2014 rules change overview

[JSG1901]

Thanks Zach for reminding me...apparently I can't read a calendar!

 

Here's a quick overview of the minor changes being made to the GTS rules for 2014:

 

1. GTS will have a modified racing room definition of "1 car width plus six inches."

 

2. There will be an 0.2 lb/hp penalty for racing sequential gearboxes, which we are defining as gearboxes that weren't available in a street-legal version of the chassis manufacturer's cars.

 

3. We have included a definition of what is and isn't allow for side windows. It's based quite closely on the details I posted here a year or two ago.

 

4. The dyno smoothing factor was changed from 4 to 5 to be in line with other series. Current dyno sheets with a smoothing factor of 4 may continue to be used (no point paying for another one just for that) but anyone who does that should recognize that we will use a factor of 5 for compliance, so any variance at that time will be the problem of the competitor. Fair warning.

 

5. Finally, we have added a catch-all disclaimer which basically says that if we decide to use some other tool for compliance (for instance GPS-based in-car black boxes), we can do so. This was done as a precaution in anticipation of someday having a tool that will work effectively for this, in an effort to head off protests along the lines of "the rules don't say you're allowed to use that for compliance."

 

The only other change is a small wording adjustment to make it clear that the horsepower we're measuring is at-the-wheels horsepower.

 

I hope to have the new rules posted within a day or two.

[JSG1901]

Sorry...one additional change: Engines will be allowed from related GTS-eligible marques.

 

For example, a Porsche may use any engine originally delivered in a Porsche, Volkswagen, or Audi, but may not use an engine from a Bentley or Bugatti because those two brands are not GTS-eligible. Similarly BMW and MINI engines (regardless of their original manufacturer) may be used interchangeably but Rolls-Royce (also owned by BMW) motors may not.

[ILIKETODRIVE]

Sorry...one additional change: Engines will be allowed from related GTS-eligible marques.

 

For example, a Porsche may use any engine originally delivered in a Porsche, Volkswagen, or Audi, but may not use an engine from a Bentley or Bugatti because those two brands are not GTS-eligible. Similarly BMW and MINI engines (regardless of their original manufacturer) may be used interchangeably but Rolls-Royce (also owned by BMW) motors may not.

AWESOME! Copied-pasted in NASA AZ.

[Brad Waite]

All well thought out and reasonable changes. Thanks Scott.

[autodoctor911]

Ah, yes, now I can run a 2.0T in my Boxster. I think the new Cajun/Pajun would have taken care of that option anyways, but I guess I could also run a V10 Lambo engine from a S8 or R8(not really wanting to), or an air cooled type 1 for that matter. It is good to have some more options for Porsches, since it can be very expensive to tune a Porsche motor for more power, and more importantly in this class, a broad but high RPM powerband. I think a 2.0T with the boost limited at lower RPMs to keep the torque from becoming a hindrance in weight penalties would be perfect for my Boxster in GTS 3.

 

Or, how can you fit a BMW 6, 8, 10 or 12 cylinder into a Mini Cooper? Since it is legal now, someone is bound to try.

 

I noticed that Merkur cars are listed on the approved Marques, but not The standard German Ford cars, which would include the Merkur cars and the seventies Mercury Capri, as well as all the German Fords not sold here, but often raced here back in the seventies and eighties. Has no one wanted to race an old Capri, Escort, Sierra(XR4ti), or a modern AWD Focus or Fiesta in GTS. Would it be allowed to run a German Ford, other than the Merkurs? Are the Opels made after they stopped importing them to the US legal for GTS? How about Grey market BMWs, Porsches, Mercedes or Audis, or cars not built for street use at all, like the CUP cars?

 

I assume non production based race cars like a Group C, LMP cars, or a GT-1 car are at least considered tube framed for weight classification, even if the main structure is something other than tubing(non-stock aluminum or carbon monocoque), even if there was a production street version(ie,Mercedes CLK-GTR).

[autodoctor911]

2. There will be an 0.2 lb/hp penalty for racing sequential gearboxes, which we are defining as gearboxes that weren't available in a street-legal version of the chassis manufacturer's cars.

 

 

Is a sequential shift, dog gear conversion of a stock case gearbox also going to be included in this penalty?

 

I believe the first racing sequential in the 997 cup cars is of this type, with a stock G50 case, and some sort of shifter conversion, as well as different internals with dog teeth.

 

The later ones used a sequential that is based on a non-stock case, with real barrel type sequential shift actuation.

 

I think they pretty much function the same to the driver, as long as they are equipped with the flat shift and Blipper hardware and software.

 

Now there are quite a few sequential shift conversions for 996, and 997 street transmissions that are external shifters, that only change the shift pattern, and the clutch would have to be used to shift if the stock internals are used.

 

There are dog engagement gearsets available for a lot of transmissions used in various cars that are legal for GTS. Some of them are sequential shift conversions, some use the standard H pattern shift mechanism, but if you have an external shift converter, may function as a sequential.

 

So, where do all of these variations fall?

[JSG1901]

2. There will be an 0.2 lb/hp penalty for racing sequential gearboxes, which we are defining as gearboxes that weren't available in a street-legal version of the chassis manufacturer's cars.

 

Is a sequential shift, dog gear conversion of a stock case gearbox also going to be included in this penalty?

 

I believe the first racing sequential in the 997 cup cars is of this type, with a stock G50 case, and some sort of shifter conversion, as well as different internals with dog teeth.

 

The later ones used a sequential that is based on a non-stock case, with real barrel type sequential shift actuation.

 

I think they pretty much function the same to the driver, as long as they are equipped with the flat shift and Blipper hardware and software.

 

Now there are quite a few sequential shift conversions for 996, and 997 street transmissions that are external shifters, that only change the shift pattern, and the clutch would have to be used to shift if the stock internals are used.

