157 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

Just trying not to get things lost. See if this works. Mainly for Offical Posts Please.

 

 

TO: Spec Miata Participants
FR: Lisa Noble, SCCA President & CEO and
John Doonan, Mazda Motorsports Director
RE: Rules, Runoffs and Remaining 2014 Races
DT: October 17, 2014

As you are undoubtedly aware, a number of Spec Miatas were found out of compliance at last week’s SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Jointly, we want you all to know that this situation is a top priority for our collective staffs and the boards and committees at SCCA. Together, we are forming an independent committee to review both the current rules and the long-term direction of the class. We will share more on this as it develops.

In the meantime, there is concern by many of you that, based on what transpired at the Runoffs, your engines may not be compliant. As a short-term solution, SCCA is suggesting to Regions holding events between now and the end of the season that they might establish a “Regional-only” class, dubbed SM1 in addition to the regular Spec Miata class. Our recommendation would be that the class follow the GCR Spec Miata regulations, but with a variance to the items in the cylinder head section to allow competitors with these modifications a place to race for the remainder of the season. This will be addressed by each Region on a case-by-case basis. It is not a requirement that they do this, but rather a suggestion.

Working together, SCCA and Mazda have evaluated many options this week on how to address this situation in the short term, and we feel this is the fairest course of action at this time, allowing everyone a chance to race.

We will share more information as appropriate, recognizing that time is of the essence with the 2015 season fast approaching.

-Lisa and John

[Johnny D]

Over the past ten years, Spec Miata grew from a racer idea to a nationwide phenomenon.  The rules were created by racers, for racers.  The team here at Mazda Motorsports has been thrilled to be a part of it and watch it grow from a small regional class to the single largest race in the 51 years of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.  In addition to the large SCCA and NASA fields, Spec Miata has been embraced by tracks like the Autobahn County Club, and multiple regional clubs across the U.S. and Canada; it is some of the greatest road racing today.  

 

At times we have contemplated stepping in as it related to rules, but we have opted to stay out of the regulatory side of the sport.  Recent circumstances are such that we will be working much closer with all parties: racers, teams, engine builders, and sanctioning bodies to ensure what has grown over the past decade continues to be the strongest class of road racing in North America.

 

For those who have not heard the details of what happened last week at the SCCA Runoffs in at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, it involved the interpretation of what was, and was not legal regarding head modifications.  Nine cars were protested, impounded after the race, and deemed non-compliant by the SCCA Technical Inspectors.  The Mazda team was not involved in the review process, although the SCCA kept us informed as to its findings.

 

We want all racers to have the maximum opportunity to showcase their talents in one of the deepest talent pools in all of road racing.  We also want to keep costs to a minimum such that racers can compete more often.

 

What Mazda will do:

• Work with all sanctioning bodies to develop systems to make rules more easily enforceable.
• Listen to all of our stakeholders to better understand all the perspectives.
• Find answers to these questions.
• Collaborate with the SCCA in making the right short-term and long-term decisions to this challenge.

 

What Mazda would like our racers to do:

• Direct constructive input to Support@MazdaMotorsports.com or 1 (800) 435-2508.
• Have confidence that Mazda is working with the needs of our customers as the #1 priority.

 

We appreciate everyone being patient and working together here.  We all share the common goal of maintaining the best, most affordable, racing in North America.

 

Thank you,

 

Your Mazda Family

[Johnny D]

I sent this out to the drivers registered for the 2014 NASA Western Champs. It may not be the ultimate answer but for right now it works for NASA.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SM Driver;

Given all that has happened in our community over the past 10 days, I just wanted to send a quick email to touch base.

 

The plunge cut protest at last week’s Runoffs has had my phone and email rather busy for days. I’ve been gathering info and working with some great folks (thanks Craig) to come up with a way to make it work best we can given the time frame and complexity of the issue. So, for the 2014 NASA Western Championship we’re leaning toward this:

• There will be an a moratorium on “plunge cut protests” for the Western Champs and the remainder of the NASA season.
• NASA Tech will still inspect the plunge cut just as we would normally when the valves are out of the head. Tech will act accordingly based on NASA’s clarification of the rule.
• The Clarification will allow some deburring but not egregious blending. My goal is to have illustrations and photos to help make our interpretation of the machining process less subjective.

 

I’m still working on the wording of NASA’s clarification and should have something out to you and have it published somewhere on NASA’s website and/or Facebook page(s) hopefully by the middle of next week.

 

Please feel free to reply to this email if you have specific questions about this or anything else regarding tech and this year’s Western Champs.

 

• George Willet likes this
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Thanks,
John Mueller
NASA SM National Director
http://www.Weekend-Racer.com
http://www.Enduro-Racer.com
Owner

 

#13 House Garage-built & Prepped Mid-Pack 99 SM / PTE / E3 Miata

[Andrew Charbonneau]

I would also like to say a word .

stay tunned

[CruzanTom]

I would also like to say a word .

stay tunned

 

Actually 2 words

[Johnny D]

It was two letters, BS

But I digress

J~

[Andrew Charbonneau]

I am truley pissed  the rules are rules ok now we have two classes

[Andrew Charbonneau]

officially speaking I dont understand why this keeps going on .

