December Fasttrack - Goodbye corn juice in ST*

[srduck]

scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/12-fastrack-dec-solo.pdf

Suggested changes:

Stock
#9205 Boss 302 Classing
Per the SAC, the following class listing change proposal is submitted for member comment:
Ford Mustang Boss 302 (non-Laguna Seca) (2012-2013): move from AS to FS
Note: this car was initially classed in the July 2012 Fastrack.

Street Touring
#9305 E85 Usage
Per the STAC, replace the last sentence in 3.6.A with the following:
Fuels comprised of more than 10% Ethanol may only be used when specified by the manufacturer (e.g. in the owner’s manual for Flex-Fuel vehicles)
Comment: The use of E85 is becoming more and more widespread within the Street Touring category. In some vehicles it can enable significant power increases, while in others it cannot. Cars have not been classed with this in mind. With inconsistent availability across the nation, it gives significant advantage to those willing to trailer their cars, as opposed to those who choose to daily-drive them. Unlike high octane pump fuels, E85 is relatively easy to police as its use is quite obvious due to smell. Ethanol content in a fuel sample can also be tested easily in the field.
In the Stock category, there is no option to retune a car for the use of E85 so only those designed as Flex-Fuel vehicles can use the fuel anyway. This change will have no effect there.

Changes effective immediately:

Stock
1. #9321, #9099 Per the SAC, the following new class listings are effective upon publication:
Ford Focus ST (2013): GS
Chevrolet Camaro SS (2010-2013): FS

Street Prepared
2. #9158 Per the SPAC, the current DSP listing for the Mini should read as follows:
MINI
Cooper S (+ JCW & 2006 JCW GP)
Note: This Tech Bulletin defines the year of the JCW GP that is currently classed in Street Prepared. The SPAC will review the 2013 JCW GP once it has been released.
3. #9273 Per the SPAC, clarify the ESP listing of the Lexus 400 as follows:
Lexus
GS/LS/SC 400

Street Touring
4. #7789 Per the STAC, 14.10.D should read:
D. Exhaust manifolds, headers and downpipes may be replaced with alternate units. Relocation of the oxygen sensor on the header is permitted. Exhaust heat shields which cover only (and attach solely to) these parts may also be replaced, removed or modified.
Note: This cleans up language that has been clarified several times, and adds back the correct sections inadvertently dropped as part of the category re-write for 2012. It also is now consistent with 14.10.F regarding the use of “OE sensors only” for engine management.
5. #9100 Per the STAC, the following new listings are added in class STF:
Honda Accord 4-cyl (1998-2002)
Honda Accord 4-cyl (2003-2007)
Honda Accord 4-cyl (2008-2012)
Note: 6-cylinder models are outside the parameters of STF
6. #9213 Per the STAC, the following new listing is added in class STF
Chevrolet Volt (2011-2013)
7. #9016 Per the STAC, clarify the STC listings for Neon to read:
Neon (1995-2000) (all)
Neon (2001-2004) (ACR & R/T)
Also add to STF:
SCCA Fastrack News December 2012 Page 18
2001-2004 Neon (NOC)
Note: this puts the slower models of the 2nd generation Neon in STF. While the generation split is at year 2000, the ACR transmission was available in some lesser trims initially in 2000.
8. #9461 Per the STAC, correct the STC listing for Mazda 323 to include the base model, as follows
Mazda 323, 323 GT, 323 GTX

Biggest change that people are going to be up in arms about is the E85 usage. I know of at least one ST* car that runs locally that the rule will affect. And it IS easy to police, as even my wife noticed the smell wafting from EvoJoe's car on the way to NCAC. "Did you break a beer bottle in the car or something?" "No, why?" "I smell beer" "Oh, that's Joey's car... he runs corn juice"

[ball80]

But evo joe isn't running in street touring I don't think.

[srduck]

Nov 20, 2012 17:55:38 GMT -5 ball80 said:

But evo joe isn't running in street touring I don't think.

He's not, and it won't affect him. I'm just saying it's easy to spot the smell...... sniff around and find the car that smells like beer!

[ball80]

Maybe the beer smell is the partying I did the night before

[soloracer]

When my MG is finished ,do not try to smell the fuel. That formula one concoction may be erotic, but it is fatal in small doses.

