With no more STX, which class are you going with?
 

Seems like even running R888s or a streetable 100AA tire in SMF may be a better option that trying to fit 11" wheels and running STU.

What say you?

I've already asked STH people locally if they mind me running their class...

Has SCCA announced that they're killing the STX class?!?

EDIT: Nevermind. I found it. Really sucks that MINIs keep getting kicked around and put in Street Touring classes where they have trouble being competitive. It almost feels like the SCCA has a hate on for MINIs sometimes.

Am I missing something? Where is the announcement?

On small local lots I think an STX prep R56 would still crush STU, I think you need room to run before the bigger, more powerful cars can close the gap. The index change is brutal for overall points if your region does that though. (.815 -> .828)

SMF is a pretty big commitment in prep cost, cost per run, and pretty much taking your car out of DD-ability if you actually want to be competitive. And one of those ancient flyweight Hondas is a far better SMF choice.

I don't think there's a great place, from a National perspective, for an R56 S anymore. It's still a hilariously fun autocross car and plenty capable locally with the larger talent spread.

You raise good points.

Are you sure that Cooper is kicked out of STX? Should we wait for the end of the year, or december fastrack?

STU

Following taext copied from page 5 of the SCCA July 2018 Fastrack News:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...28cdad9d9f.jpg

Craig Wilcox did finish second at Nationals this year in what looked like a STX+ prepped car. It was a weird year with all the rain but if Brian Kuehl had made another run in EP instead of SMF, Craig would have won the class by 4 seconds over the best finishing Honda.

At the local level, the mini can fit some pretty fat front tires by just removing the plastic overfenders and street modified lets you fix some of the dumb mini stuff that breaks all the time. STX turned into a ghost town locally once everyone figured out their BRZs have no torque. The only real problem with SMF is the 2125lb minimum weight for the 1.6 engine. I am not sure how you would get there even with fancy carbon fiber bits everywhere.

Officially official in December Fast Track. Yes, I realize the F56 base is listed in both classes, I'd wager they intended that to go to STU as well.

Thanks for the update

As Bill Cioni pointed out on the SCCA NER site, this change is NOT effective in 2019.

Unless noted otherwise the effective date for all new rule, class, and listing change proposals herein is 1/1/2020.

Cheers,

Charlie

I'll bet 5 internet points that date is in error.

Might be - but if so it's a publication error from SCCA,

Here's the PDF, using the link emailed from SCCA.

Both the fire and the frying pan are nice and toasty.

Cheers,

Charlie

2019 rules draft posted on scca.com last night, and R56 is indeed in STU. R53 stays in STX. I win one internet dollar.

You can electronically turn up the boost, but not mechanically in ST. So the R56/F56 have a distinct advantage over the R53 in that sense.

Basically, they wanted to protect the golden cow FR-S/BRZ/86 from the scary little fwd economy hatchback. Having their one own spec class in SSC was not enough, they need two spec classes.

This ↑

Seems MINIs always get the shaft classing-wise for auto-x. Total BS. And I'm still of the opinion that the R53 should be in STH.

Since when? They were competitive for years in GS and HS. Then they were competitive for years in STX. Since when has the Mini always gotten shafted in classing?

Maybe non-S MINIs are competitive in GS and HS, but the R53 is having a hard time competing against the BRZ / FR-S / 86 in the hands of a competent driver in STX. Still believe it should be competing in STH against the Talon turbo, Fiesta ST and Focus ST. But that's juts my opinion.

The Cooper S was competitive for years in GS. Then it was moved to DS to make space for other cars in GS. The justa has been competitive in HS for years and still is although it's getting harder. Admittedly the r53 never really had a good place to play in ST* however the r56 did well in STX for years and yet nobody built them. IMO the R53 isn't a turbo and is also way lighter/smaller than other things in STH and as such doesn't really fit the "vision" of the class. I think the Fiesta ST is the lightest thing in STH currently and it's still like 200lbs heavier than a well built R53.

The mini has always been in a weird place for autocross because it is smaller and lighter than cars with equal suspension technology. It roughly competes with the Focus ST on power to weight, suspension, diff, etc but it is the size of the Fiesta ST. Considering how few actually make it to events, I sort of understand why they are being pushed out. It is tough to make a class where they are a contender but not a favorite. With that in mind, I am curious if the new Clubman and 4 door hatchback could fit into GS and STH. The extra weight and size push them closer to the GTI and focus.

The Mini only really started getting shafted after cars that SCCA started to like came out.

IE: Fiesta ST moved down to HS so it can beat base Mini
R56 S moved from GS to DS so Focus ST can win
R56 S/F56 moved from STX to STU so BRZ/FRS can win
R56 S/F56 not eligible for STH so Fiesta/Focus ST can win

I've started running STH locally after checking with my main competitor. No plans to compete at national tours anymore. There won't be a Ft. Myers Match Tour or Pro Solo again and that's the max I'd want to travel nowadays. Screw SCCA and their black magic.