SCCA Autocross Stock Class

[tcolletti]

Does anyone know historically when the shake-up of classes happens at SCCA?

If the fast track proposal gets approved it would go into effect Jan 1st 2026

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[sackofcheese]

I am looking to get some 200 TW tires to try to be a bit more competitive than the factory setup I've been running so far in BS. Currently the car is completely stock besides an ITS damper module. Before I start buying stuff, I wanted to double check my plans with those more experienced with autocrossing these cars.

It looks like there aren't any of the fast tires that would fit the stock wheels, so I need to get a set of 18x9.5 wheels with near stock offset. Apex Wheel's VS-5 and EC-7 come in an 18x9.5 ET58 that look like a good option, though of course I prefer the look of the out of stock wheels. Are there any other legal wheels I should check out?

For tires, I was thinking stock width 265/35R18 or one step wider 275/35R18 should fit and be the right height. For someone like me at the just for fun level, I was thinking having a square setup and being able to swap which ones are getting abused on the front would be worthwhile. Maryland gets a lot of rain, so there will probably be at least one or two rainy events every year. Is the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS somewhat decent in the rain?

Does that seem decent setup?

FWIW 265/35/19 is pretty common for DS guys on the 19x8.5'' FK8 set up. I run that size tire on my not competitive XA class FK8 because I am a cheap ass and picked up a set of FL5 take offs off marketplace to transfer the DS set up I also scored from FBM. If you like the stock wheels and are okay with the weight penalty of them, I'd run them.

 

[WOPSiWOT]

Beat me to posting it. There will be a lot of push back from current DS competitors. Letters in support of the move will be helpful.

https://www.crbscca.com/

I wrote my letter.

 

[SCVanguard]

2025 nationals has come and gone! I wound up 5th overall in BS (genuinely surprised!) in a field of 51 other drivers.

All of us FL5 drivers were wondering how we would stack up in DS against the FK8. The best part was that our heats ran back-to-back and the conditions were very similar between the two heats.

I had a 54.547 on the east (felt mostly optimal) and a 52.323 on the west (with a huge overshot on an important braking zone to set up the last runup to the finish). I think I could have possibly hit a 52.1 or 52.0 on the west.

Mike Yanase was the highest placing FK8 in DS with a 54.662 on the east and a 52.238 on the west.

FK8 total time - 106.900 which was good for 19th on index
FL5 total time - 106.870 which was good for 38th on index

So yeah, they should move to DS, IMO. Or move the Supras up to AS.

 

[Sooner1]

2025 nationals has come and gone! I wound up 5th overall in BS (genuinely surprised!) in a field of 51 other drivers.

All of us FL5 drivers were wondering how we would stack up in DS against the FK8. The best part was that our heats ran back-to-back and the conditions were very similar between the two heats.

I had a 54.547 on the east (felt mostly optimal) and a 52.323 on the west (with a huge overshot on an important braking zone to set up the last runup to the finish). I think I could have possibly hit a 52.1 or 52.0 on the west.

Mike Yanase was the highest placing FK8 in DS with a 54.662 on the east and a 52.238 on the west.

FK8 total time - 106.900 which was good for 19th on index
FL5 total time - 106.870 which was good for 38th on index

So yeah, they should move to DS, IMO. Or move the Supras up to AS.

Congrats on the nationals trophy! Is that your first?

Would you mind laying out your full autocross setup? Wheels, tires, alignment, sway bar, pads, etc. This would help some aspiring autocrossers (me).

 

[RacingManiac]

Brad's had a few in the past in some pretty interesting cars for different classes.

Congrats on the result. Certainly seems like alignment between the 2 Type R wouldn't be too crazy of a proposal.

 

[SCVanguard]

I've only not trophied once at nationals, 2023 when the battery almost ignited in paddock and I had to jump into someone else's car. Other vehicles were a base Genesis Coupe, then an R-Spec Genesis Coupe, then the 10th gen Si.

Right now my car isn't FULLY done up yet. So far, I'm on Apex EC-7s with Bridgestone 275/35-18 all around. I might begin experimenting with a different rear tire like everyone in GS does. I just hate the idea of not being able to rotate tires. Will probably splurge next season on some lighter wheels.