[philip1]

The saab will have a stinky mix of fuel too. Burned and well unburned. Lol but it will be on 100 oct since the computer determines power by how happy the engine is.

[lilgunny]

Yea, the thing with the corn juice is that it is proposed. Which means they will get a buttload of letters complaining about said issue, then who knows. But I bet the ST guys had better start looking for other options...
LilGunny

[cr89x]

Oh no! What am I going to use? .... 87 like I've been because I don't care. Yes I give up some power with stock computer and low base timing, but it's cheaper that way. At nationals it'd be a different story.
EvoJoe can vouch for how much of a pain in the ass it is looking for corn to put in the evo. Those of us that traveled to NCAC together remember the 20 gallons in the trunk.

[drum3]

E85 isnt going anywhere , to do so they would have to outlaw it for the few cars that can run it in stock and it is a legal highway fuel . If they are going to get rid of E85 then 93 octane will be next since it also is not available in many states and makes more horsepower than 91 .

[integra55]

what they might do is outlaw it in ST and in Stock ( for any vehicle that isn't flex-fuel from the manufacture ..

[cr89x]

Nov 23, 2012 8:20:03 GMT -5 integra55 said:

what they might do is outlaw it in ST and in Stock ( for any vehicle that isn't flex-fuel from the manufacture ..

That is how it should be done I think. I'm sure someone will whine about unfair advantage for flex fuel cars. I challenge someone to come up with a list of cars that are or could competitive that are flex fuel.

[drum3]

Like I said, its already been put forth that if they do away with E85 they have to ban 93 octane also since a similar number of states don't carry 93 . It's not going any where

[srduck]

How would that be possible? Premium is considered 91+ octane, and many cars are tuned from the factory to run it. I haven't seen a single station around here that has the 91 octane... only 93 and they VERY rare 92. How can they ban 93?

[integra55]

the biggest difference I see, is that 93 is an accepted fuel, and has been for as long as I can remember ( even if you can't get it in Cali and other places ) ... E85 is a fringe fuel, used mostly by the turbo tuners, and other than the corn belt is not readily available ( though you can have barrels of it shipped to you )

don't know about Gastonia, but here in the mountains it's at every station I've ever been to ( and Duck, the Kangaroo/Marathon stations on 321 north of I 85 had 93 the last time I stopped there ... can't say about now ( this was a couple of months ago )

and many cars DO come from the factory tuned for 93 .... with the caveat that the modern day automotive computer can change the tune if lower octane is used .... I'm not aware of any that come tuned (only) for E85 ( flex fuel vehicles run on either )

[integra55]

Nov 23, 2012 18:05:58 GMT -5 drum3 said:

Like I said, its already been put forth that if they do away with E85 they have to ban 93 octane also since a similar number of states don't carry 93 . It's not going any where

and I'm betting it will go away .. at least as far as ST and Stock is concerned ... no inside info, just an opinion

[srduck]

Nov 23, 2012 19:26:56 GMT -5 integra55 said:

don't know about Gastonia, but here in the mountains it's at every station I've ever been to ( and Duck, the Kangaroo/Marathon stations on 321 north of I 85 had 93 the last time I stopped there ... can't say about now ( this was a couple of months ago )

That's what I'm saying... I know of 2 stations that carry 92... the rest are all 93. There's the Pilot in Danville, VA that I stopped at one time, looked at the pump, said "F this" and drove down to the Valero..... and there's a craphole little station on the way to my parents house that I would only go to if I were fuel starving and fully paid up on my "Hobo Stab Insurance".

[integra55]

sorry ... mis-read your post ... once again I can only say what's here in the mts .... and we have 3 octanes at pretty much all the stations .. 87, 91, & 93

[drum3]

11 states don't carry 93, 9 states don't carry E85. Not sure why those states don't carry 93, it has something to do with additives to meet emissions but because there are more states without 93 it will also fall under all the same arguments against E85.

[srduck]

Nov 23, 2012 22:28:10 GMT -5 drum3 said:

11 states don't carry 93, 9 states don't carry E85. Not sure why those states don't carry 93, it has something to do with additives to meet emissions but because there are more states without 93 it will also fall under all the same arguments against E85.

