Racing Mind Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Has anyone had any communication with the SCCA regarding the Duratec engines? Currently, it appears that the only option for the "Lotus / Caterham 7 America" ZETEC and SVT ZETEC, which haven't been the current engine for several years now. I'm also curious if there has been any communication regarding the CSR chassis. With the CSR it appears that I'll likely be limited to Time Trials. It would be nice to use the car in EP wheel to wheel racing. Cheers, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 OK, here is my view of Caterhams and EP in SCCA. First of all go to the SCCA General Competition Rules and go to page 475 the Production Car category and in particular pages 504 and 505 which deal with individual car requirements, notice anything about the Caterham versus other cars listed, like several times the number of restrictions any other car has?? The fact is that if you own a Mazda, skys the limit on what you can do. Own a Miata, unlimited engine, brakes, body work, and when that did not get it done they lowered the minimum weight. Hell, they just lowered the Mazda 3 weight by 500 pounds and a well prepped one was already competitive. The fact is that SCCA EP is rapidly becoming Spec Super Miata, it is really disheartening for all non Mazda owners and is resulting in defections to NASA where it is perceived you will get a fair break. The Mazdas keep getting breaks until they win in the classes they enter, and it is certainly true in EP. SCCA soon to be Mazda Car Club of America. My advice, race NASA, it can't be more unfair than SCCA to Caterhams. My son and I will likely be testing the NASA waters soon, it certainly feels like SCCA doesn't want Caterhams in their ranks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 The SCCA wants new mainstream cars that garner financial support from mainstream auto makers. To the SCCA Porsche (sits at the right hand of God) ... Mazda (Good) ... Lotus & Caterham (evil incarnate) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Oh and Joe, back to your original question; yes we ask SCCA about the Duratec the answer was no. As to the CSR chassis, I suspect it and the Duratec could be homologated but it would need to be the same way the 7 America was. Caterham USA would need to develop a standard spec chassis and engine, list all of the specs and approach SCCA with the details. I have a copy of what they used originally to get the 7 America chassis and Zetec approved and that information was used to class the car and to incorporate the car in to the GCRs. Seems to me Caterham USA would want to do that, but maybe it just doesn't represent enough sales to bother. One of the dealers maybe... In any event it will be hard to get the SCCA to allow the Caterham to be competitive regardless of what engine and chassis we present. As I said in my previous post Mazda's sponsorship of SCCA right now gives them the big advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 What about running in SPU? I don't see it in the GCR, but was told by an official in my region that the car would fit. Have not gone for a log book yet, but I did get SCCA National to approve my cage (built by Caged to the Caterham design with an FIA sticker). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 We have run our EP Caterham in ITE, forget why we did that but it was a race that was for touring cars so we put ITE on it and ran! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMan Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I have run a few races this year in EP with my Caterham 7 and found the local SCCA officials to be MOST welcoming indeed. I ran in 4 national Races at Watkins Glen and Lime Rock Park and finished 3rd in class ever time. The other EP cars that beat me were Mazda, BMW, Honda s2000, and A Mazda Miata. Every time I was beaten by a better driver than myself (I assume they were better!) I may have lacked straightaway speed.... But I made passes in places you wouldn't believe! Next year I plan to install better Brakes for safety (Yeah right! I will be outbraking them and getting a jump on them out of the turn) Come on guys.... you know we have a superior handling car and can out turn and outbrake and out accelerate them for a short while. So, they have faster top speed.... We have our own advantages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Before you upgrade your brakes be sure to see page 505 of the GCR, we are very limited on what we can do with brakes. Limited to 9" solid disc front and rear. And page 491 limits us to "stock calipers" well the stock calipers on 9" solid disc are the two piston Girling calipers. Not a bad caliper but heavy and the pads are very small. No AP calipers and no ventilated rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 When you guys get tired of the GCR and just want to have fun, look at doing the time trials events. I run in the SEDIV TT events and we have a blast. More freedom, more fun, less GCR crap. My car is in the SSP class for TT events. One very fast guy in a locost with a turbocharged Miata engine runs SPO, another with a real Lotus 7 and the 1600 engine runs SPU. It's competitive but not so much that you bang up your car and we run all the fun tracks. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 FWIW My car is the 7 America car submitted to the SCCA. However, it now has wide track, 216 hp and a full cage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 FWIW My car is the 7 America car submitted to the SCCA. However, it now has wide track, 216 hp and a full cage. And a Wing!!!:smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5: Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 The wing and "hard top" are off waiting for my next NJMP day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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