 

There are dog engagement gearsets available for a lot of transmissions used in various cars that are legal for GTS. Some of them are sequential shift conversions, some use the standard H pattern shift mechanism, but if you have an external shift converter, may function as a sequential.

 

So, where do all of these variations fall?

Good question. A dog gear conversion of an H-pattern street car gearbox would not incur the penalty. At least not now...all of this is subject to change as we have more experience with these things. If you convert a street gearbox to be like a Cup Car gearbox (or, close enough for government work), you're going to get the Cup Car penalty.

 

I have little doubt there are gearboxes, or gearbox component combinations, that are going to fall into a gray area here. What we've done is take a first crack at it, recognizing that there's a significant advantage for some gearboxes and trying to at least begin to address it. Did we get it perfectly right? Not likely. In those gray areas, we'll have to use some judgment until we have more experience.

[JSG1901]

Or, how can you fit a BMW 6, 8, 10 or 12 cylinder into a Mini Cooper? Since it is legal now, someone is bound to try.

Looks like a good place for a mid-engined 12-cylinder.

[JSG1901]

I noticed that Merkur cars are listed on the approved Marques, but not The standard German Ford cars, which would include the Merkur cars and the seventies Mercury Capri, as well as all the German Fords not sold here, but often raced here back in the seventies and eighties. Has no one wanted to race an old Capri, Escort, Sierra(XR4ti), or a modern AWD Focus or Fiesta in GTS. Would it be allowed to run a German Ford, other than the Merkurs? Are the Opels made after they stopped importing them to the US legal for GTS? How about Grey market BMWs, Porsches, Mercedes or Audis, or cars not built for street use at all, like the CUP cars?

 

I assume non production based race cars like a Group C, LMP cars, or a GT-1 car are at least considered tube framed for weight classification, even if the main structure is something other than tubing(non-stock aluminum or carbon monocoque), even if there was a production street version(ie,Mercedes CLK-GTR).

Several thoughts here...

 

First, I'm not sure why the list is what it is. I'm sure if you want to race an old German Opel, or Capri, or whatever, we'd be happy to have a conversation about it. There is a loophole in the rule that allows regional directors to let in other cars as they see fit. But, as it stands today, the list is what the list is. There were zero proposals to alter the list this year when we collected all the rules change suggestions.

 

Non-production cars like Group C prototypes probably don't have VIN numbers, making them ineligible from the start. If they were eligible, then yes, they would be counted as tube framed. I can't imagine trying to choke down a Porsche 962 enough to get into even GTS5, though. What a waste of a car that would be.

 

Bottom line: There are a thousand exceptions to any rule that we can come up with by arm-chair quarterbacking. If there's a real interest in actually running any of these cars, let's talk about it and do something reasonable. Having said that, in my half-dozen years of involvement with GTS I have yet to see the first Opel or Capri or, for that matter, CLK-GTR, trying to get onto the track with us in GTS. We did have a Volvo, though...

 

I look forward to having to deal with the problem of as-yet unlisted but interesting German cars wanting to come out and play.

[autodoctor911]

The only one that really concerns me right now is later model Opels that would have VIN numbers, but were only sold in other countries.

 

The car I'm considering trying to get is an Opel Speedster for a possible GTS race car.

 

I was not aware of the VIN number requirement. Is there a rule that says it must have a U.S. VIN #?

 

Or, just that it have a VIN # of some sort, indicating that it is based on a production car chassis?

 

One issue with me getting a Speedster is of course the price of the base car, and getting it over here. I could get a nearly identical Vauxhall VX220, or Irish Opel Speedster for a lot less money, but it would be right hand drive.

 

I could also get a Saturn Sky roadster, which is nearly identical to the Opel GT right here in the states. A few badges would make it an Opel. There have been a lot of conversions done already, with some people even changing the minor interior pieces to make them identical.

 

I am not just trying to pick at the rules to be a pain.

 

I really would like to drive an Opel in GTS. My first car was a 71 Opel GT, and my Dad had a Manta 1900. I autocrossed my GT, but I got rid of it a few years ago. I thought about building an old Opel GT for GTS, but it has a very ineffective suspension, and I would have to build the suspension up pretty much from scratch to even be competitive. I think it would be more cost effective to try and use a modern chassis.

[JSG1901]

I was not aware of the VIN number requirement. Is there a rule that says it must have a U.S. VIN #?

 

Or, just that it have a VIN # of some sort, indicating that it is based on a production car chassis?

Just a VIN. No "US VIN" requirement.

 

One issue with me getting a Speedster is of course the price of the base car, and getting it over here. I could get a nearly identical Vauxhall VX220, or Irish Opel Speedster for a lot less money, but it would be right hand drive.

 

I could also get a Saturn Sky roadster, which is nearly identical to the Opel GT right here in the states. A few badges would make it an Opel. There have been a lot of conversions done already, with some people even changing the minor interior pieces to make them identical.

I'm afraid the VIN would need to indicate that it's an Open, not a Saturn or Pontiac (or Vauxhall).

 

I really would like to drive an Opel in GTS. My first car was a 71 Opel GT, and my Dad had a Manta 1900. I autocrossed my GT, but I got rid of it a few years ago. I thought about building an old Opel GT for GTS, but it has a very ineffective suspension, and I would have to build the suspension up pretty much from scratch to even be competitive. I think it would be more cost effective to try and use a modern chassis.

Two of my friends in college had Opel GTs (and the keys were interchangeable!). I can't imagine you could build a competitive GTS car out of one of those, but I'm sure a modern car would be a very different situation. And, for what it's worth, there's no requirement that they be left- or right-hand drive.

 

Good luck!