National Staff Greg G. Posted January 29, 2016 National Staff Share Posted January 29, 2016 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 1-29-16 Mazda Miata Driver Seat Floor Pan Appendix A—Technical Bulletins for Specific Models/Items Mazda Miata ('90-'05)--TTB-TTF only: The driver’s side floor pan may be modified to accommodate larger/taller drivers. All modification shall be contained between the transmission tunnel, driver’s side rocker, rear bulkhead and no more than 24” forward of rear bulkhead. The modification shall not extend below the factory floor stiffener/frame rail. The steel used in the modification shall be no thinner than .060”. All modifications shall be welded in place. This modification shall serve no other purpose other than seating position. The assessment for having this modification will be an additional 100 lbs of weight added to the vehicle's base weight (or 100 lbs added to a Dyno Re-class if the vehicle is using a Dyno Re-class instead of the base classing table). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhdinyuma Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 The assessment for having this modification will be an additional 100 lbs of weight added to the vehicle's base weight (or 100 lbs added to a Dyno Re-class if the vehicle is using a Dyno Re-class instead of the base classing table). Might this make this car the one to have in ST or TTU-3 since there would essentially be no penalty as there are no base classes or dyno re-classes in these groups? I realize this bulletin wasn't posted in the ST forum, but it was posted in the TT forum and doesn't specify which classes it applies to, just added to appendix A, so I assume it covers all TT classes. Since TT3=ST3 then by extension it would seem to apply to ST as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
National Staff Greg G. Posted January 31, 2016 Author National Staff Share Posted January 31, 2016 Hal, We added the designation to TTB-TTF, as it was assumed that these modifications at the higher level classes would kick in the Non-Production Vehicle Mod Factor since there was no assessment listed for those classes. But, this should clear that up for you. We have a fair amount of crossover and Supersize competitors from SM to TT and PT, and although we (TT/PT officials) don't agree that this new SM rule was necessary or that it is "only for seat position", we don't want to automatically exclude these vehicles from PT and lower TT classes because the driver chose to make what is now a legal SM modification. In regard to who decided on the amount of weight assessed in this Technical Bulletin, it was the NASA National Chairman with agreement by the NASA National TT/PT/ST Director, and the NASA National Competition Director. It was also decided not to open this modification up to all vehicles, and that the 100 lbs. was enough for the large majority of competitors to agree that this modification would not be worth adding another 100 lbs. to their non-Miata vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricJo Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 we don't want to automatically exclude these vehicles from PT and lower TT classes because the driver chose to make what is now a legal SM modification. Then why are the extended ball joints for Miatas still 2 points? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
National Staff Greg G. Posted February 1, 2016 Author National Staff Share Posted February 1, 2016 we don't want to automatically exclude these vehicles from PT and lower TT classes because the driver chose to make what is now a legal SM modification. Then why are the extended ball joints for Miatas still 2 points? Does two points exclude the vehicle from participating in the Series? Without this exception, the vehicle would not be permitted in any PT class or TTB-TTF class. Look guys, there is SM and there is PT/TT. They have different rules. If you want the top podium car in SM, then you better do every possible modification that is allowed--which may include dropping the seat even if you are 5'3" tall. If you want a top podium PT or TT car, then you better build to those rules, and do everything that you can that is allowed, and don't make modifications that cost points or extra weight that are not worth those assessments for your vehicle. BTW, if extended ball joints are not worth 2 points when a class jump is 20 points, and classes are spaced by about 2-3 seconds, giving a rough estimate of .1-.15 seconds per lap per point, then don't put on extended ball joints (whether you have a Miata or any other model vehicle). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILIKETODRIVE Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 we don't want to automatically exclude these vehicles from PT and lower TT classes because the driver chose to make what is now a legal SM modification. Then why are the extended ball joints for Miatas still 2 points? ...Because they are +2 for all cars (see: E.16). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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