--- In evolution-discussions@yahoogroups.com, "Loren Rapoport"
<loren_75080@y...> wrote:
I had to think some about this and there is a problem according to
the rules with what Phil is saying. STS and STX DON'T have a
specific list of eligable vehicles like stock and SP classes.
Instead, they have a group description they must follow. There is no
minimum production requirement nor are they required to even be
listed in stock or street prepared classes. Obviously if they aren't
listed in Street Prepared rules, they can't update and backdate.
Here is the classification rules straight out of the rulebook, under
Street Touring(section 17):

"Vehicles eligable for this category include all coupes/sedans with a
minimum of four seats, four seatbelts; that are non-sports car based
with a maximum engine displacement of 3.1 liters, normally aspirated
and certain small displacement turbocharged sedans. No limited slip
differentials are permitted except for factory viscous coupler type
units.

A sports car based vehicle would include those that are a 2 + 2
variants of 2 seat sportscars.

ELIGIBLE VEHICLES
a. All vehicles meeting the above criteria"


Here is the additional rules from 17.11 for STX:

"A. The STX class expands the vehicles eligibility limits beyond
those specified for STS, and adds a limited number of allowed
modifications. The allowances area as follows:

1. All allowances in STS carry over, including street tires,
emissions, etc.
2. All restrictions regarding body type carry over.
3.Engine size allowance: up to 5.1, normally aspirated and 2.0,
forced induction(single turbo or supercharger).
5. ...2WD vehicles may use any LSD unit."

By the rules, the RX-8 is absolutely legal to compete in STX today.
The is nothing to exempt a new model meeting the criteria from
competing. As specified at the bottom of section 17, the SEB can
change this by issuing a Tech Bulletin. I did not write the rules, I
am only stating exactly how they are written. So there is no
specific bulletin against it and the body style and displacement
follow within the rules, therefore it is absolutely legal by the
rules. The displacement rule is inclusive to both rotaty and piston
displacment engines as it is written. There is in fact no 2*
multiplier rule for Rotaries in Street Touring. It is irrelevent
what a manufacturer labels a vehicle, it only matters how the rules
are written. In the rules the SEB clearly defines what a "sports
car" is. Remember the days when Nissan called the Maxima a "4-door
sports car?" Its not one by the SCCA's definition. The even put
stickers stating that it was one on the windows.

...I suspect a Tech Bulletin will appear in the next Fastrack stating
something about the RX-8 exempted from Street Touring pending
evaluation after a few people see this


--- In evolution-discussions@yahoogroups.com, "Phillip Osborne"
<psosborn@v...> wrote:
> That car has not been approved for ST classes yet...it could end up on the
> exclusion list, performance dependant, plus, Mazda says it's a sports car.
> It most likely won't be classed in STS or STX this year...
> Phil O.

Originally posted by Bob Klingler
Totally unofficially, there is a possibility that the SCCA Stock Car Classification and Solo Events Board will decide to add the RX-8 to the Street Touring Excluded Vehicles List.

The SEB has already discussed this topic. The rules really don't say all 4-seat vehicles are eligible. The "four seats, four seatbelts" requirement is the minimum for coupes/sedans, not all vehicles. The 3rd paragraph of section 17 says, "A sports car based vehicle would include those that are 2+2 variants of 2 seat sportscars" but it doesn't say it has to start off life as a 2-seater. The sample of excluded vehicles is not an all-inclusive list and includes vehicles that only come in one configuration (MG B-GT, Porsche, etc.) as a way to indicate the types of vehicles that are not considered coupes or sedans.

According to Mazda, the RX-8 is a sports car. They even call it a "full-blooded sports car."
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...ehicleCode=RX8

On this page, Mazda says, "a sports car that will comfortably seat four adults."
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...=RX8#freestyle

By the rules and Mazda's own description, the RX-8 does not fit into Street Touring. It will even be added to 17.11.A.10 in the next FasTrack.