SCCA STX 2012 - R56 Class Prep / Introduction

[GreyLens]

I recently started following a thread on a BMW forum started by "race2win" which is focused on the challenge of building a BMW E30 that would be able to win at the SCCA Nationals in Sept. race2win is evidently a multiple champion at the nationals but not with the E30. He has won with Miata's in the STR class in the past. The E30 has never won there in STX and the consensus is it is too hard to build a national level car in STX with the E30. This is an excellent thread. I if you're interested in this subject I encourage you to follow it.

SCCA STX E30 Build/Introduction - R3VLimited Forums

SCCA STX E30 Build/Introduction - R3VLimited Forums

What is interesting to me is, though the E30 is a wholly different platform than the MINI JCW, many of the core issues/challenges with the platform are similar to those faced by the MINI JCW, which is also not considered a nationally competitive car in STX.

While I certainly don't have the driving skills to actually be competitive at the nationals this year I'm seriously considering and halfway planning to go to the nationals in September. If I do I'd like the GreyLenz to at least be in the ballpark from a configuration perspective.

So, I plan to work through many of the issues that race2win, as a national level driver, is addressing in his thread for the E30 except, obviously, I'm only a locally semi-competitive driver focused on the R56 JCW platform. If there is interest in this subject this year I'll continue, if not...

I'll try to keep the posts segmented and better titled this time.

[Nathan]

While I'm a horrible AutoX'er, I get lost in the sea of cones, I'd be quite interested to read about your trials and tribulations as the season progresses.

[GreyLens]

I've copied and posted race2win's description of STX with a few minor edits:

"SCCA STX rules for those that don't know...

The street touring category is the most popular in SCCA Solo, & continues to grow each year. In a nutshell, the cars are stock with the following exceptions

- Emmisions-legal engine bolt-ons limited to intake, exhaust (with cats), chips/re-flash or any ECU programming in the stock case. Otherwise engine must be totally stock & original...no bolting in a "i" motor in an "e"

- The suspension is mostly open allowing most any shock/strut/spring combo as long as the suspension type stayes the same & the original pick-up points & geometry is used. Any sway bar, strut bar, camber plates, etc.

- Transmissions & diffs must be stock, but any limited slip unit can be used.

- Interior must be stock, but race seats can be used, harnesses, any steering wheel, & any shift linkage. (Replacement seats have to weigh at least 25 lbs.)

- One of the most desirable aspects of the category though is the tires...no R-compound tires allowed like in other SCCA categories. Only street tires with a minimum of 140 treadwear are allowed, so the tire budgets are more managable than the other categories (it takes a minimum of 2 sets of $1100 Hoosiers to stay competitive in our E-Stock Miata each season, & those are 14" tires!).

Currently, the STX class allows most 2 or 4-door coupes/sedans from 2.5-5.1 liters normally aspirated & 2.0 liters or less forced induction. The current cars-to-have are 3-series 6-cyl BMWs, 02+ 2.0 liter Subaru WRX, Mazda RX8, & the E30 M3. Each of these cars has strong points & can win, but compared to them the 6-cyl E30 is lighter (as much as 300+ lbs lighter), & it's narrowerer, meaning it should get through slaloms & transitions very well. It does have less power, but the power-to-weight should still be very close, & more importantly it has one of the best tire-to-weight ratios."

Compare MINI JCW:

The MINI JCW is clearly considered not very competitive in the STX category at the national level. Then, again, there aren't many that I can find that have been campaigned at that level. For several reason's I'll discuss in this thread as we go, it looks to me like we can learn from race2win's experience with the E30 even though the E30 is a RWD and the JCW is FWD.

I've also learned some things recently from k-huevo regarding limitations with my AST based suspension set up that was a bit of a surprise for both of us. I'll explain that and a few other findings for you to consider. race2win is also looking at AST's for his E30 build.

Btw, k-huevo's maintenance thread is excellent. If you haven't yet discovered it...

Today's Job

STX vs D Street Prepared:

I've noted in a couple of other threads recently that I was seriously considering moving to DSP. To make a long story short...I'm staying in STX. The DSP category is a slippery slope. I'll discuss why later if anyone asks.

[GreyLens]

Originally Posted by Nathan

While I'm a horrible AutoX'er, I get lost in the sea of cones, I'd be quite interested to read about your trials and tribulations as the season progresses.

Thanks. I'm entering my third year of autox and I'm just now getting used to seeing through the "waves of orange" out there. It's a great sport! I'd love to see more MINI's out there in STX. MINI's came on strong in the early days because they didn't know how to class them. Now that the classification rules are settling the MINI's into a clearly more competitive field it is getting tougher to win. Should be interesting. Hopefully, we can learn some things from each other. I'm sort of shooting in the dark down here being the only MINI to drive autox regularly in the San Antonio / Austin area.

[GreyLens]

Here's a quick perspective on the cars and results at the 2011 Nationals.

There were 44 entries in STX which allowed for twelve trophies. The old Honda Civics took 7 of the twelve trophies to include the first four positions. There were 3 RX-8's, a BMW M3 and BMW 325 in the top twelve. The Civics have finally been prevented from class hopping. So, if you remove them from the formula the top cars were:

BMW 325, BMW M3, RX-8, and two WRX's.

