Classing question

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:08 pm

Sorry I'm being lazy by not searching for this information - hoping someone here can answer my question:

Can a driver split his/her autocross laps to drive two same-class-legal cars at one event?

In other words, if I show up at an event and drive my STi in AS class for the morning laps, can I swap cars with another AS competitor for the afternoon laps and have all laps count?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:09 pm

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Sorry I'm being lazy by not searching for this information - hoping someone here can answer my question:

Can a driver split his/her autocross laps to drive two same-class-legal cars at one event?

In other words, if I show up at an event and drive my STi in AS class for the morning laps, can I swap cars with another AS competitor for the afternoon laps and have all laps count?

That has been done many times in the past.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:13 pm

According to 4.5 of the SCCA Solo rulebook, no. You can only do that if your car breaks, and only with permission of an operating steward.

Tarheel and other clubs may or may not be more lenient on this, I don't know. I would hope not, since it might encourage people to be "trying" the course in one car say with a particular gearing and then jumping into another car when its found that the other car is geared better or something. But that's fairly unlikely and a fairly draconian view for local events, I admit. And if you're going from *your* STi to someone *elses* STi, well, then it's obviously even less of a big deal. *shrug*

--Donnie

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:17 pm

As long as it is within the same class, we allow it.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:25 pm

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

As long as it is within the same class, we allow it.

Cool, thanks Stephen.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:26 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

I would hope not, since it might encourage people to be "trying" the course in one car say with a particular gearing and then jumping into another car when its found that the other car is geared better or something.

Man, you'd have to be some kind of alien to pull that one off in my book.

I totally hear what you're saying with regards to the rules but if you can jump from one car to another and get 100% out of it right on the spot, more power to ya!

Driving one car and then immediately jumping into another always messes me up for several runs. My pea brain can't make the transition that quickly and I always have to re-acclimate myself to the "new" car.

Jim

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:30 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

it might encourage people to be "trying" the course in one car say with a particular gearing and then jumping into another car when its found that the other car is geared better or something. But that's fairly unlikely and a fairly draconian view for local events, I admit. And if you're going from *your* STi to someone *elses* STi, well, then it's obviously even less of a big deal. *shrug*

Donnie - that's definitely not my intention, although the two cars would be significantly different (STi and S2000). If it works out for the November event and anyone cares one way or another, I'd be happy to drive either car first, as it doesn't matter at all to me or the other driver.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:52 pm

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Donnie Barnes wrote:

it might encourage people to be "trying" the course in one car say with a particular gearing and then jumping into another car when its found that the other car is geared better or something. But that's fairly unlikely and a fairly draconian view for local events, I admit. And if you're going from *your* STi to someone *elses* STi, well, then it's obviously even less of a big deal. *shrug*

Donnie - that's definitely not my intention, although the two cars would be significantly different (STi and S2000). If it works out for the November event and anyone cares one way or another, I'd be happy to drive either car first, as it doesn't matter at all to me or the other driver.

It will be ok as long as I get to drive both cars in question to make sure everything is on the up :twisted:

Karl is a whore.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:17 pm

Yeah, I sort of figured Tarheel would allow it. I was mostly pointing out why it isn't allowed at bigger events. For example, you *could* just prep two NC Miatas identically but with one being a five speed and the other a six. In some cases one will be significantly faster than the other depending on the course. So if you and a buddy did that and you were allowed to jump willy nilly into any legal car, people *would* do it at big events (or even Nationals). You could have the cars so equal otherwise that the "jumping into a new car" thing wouldn't really apply.

I think if people started doing something like that at Tarheel events then the powers that be would put a stop to it. But since people aren't really doing it for *that* reason and likely wouldn't, I don't think it' s a big deal. I more wanted people to know that it isn't allowed at National stuff. Or Divisionals, for that matter.

So what I *meant* in my first post was that the SCCA rule *should* be there. I have no problem with Tarheel not following that rule, though.

--Donnie

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:25 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

For example, you *could* just prep two NC Miatas identically but with one being a five speed and the other a six. In some cases one will be significantly faster than the other depending on the course.

That's a great example-- I didn't really think about it in those terms.

Dang sneaky bastard auto-x'ers!

Jim

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:30 pm

I havent seen 2 NC miata at Tarheel event

ever....

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:31 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

Karl is a whore.

Hey! This one has nothing to do with me.

OK Quistorff, spill it. For the record, you can drive as many different AS cars as you want, as far as I'm concerned as an AS driver. I'm just curious why you're sampling the goods, that's all...

--Karl, who thinks maybe Keith should join the dark side...

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:37 pm

He's not driving your car?

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:47 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

I havent seen 2 NC miata at Tarheel event

ever....

I'll bet there's been a 10AE and '99 Sport or "99 PEP at the same event before. Same situation. Nyah.

--Donnie

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:36 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

OK Quistorff, spill it. For the record, you can drive as many different AS cars as you want, as far as I'm concerned as an AS driver. I'm just curious why you're sampling the goods, that's all...

Nothing to spill. It's been a couple years, but I've co-driven the S2000 in question before, and the owner has co-driven my cars before.

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