Does anyone know if these are legal? Personally I think they would fall under a "Cosmetic" upgrade but someone might look at the flared rocker and think it creates downforce.....

What do you think? Thanks,

Stuart

 

I'd say its illegal. I REALLY want to put on a dealer installed aero kit on my MCS, but, any deviation from stock is not allowed.

 

Definitely illegal. So is swapping out the stock gas door for the Chrome "S" cap...

Brian

 

*2005 SCCA Rulebook*

13.2 "A" States that accesories, guages, lighting appearance or comfort and convienence items that have no effect on performance or do not materially reduce weight are allowed.

13.2 "C" states that any gas cap can be used. Even though replacing the "S" gas cap does not replace the stock gas cap.

What makes the "S" gas cap illegal? I cannot see any performance gain from this modification.....Please explain.

 

Side skirts are used neither for comfort nor convenience, so that's not even the rule that applies. The rule that applies doesn't exist, and that's the point, if it doesn't say you can, you can't.

Changes in Aerodynamics have never been allowed in Stock. No matter how little a change it is, it's not stock and no specific rule allows it.

BTW, side skirts are not even a legal change for Street Prepared, it DOES say that in the rule book since they specifically allow changes in wings.

As for the gas "cap". I'm referring to the door, not the cap. The rule you're reading is for Caps, not gas doors. There's a difference. Again, no rule specifically allows the change so it's not allowed.
So you know, the Cooper S door is heavier than a Cooper door if I'm not mistaken. The "S" door/fake cap is metal whereas the Coopers is plastic...I think.

(I'm not quoting anything right now, since I'm not looking at a book at work, feel free to prove the above wrong.)

Brian

 

I can understand why the side skirts would not be allowed but I'm still confused about the gas cap.

Yes, the "S" gas cap weighs slightly more but the rule states you can make accesory upgrades as long as they do not reduce the weight or have any effect on performance. I guess one would have to prove that there is an effect on performance to win the protest unless I'm reading the rule wrong(entirely possible).

Personally, no one has ever mentioned anything to me about adding the "S" gas cap to my car, not even Mark Chiles. That doesn't mean it's legal it probably just means no one has considered it a performance add on.

Either way, I'm always amazed at how various rules are interpreted by different people and how easily one can become frustrated with the rules that surround it.....

Stuart

 

Stuart, my point is that a gas DOOR is not a comfort or a convenience, it's an appearance. "Comfort and Convenience", judging from all the past interpretations, is meant to mean armrests, replacement stereos, guages, etc.

I'm sure nobody will protest you. But I wanted to put a Cooper door on my "S", but I'm not messing with that...

Brian

 

IMHO, the S fuel door is not legal on the Cooper. But no one would ever protest you for it. And if they did, there would probably be no penalty.

 

Yeah, I'll probably keep it on even though it's potentially illegal. I might switch it out if I go to Nationals just so there's no beef but I'm still up in that air about that. Thanks for all the input......It's always a pleasure

Stuart