No MINI's entered and all the cars were 6 to 15+ years old. Conventional wisdom says building to compete at this level takes about 3 to 5 years plus.

There were no E30's as race2win is building and no MINI's.

I'm not planning or trying, of course, to build a MINI that can truly compete at this level. But, following some of the ideas might be helpful in competing at the local level and maybe at a couple of the Tire Rack Tour events. In any event, I think this will be fun and hopefully useful to some to write a bit about.

[GreyLens]

The GREYLENZ is a 2009 JCW (Factory). To set perspective I thought I'd list the mods I have in place. Many of them are for fun but several are key upgrades for STX.

1. NM Engineering CAI
2. NM Eng Air Charge Pipe
3. NM Eng Discharge Pipe
4. NM Eng Torque Arm Insert
5. NM Eng Titanium Turbo Heat Shield
6. NM Eng Steel Brake Lines
7. NM Eng Short Shifter Adapter
8. NM Eng Shifter Assembly Box Cover
9. Whalen Shifter Knob
10. Whalen Brake Handle
11. Kosei K1 TS 17x7 Wheels
12. Hankook RS-3 215-45-17 Tires
13. JCW Factory Anti-Sway Bar
14. AST 5100 Shocks
15. Swift 60Nmm Springs front and rear
16. Whalen Turbo Wrap
17. Whalen Heat Shield for scoop
18. Vorshlag Variable Camber Plates (the new improved model in red)
19. OS Giken Limited Slip Differential

I also have the COBB AccessPort and run the Stage One tune for daily driving just for the fun of it. I remove the tune and go to stock for STX competition because no boost changes are allowed in STX. I may get a tune that does a few things without any boost change but for now it is the stock tune that was available about 8 months ago. I'll get an update on the stock tune from COBB soon. They usually have a much more current stock tune than what the dealer will have on your car. It takes the dealer a very long time to update your tune due to their very old computer technology so they just don't update it very often unless you ask. The AccessPort does much more and is worth checking out. You can get it from Alta Performance and their support for the product is excellent in my experience.

I've not upgraded the intercooler...not allowed in STX.

On of the biggest upgrades in autox is, of course, wheels and tires (and an LSD...will discuss later). I have a pretty good set up for now but I will discuss a different approach to that issue in another post.

I also upgraded the 2009 JCW aero kit with the OEM JCW 2010 brake ducts and slightly more aggressive splitter.

[ScottinBend]

How do the scrutineers determine if the boost has been adjusted.....self regulated?

[GreyLens]

Originally Posted by ScottinBend

How do the scrutineers determine if the boost has been adjusted.....self regulated?

Great question! I really don't know. The new STX rules allow for "in line" devices to change the ECU tune which is a big change. But, they don't allow direct changes in "boost levels." This is the one area of the rules that I think needs to be reconsidered. With the AccessPort, if one were really sneaky and wanted to cheat, I think you could do it anytime, except maybe at the nationals. I just always take it off for an event. Since I'm staying in STX I'm also not installing the intercooler I've had sitting in my garage for a year+. I'd like to set it up to use at the track...but too much hassle if I'm staying in STX. These two upgrades are pretty common. You'd think they would allow them in STX.

[BThayer23]

[Redbeard]

Originally Posted by GreyLens

Thanks. I'm entering my third year of autox and I'm just now getting used to seeing through the "waves of orange" out there. It's a great sport! I'd love to see more MINI's out there in STX. MINI's came on strong in the early days because they didn't know how to class them. Now that the classification rules are settling the MINI's into a clearly more competitive field it is getting tougher to win. Should be interesting. Hopefully, we can learn some things from each other. I'm sort of shooting in the dark down here being the only MINI to drive autox regularly in the San Antonio / Austin area.

Grey, I have VERY good news for you. My fiancee and I (both AutoX'ers) are moving to Austin. We are looking forward getting back into our sport. While I'm not a JCW and not the best autox'er I still have a good time and work to get faster. So, you will have MINI company soon.

Originally Posted by GreyLens

Great question! I really don't know. The new STX rules allow for "in line" devices to change the ECU tune which is a big change. But, they don't allow direct changes in "boost levels." This is the one area of the rules that I think needs to be reconsidered. With the AccessPort, if one were really sneaky and wanted to cheat, I think you could do it anytime, except maybe at the nationals. I just always take it off for an event. Since I'm staying in STX I'm also not installing the intercooler I've had sitting in my garage for a year+. I'd like to set it up to use at the track...but too much hassle if I'm staying in STX. These two upgrades are pretty common. You'd think they would allow them in STX.

It's a fuzzy area but in most cases those issues are brought-up via protest. At regional or national levels you do open yourself to having to allow officials at the time of protest to examine your car which can include checking the ECU.

In the R56 there are a few mods that can be made mechanically that are legal that MIGHT give you an extra pound of boost that are STX allowed. So you get extra boost without directly adjusting boost levels via Accessport or other fun device.

Realistically, most everyone cheats at Nationals. They make mods that are hard to find or notice that will give them those few extra tenths. You'll never see blatant mods because it will be VERY obvious when you are running away from the class.