New solo2 classes for 7s

[demoray]

Moving a discussion here from a build thread.

 

There is a relatively newish class that most 7s fit into at the national level called XU, which stands for Xtreme Street Unlimited.

 

If you are on Facebook, you can check out the group "SCCA Solo XU Class". https://facebook.com/groups/392020123979507/

 

The Facebook group admin is a former national champion from the WDCR region that drives a Stalker AXR Classic.

 

The overarching X* class rules currently preclude kit cars, however the rules committee has published a clarification in FasTrack after multiple people sent letters, including me, asking for clarification.

 

This is the response published recently;

 

#37152 Kit cars in XU

Thank you for your letter. The CAM/XS advisory committee believes that under the current CAM/XS rules there is nothing preventing kit cars from competing in the XS classes. However, the CAM/XS advisory

committee does not feel that kit cars are within the spirit of XA or XB and as such is seeking feedback from the membership on the following proposal to limit kit cars to XU.

Add the following bullet point to the "EXCLUDED FROM XA/XB" section:

“Kit or component cars from low-volume manufacturers who intend or allow completion of assembly by the

end user in order to obtain registration and titling paperwork."

 

https://cdn.connectsites.net/user_files/scca/downloads/000/073/888/2025 SCCA Solo FasTrack All_0423.pdf?1745432869

 

 

[demoray]

For those interested, XU can almost be boiled down to run-what-ya-brung, with minimal limits to performance, as long as it is street legal and on 200tw tires.

 

Last year's nationals included the class, with a Stalker AXR in it.

[pethier]

OK, I am really surprised by this.  I am an SCCA member, but I did not notice this in FastTrack or the reports on Nationals.

 

Apparently, you can run stuff in XU that is not even legal in DM or EM.  There, kit cars have to be allowed by name unless they are clones.

 

I am reminded of an exchange on the old Prairie Home Companion radio show:

 

   GK:  I'm told you have 13 children.  Is that right?

 

   RM:  No, but it's so.

 

This actually would work for me in my local club, the Minnesota Autosports Club (MAC).  We are not an SCCA Region, but we use SCCA classes.  Every year, we send about 30 drivers to Nationals.  Some are Land O' Lakes Region members and some are members of other regions.  LOL does not run autocrosses in the Twin Cities, but has a sub-club or two in distant cities.  The legendary Russ Wiles was thus technically a member of LOL, but I only remember him being in the Twin Cities once.

 

I have been running in MAC's eXhibition class (for no trophies or MOWOG-series points) mainly for the reason that both my bone-stock Cayman and my Caterham are accepted there.  When I had a Miata and a Caterham, I would run ether car in DM.  Cayman is of course 900cc too big for DM.  I think I am going to try XU this season.

 

This also would work for me when I go on the road and stop off at SCCA events elsewhere.

 

The autocross for the 2025 Lotus Owners Gathering in Texas used different classes of course, but if the XU/DM split had been in-place there, I would have been a close-second instead of a distant third. Both the Superperformance and my car would have been eligible for XU, and the winning 420R would have been DM due to its non-DOT hillclimb tires.

 

 

[Nocturnal005]

Are Caterhams competitive in D-Mod? What's required to be competitive besides fat hoosiers? 

[pethier]

4 minutes ago, Nocturnal005 said:

Are Caterhams competitive in D-Mod? What's required to be competitive besides fat hoosiers? 

Yes, they are.

 

At a nationals level, though, these cars are not streetable.  

 

Your 420R would do well in DM at local events.  I suggest hillclimb tires or the softest race slicks if you are serious.

 

Now that I know about the XU class, though?  If I had a 420R, I'd go XU with the Yokohama 052 tires.  You are not going to wear them out in street driving, and I think they are the only DOT200 tires that are going to stick well in the no-warmup environment of autocross.

 

I just went to motorsport.reg and changed my class to XU for the two local events I had booked.  My Yokos are on the stock Prisoner wheels which are only 15 x 6.5.  I had 15 x 7 Pannasports on my previous Caterham.  I know who has my old car now, and someone along the way kept the Panasports out of the sale, so he only has the small (13"?) Caterham wheels.

 

 

[pethier]

I have been online with Brian Garfield, the admin of the facebook group

https://facebook.com/groups/392020123979507/

 

Brian and I have a mutual friend who is a Solo national champion and a professional autocross instructor (but not a Sevens guy).  I'm looking forward to being in Brian's group.

[demoray]

My experiences with Brian G, and the rest of his family, were all exceptionally positive.   I originally started autocross +20 years ago in Brian's home region (WDCR), back when Brian's dad was actively involved in running the events.

 

I'm hopeful to compete locally this year, so will see Brian then, and perhaps at a higher level in the future.

 

For my CSR I acquired in October, I had to address a handful of issues over the winter to pass MD's safety inspections.  I went through the inspection this week.  The shop generally thinks I passed, but they are waiting for clarification from their State Trooper contact on something before submitting the paperwork.

 

Fingers crossed that I'll be blatting about soon.

[pethier]

1 minute ago, demoray said:

My experiences with Brian G, and the rest of his family, were all exceptionally positive.   I originally started autocross +20 years ago in Brian's home region (WDCR), back when Brian's dad was actively involved in running the events.

 

I'm hopeful to compete locally this year, so will see Brian then, and perhaps at a higher level in the future.

 

For my CSR I acquired in October, I had to address a handful of issues over the winter to pass MD's safety inspections.  I went through the inspection this week.  The shop generally thinks I passed, but they are waiting for clarification from their State Trooper contact on something before submitting the paperwork.

 

Fingers crossed that I'll be blatting about soon.

Fortunately, I had no complications with the authorities in Minnesota.  I presented the Illinois title from the seller.  I asked if I could reuse the Personalized/Collector license plate from my former car.  Yes.  I paid my $218 to transfer the car and will never have to pay them another dime.  No inspection required.

 

Buying a Cayman from Iowa was not very-complicated either, but it was a whole-lot more-expensive, plus I will have to pay for new tabs every year, and pay for a new pair of plates and the personalization-fee every seven years.