For pressures, I run 37 up front and 55 in the rear on concrete, 45 in the rear on more slippery surfaces.

Brake pads - still on the stock ones, I think they do just fine albeit they are DUSTY. That first ugga dugga on the impact taking off tires after an event looks like cancer waiting to happen!

I have a RV6 rear bar on the stiffest setting - but I think I might experiment with the Karcepts for even more stiffness...I just don't want to deal with all the clunking that comes with that bar.

Alignment - honestly, I just pulled the alignment pins, kicked the tires in as hard as I could, and then tightened everything down. Never have had the car up on a rack but I probably should soon.

For power - Drop-in K&N filter is all I've done. I've waited on an exhaust because A. I don't want to lose the functionality of the valve so my neighbors and wife don't hate me and B. OMG $$$$. Still trying to figure out what the lightest + valved + HP/TQ gain is the best out there.

 

[JesseN]

My '24 is close in setup. EC-7s and 275 Stones, although lower front pressures. I have a PRL front pipe, but no aftermarket cat back for the same reasons as Brad. And I do have the Karcepts bar (and the Karcepts clunking), and I run the ITS ADS.

Next year also eyeing lighter wheels and probably replacement wheel studs, although why are they so expensive for this car?!?

I think I got most out of the west, but I lost time on the east according to the data. Should have been close to Alex's FK8 dirty 53.8XX. We had nothing for Charles, and that still aligns with DS is the right answer. Should have videos eventually.

I'll be writing another letter soon.

 

[goskers]

Fantastic job to both of you. This was my first time to Nats and it was a good time. I finished about where I deserved considering where I am in the journey. It was nice to be able to do this back in the town where I grew up.

The car certainly looks to align well with the DS class.

We shall see if I can hold off on car changes versus just continuing the path of driver improvement alone. I could certainly do both but driver improvement is the much better investment.

 

[tcolletti]

Looks like we will know about class adjustments this month

 

[tcolletti]

As the third Type R that trophied I might as well share my setup, it is basically identical to Brad's. I run the same "heavy" apex with the same size stones and the same RV6 bar. I, (like Brad) did not want to mess around with the clunky Karcepts bar although I think it would help me locally, I personally think the balance at Lincoln with the maxed out RV6 bar was perfect.

I swap back and forth between the ITS module and CTR module depending on site, my main region site is super flat and smooth so I always use CTR there, but for example at Lincoln I wish I had ran the ITS all week, I only ran it on East side.

For tire pressures at my local site (Toledo) the site is pushier than Lincoln so I run 32 psi front and 50 psi rear The site is pushier than Lincoln. At Lincoln this year I ran 32 psi front and 39 psi rear. I thought rotation was perfect the only thing I would change for next year is forged wheels, after playing around with my non class legal te37SL I have and comparing them to my apex the car feels like it gained another 30 horsepower and the steering weight is perfect.

I was going to do some research to see if the 18x9.5 +58 VS5RS that apex sells (not listed as a Type R fitment) actually fit our car over the brakes as they should be lighter than the SM10rs by a pound maybe.

Link to Apex VS5RS

For power mods I have the PRL drop in filter and the Remark Q-spec full catback exhaust with front pipe.

I definitely had the pace to be even closer to Brad, Jesse, and Jim, I put too much pressure on myself hitting cones on west and I could not get the first section in east down until I swapped the module on my last run.

Really excited for next Nationals season, I hope to see everyone out in DS (board willing)

 

[goskers]

I feel the need to say congrats to the THREE of you!!

Look forward to seeing if I can make the driving improvements between now and next year to get just a bit closer.

 

[Sooner1]

Are you guys in +R, long press or pedal dance??

 

[goskers]

Are you guys in +R, long press or pedal dance??

I am running in +R with the pedal dance. I tried the long hold a couple of times this year and it felt draggy to me in corners. Went back to pedal dance and it felt uninhibited again. My thought are that I want to figure out how to drive this thing without support and once I'm more comfortable I can try the aides. If I never learn how to drive it raw then I might be slowing my overall driver development.

 

[JesseN]

I've always done long press. Tired pedal dance at our local this past weekend... But with some other changes, so hard to determine cause. Wasn't a huge difference, but I'm historically not a terribly sensitive to car setup.

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