up: The Steeda fascia is functionally and physically identical to the OE fascia, with the exception of the deleted lower grille trim (no-point 13), the brake duct inlets (no-point 25), chin spoiler (Aero rule #2) and the foglights. I'm pretty certain that if the foglights were taped off, they would comply with no-point 57, but would they if I left them open for aesthetics? My interpretation is that the fascia meets the OE rule, excepting the +3 point assessment for the lip spoiler, and incorporating the three no-point rules, 13, 25, and 57. Is there any dissension? I'm a B- driver on a good day, so I'm not worried about killing track records, but I do want to be legal in case I DO have a good day and get protested... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
National Staff Greg G. Posted May 26, 2009 National Staff Share Posted May 26, 2009 13) Radiator upgrade/shrouding/fascia modification (drilled or cut holes/slots) that only provides increased airflow to the radiator or oil/transmission coolers (without aerodynamic or engine air intake improvement) 25) Brake duct addition or modification, including electric fans (water sprayers are illegal). Two holes may be cut or drilled out of the front fascia for brake air ducts. Any hole providing improved intake air to the engine will be assessed one (1) point under Engine 13). 57) Headlamps, headlight covers, and fog lights may all be removed, and the holes may be covered with material that replicates the shape of the OEM light/cover, leaving the shape of the OEM fascia intact. Uncovered holes may be used for brake ducts. Any hole providing improved intake air to the engine will be assessed one (1) point under Engine 13). Where does it say in any of these No-Points Modifications that replacing with an aftermarket (non-OEM) fascia is part of the above points-free mods? The first one says "fascia modfication", not replacement. The second one says "brake duct addition or modification", not non-OEM fascia with brake ducts added. The third one says that "Headlamps, headlight covers, and fog lights may all be removed". It doesn't say that a non-OEM fascia can be used that has added fog light holes that won't be used? Basically, if you look at the rules last year regarding fascia replacement and modification vs. this year, we got rid of the problem that you are now trying to present some Official with--trying to determine if there is any change to this Non-OEM aftermarket fascia that provides ANY slight improvement in aero. This part is clearly not identical in size and shape as the OEM version, so it does not meet the definition of an aftermarket replacement part that would be considered a legal OEM replacement. We (Officials) do not have the time or resources to try and spec out every inch of your OEM fascia vs this aftermarket one (that also has a splitter component), and try and subjectively decide if it is "fair" to not assess points for it. I am not saying that this piece is anywhere as good as another one that would take the same points. I'm just saying that if you don't want to take the points, then use your stock fascia, cut the legal holes as described above, and add a splitter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundguydave Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 Okay, fair enough... Relax a little bit, though, I do have logic to support my argument. The Steeda fascia is indeed "identical in size and shape" to the OE piece in any way that would matter, with the exception of the duct inlets, fog holes, and splitter. It was designed that way, using the OEM CAD files (Steeda is a development partner and an OE supplier). I would happily take the points for the splitter, but think for a minute... Leaving off the ducts for the moment, let's assume that the only difference between the two pieces was the fact that the splitter was molded in. That makes it an aftermarket piece, in your eyes, and subject to a +3 assessment. Then you add the additional +3 for the splitter, for a total of +6. In what possible world would the molded in splitter be worth an additional 3 points over an identical bolted-on version? Looks like I can save 3 points by using the stock fascia and adding a combined splitter/undertray that extends another couple of inches forward AND back, and using brake ducts the size of a Chicago pothole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenixR34 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Looks like I can save 3 points by using the stock fascia and adding a combined splitter/undertray that extends another couple of inches forward AND back, and using brake ducts the size of a Chicago pothole. Sounds like a good idea to me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
National Staff Greg G. Posted May 26, 2009 National Staff Share Posted May 26, 2009 Exactly. Dave, we are not going to be taking rides on slippery slopes that we don't need to. When we re-wrote the rule last year, it became simple---aftermarket fascia = +3 points. We had too much controversy over these things, and there was starting to be way too much subjective input into whether or not this or that cost points or helped with aero, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbrew8991 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 are you sure you didn't mold that splitter in when you installed it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGZOSTD Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 That is definitely a modified bumper cover, plus a GT has no lip on the bottom. That's why I have my bodywork stock. I will run a air dam and side skirts but not in the lower tt classes. People have to be carefull about all the mods they do and start open trackin and its all great untill they decide to go into tt. Spend your money carefully. The man-hole ducts will serve as an air brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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