So what do we replace 93 with? 89? Then people just live with detonation? "Oh, I'm sorry, you're just going to have to blow your car up because some whiny people wanted E85 and couldn't have it."

That makes no sense. E85 has an alternative.... gasoline. 93 Octane DOESN'T have an alternative.

[integra55]

Anthony, I'm sure you did your research and are correct about the states that do and don't carry what fuel .... that said, E85 is OCCASIONALLY available ... not every station .. as a matter of fact only a few stations ( I couldn't take you to one {without google maps to find it } here if you paid me to ) but I can take to ANY station anywhere in the area and get you 93 ... that's pretty much the same thing you'll find in any state ( other than the corn belt ... and maybe Cali) when you go looking for E85

this argument is going on on several forums now and folk are chiming in that they would have to travel 10, 20, even 30 miles to find E85 .... yes I realize it's a "new" product" and isn't widely distributed yet .. when it is <shrug> maybe then ... for the time being my opinion is that it should be restricted to cars that come from the factory with E85 as an accepted fuel ... at least in ST and Stock ... at higher levels of prep <shrug> I say, have at it

one last argument FOR keeping 93, is that it's an established fuel ... has been used for yrs, and any car can use it ... yeah I realize that you can put E85 in any car, assuming you want to kill it, unless you can switch to a special tune... no special tune needed to use 93 ... you might be wasting money, but you won't ruin your engine

[drum3]

California , New Hampshire , Conneticut , Nevada , Washington , Arizona , Arkansas , Colorado ,New Mexico ,Utah and Hawaii dont have 93 , they only carry 91 ....Just as with E85 , you can order it in drums for private consumption but not public resale . Most cars are California tuned and run fine on 91 .

[srduck]

Nov 24, 2012 7:54:25 GMT -5 drum3 said:

California , New Hampshire , Conneticut , Nevada , Washington , Arizona , Arkansas , Colorado ,New Mexico ,Utah and Hawaii dont have 93 , they only carry 91 ....Just as with E85 , you can order it in drums for private consumption but not public resale . Most cars are California tuned and run fine on 91 .

But again..... WE CANNOT GET 91 OCTANE!!!! The only other option is 89 and deal with knock.

[cr89x]

Anthony, you forgot Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I can't remember New York. It's partially an emissions concern and a winter concern.

My opinion. E85 is an alternative man made fuel source. Just simply state public road pump gasoline with 10% ethanol or less. It would further piss off those that dont like the use of ethanol content fuels as well, what is sold at a race track. Yes this could allow for stations now having 100 octane available as well.
No matter how you slice fairness, there will be some advantage somewhere.

[integra55]

I keep bringing up the point .... 91 and 93 can be used in any gasoline powered car ... E85 can't ... don't see any way around that

[ball80]

What is the rule on 110 octane?

[em99sport]

Nov 24, 2012 8:45:35 GMT -5 ball80 said:

What is the rule on 110 octane?

Not ST* legal.

[ball80]

Can you show me the rule on that. Because I thought as long as it was a standard at the pump dot rated fuel it was legal

[philip1]

Where do you get 110? All I can get at the pump is 100oct

[em99sport]

Nov 24, 2012 15:48:19 GMT -5 ball80 said:

Can you show me the rule on that. Because I thought as long as it was a standard at the pump dot rated fuel it was legal

DOT-rated fuel is limited to, AFAIK, 100 octane. Anyone with additional info, feel free to correct me.

I know 110 is available here at the pump, but they use diesel pumps to distribute it, in an effort to limit direct pumping. (And making it a PITA for me to fill standard fuel cans). I'm only aware of 100 being street legal, limiting 110 to race-only use. FYI, VP and Sunoco offer street legal 100 octane fuels.

You wouldn't want to use a leaded 110 on a catalytic converter equipped vehicle anyway.

[drum3]

duck , I put 91 in my truck at the station off Earnhardt Blvd leaving Zmax last time because their 89 was not working and I didnt want to pay for 93 ....Where cant you get 91 ? I just checked Gas checker and it lists it at more than a dozen stations around Charlotte and Concord . All Sheetz have 89 , 91 , 93 listed in Carolina