What the hell is that, just because you put a different shift knob on your car they consider that as modified? I dont get it. I can see if you have done suspention work on your car. But A shift Knob, "come on", Does a shift knob make your car go faster or perform any better than stock. I dont think so!

 

That one is a bit silly, especially on the already great S2000. The rule is derived from some older cars where you can't really distinguish between a new shift knob and a short-shift kit. Any mod that can improve the driver/vehicle performance, be it shoulder harnessess, extra seat cushioning, even a short shift kit, are not allowed in stock class.

They are allowed Street Prepared, but so are a whole lot of other things, things that can make a car almost unstreetable. Ah well, such is life...

 

That's stupid... I agree; use 02 knob (OEM), assuming you an earlier model.

 

I Have a 2001 model Silver/Blk int.

 

Autocross rules are beyond stupid. A lot of those stock class cars aren't exactly stock.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2kRob
[B]Autocross rules are beyond stupid.

 

well the major car enthusiast say...a heavier shift knob will effect performance. Makes for quiker shifts. But it sure as hell is nothing ur gonna notice.

 

okay... just to play devils advocate for a second...

if you're arguing that changing shift knobs doesnt have an effect on performance.. .then why do you feel the need to change it?

 

for looks....

 

Actually an '02 shift knob in an '01 wouldn't be allowed either. Would anybody care if you used it? No.

The autocross community is hurting when someone like me is left to defend their reasoning, but here goes:

The rulemakers have done what they can do make autocrossing enjoyable for people with all sorts of cars and incomes. Without all the restrictions it quickly becomes a game of "who's got the most money to spend" which goes against the grassroots spirit of auto-x.

In stock class the main performance enhancing mods you can make are DOT tires and a front sway bar, which anyone will agree are reasonable modifications for an entry-level racing class. Most other mods are pretty cheap and mostly inconsequential (air filter, cat-back exhaust, wheel spacers, lap belt, thermostat). Everything else (excluding shocks, I'll get to those), is explicitly excluded, which closes the door on a huge number of places where racers could spend big $$.

The one semi-legitimate gripe some folks have is about shocks, which can get expensive. The original reasoning behind allowing shock replacement is that if you've got an old car, you shouldn't be expected to go to your dealer and pay some ridiculous $xyz amount for replacement factory shocks. This opportunity has been used by racers (always looking for that edge) to have custom super duper adjustable race shocks made. There has been a movement recently to do away with this and have non-adjustable shocks be mandatory; this is considered by some to be nieve, for now all the serious folks will just go out, get their adjustable shocks made, fine-tune the adjustments, then take the shocks back in and have non-adjustables made to those specifications. In the end, an even more expensive solution. Shocks are a toughy

The main issue I think is unfamiliarity with the rules. Most people would rather invest their $$ in a cool set of lowering springs or an X-brace than they would another set of stock rims and race tires. I can't count the number of times I've been approached by kids on their first day of autocrossing - they have a blast driving, and afterwards are convinced they need springs and swaybars and engine mods and all sorts of stuff. Not knowing that with these mods they'd be left with a wholly uncompetitive car, one that's slower that the "stock" cars on race tires.

I'd like to see more education in the novice meetings and coursewalks in regards to the rules in regards to modifcations; I'm sure the sport has lost a lot of potentially excellent participants due to frustration with the (necessarily) strict regulations.

--Jason