(MOST RECENT CLASSIFICATION POSTED HERE)

Wurth Motorsports and Bitterman Time Trials have launched the "S2000 Challenge Series", which will be held at all of our upcoming track events. Thanks to everyone who attended our last event at the Streets of Willow; everything seemed to run relatively smoothly and lots of track time was had by all. The S2000 turnout was over 25 cars.

Starting with our next event (Buttonwillow, Jan. 26 and 27) we will have a brand new AMB system with transponders for timing for those of you who wish chart your progress in a non-competitive way or take part in the S2000 Challenge Series, or both. The S2000 challenge will be a time-trial format (not a wheel-to-wheel race) where everyone will be able to compare times to that of other S2000 drivers. We are in the process of developing a classing system to account for various modifications and we are looking for input from the community to help determine what these will be. Just so you know, we intend to post results in a manner that will protect everyone's identity, both at the track and on the web.

The most current classification system follows. I'm not getting tired of doing this, so continued criticism is welcome. We now have 7 classes, but they make sense at least. The points system will require more input from people. The numbers for power improvement and weight reduction mods were actually calculated using a consistent (but not highly accurate) formula. The handling-related mods were based on educated (but not highly educated) guesses:

STOCK
tires: up to 245 width rear tire, 100+ treadwear
stock wheels only
alignment

 

Oh yeah!... bring it on!

I have (at the moment) two ideas/suggestions for classing cars.

My first and most selfish suggestion is that there be a class that essentially mimics the SCCA's Solo2 "Stock" class. This would allow at least any front swaybar, any shocks, any stock sized wheels, any tires, any cat-back exhaust, etc... just like in Solo2 "Stock".

Idea #2 is that all classes (even the most strict off-the-showroom-floor type) allow some basic reliabilty/longevity mods. Mods that dont really have a huge performance impact but would really help out on some of the S2000s racetrack weaknesses and vulnerabilies. I would suggest allowing: any brake pad, any brake fluid, any kind of brake ducting, and the removal of the brake backing plates (aka dust shields).

cheers,
jason keeney

 

I like Jason's ideas but I might suggest that you have:

Stock Class 1 -- No changes allowed other than alignment and air filter.

Stock Class 2 -- Mimic the SCCA's Solo2 "Stock" class with the minor changes allowed.

Mod Class 1 -- All mods except SC or Turbos.

Mod Class 2 -- SC and Turbo cars.

Off topic, Jason, I can't find your "newest" paint job on your website. How bout posting a couple of good pictures of it?

 

I agree with both Jason and CG... With a couple suggestions:

Stock 1 - All stock, alignment, brake pads, brake fluid, brake ducts and dust-shield removal allowed (all safety items.)

Stock 2 - Mimic Solo2 Stock class, allowing a place for the already prepped solo cars to run. Also, allow X-braces and maybe a couple other limited mods that most people like to run (like CAI's). Also, allow DOT tires.

Street Prep 1 - Basically like SCCA's ST rule... allow shocks/springs/sways, braces, x-drilled rotors, etc but DO NOT allow DOT race tires, only street tires over 100 tread-wear.

Street Prep 2 - Open N/A, allow DOT tires.

Mod - Completely open

That's my .02c, I only wish I could run some of these events!

 

not that I can make it, but in Stock 1, do not allow R compound tires either.

 

Yep, I think that's what Jason meant by allowing DOT tires in Stock 2 - DOT legal R compounds...

 

perhaps classing or handicapping by prior experience.

 

Yes, I realized that - I just thought it should have been spelt out clearly.

 

Since my car is set up for SCCA Stock, I too vote for that as one class. I would probably participate.

cal

 

Thanks for all the input. I've started drafting some classification schemes, but had a few questions:

A. How many classes should there be? It seems like everyone is recommending four, and that seems to make sense. Does anyone think there should be only three?

B. For those who really know about the power, handling, and other performance advantages of S2000 mods (on the street or track), how much advantage do the following modifications really give:

A. any front sway bar
B. X-braces, strut tower brace, etc.
C. any cat-back exhaust

The reason I ask is that a lot of people have changed swaybars and added X-braces and changed their exhaust to improve sound. Whatever classification system we end up with will have to take into account the prevalence of certain mods. Obviously any air filter should be allowed since it's cheap and the effect is not noticeable, or barely noticeable, and obviously race tires make a huge difference, so there's not much to discuss with these and other mods because the lack of a distinct advantage, or a clear advantage, is apparent. So, the question is whether different exhausts really help that much in power/weight? Couldn't they be allowed in the bottom class, or next to bottom class, along with front sway, x-braces, and other common mods?

The other issue is that I'm thinking of placing no restrictions on wheel sizes since many people have purchased aftermarket wheels with a wide-variety of sizes and that would make things too complicated. If anything, limiting rear tire width to 245 would make sense in the lower classes and having any size tire allowed in the Open/unlimited class with superchargers, turbos, etc.

Feedback, ideas?

dt