 

mazda and scca have given us a place too shine .

 

some how the powers too be seam to keep screwing it up .

[NPiekarski]

Hopeful that all can come up with a rule set that will spell out the intended rules to help better the class. On another note, it's sad that Von C last posts made more sense than our presidents last speech.

[Johnny D]

In our effort to continue our open communication with our customers, I wanted to provide you with an update on the investigation into the Spec Miata rules infraction that was identified during the most recent SCCA Runoffs. All of your e-mails, phone calls, thoughts and input we have received have been very valuable and appreciated. As you know, the SCCA’s board of directors meets on Friday, October 31 to discuss the next steps. In preparation for this meeting, and as partners, Mazda and the SCCA have been working very closely.

 

Our first step has been to gather as much information as possible on what transpired at the SCCA Runoffs. The next step has been to understand the state of the current environment. We’ve been listening to varying interpretations of the rule in question; what it states; what it should have stated; what it should state in the future, if anything different; and why. We are fortunate to have many experts within the Mazda family and within the SCCA family who have helped in all of these discussions.

 

In an effort to perform our due diligence, we have formed a team of industry experts including Mazda technical staff to travel this week to Topeka, Kansas where the cylinder heads that did not pass technical inspection at the Runoffs are being stored. This team of unbiased, industry experts will inspect the cylinder heads to gain a clear understanding of the work performed on them to deduce the functionality, performance benefits, and reason behind it. We are confident that this comprehensive understanding coupled with all the information we have gathered thus far will help the SCCA’s board of directors make the best and right decision for the class, our customers.

 

Thank you for your support in us,

John Doonan
Director, Mazda Motorsports

 

- See more at: http://mazdamotorspo...h.3s47EuRN.dpuf

[Johnny D]

TO: Spec Miata Participants   

FR: SCCA, NASA, Mazda Motorsports, and the Spec Miata Working Group   

RE: Class Intent, Direction and Regulations   

DT: November 14, 2014

 

 

In the spirit of open communication, we wanted to update you with where we are at in the process layed out in last week's memo to the SM community. Additionally, we have been asked to share more details regarding what the working group of industry experts uncovered in Topeka, Kansas, where the non-compliant cylinder heads are stored, during the investigation into the illegally modified cylinder heads protested at the 2014 SCCA Runoffs; below we shed a little more light. Thank you to all of those who have spent the time sharing their thoughts with us.

 

As a reminder:  

 

The Spec Miata (SM) class is intended to provide the membership with the opportunity to compete in low cost, production-based cars with limited modifications, suitable for racing competition.

 

The rules are intentionally designed to be more open than the Showroom Stock class but more restricted than the Improved Touring class.

  

The working group that visited Topeka discovered that there was a variance in the amount of smoothing, blending and porting of the sharp edge from the plunge cut among the illegal heads; some were egregious - a clear violation of the rules in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. Others were less severe, but still a violation of the rule. Some have suggested that we should adjust the rule in order to allow for a certain level of blending and porting. In keeping with the intent and integrity of the class, NASA and the SCCA, with council from Mazda, determined that would not be the best course for the class. It would increase costs for the competitors who have not violated the rules and for the future entrants of the class; this is in direct contradiction of the spirit of this class, which we desire to keep costs manageable and to have a fair and level playing field.   

A challenge we are presented with is that there are competitors who have plunge cuts that had engine builders who de-burred and smoothed the sharp edge in their belief of practicing "good clean-up." This is inevitably an issue that the plunge cut provides, along with additional costs to perform, and to measure or tech. As a result, returning to stock cylinder heads is ultimately the goal and in alignment with the intent of this class.  Many of those who have compliant cylinder heads, per the rule set, have asked a very fair question of why they may receive a weight adjustment. First, please know that if weight adjustments are given, this adjustment would not be punitive; the weight adjustments, if any, would be targeted to offset the advantage in horsepower of the plunge cut over a stock head - to equalize them. The benefits of the weight adjustment to the class would be as follows: 

• It will allow all racers with currently compliant heads to continue to race those engines.

 

• It will encourage anyone building a new engine to use a stock head, rather than spend money on performance increases that would be neutralized with additional weight.

 

• It will also give racers who currently race with stock heads an equal chance against engines with legally performed plunge cut heads.

Recognizing the number of modified cylinder heads in the community (both compliant and non-compliant), the expense to replace these and the potential parts availability concern, the working group agreed to have an independent, third party test and determine the effect of the individual and collective modifications; this process is underway.  The testing group is currently gathering various cylinder heads and engines. The group will flow test heads first, then run all heads on the same engine, then do the same exercise again with another engine. The testing group will dyno various cylinder heads to determine what horsepower advantages the modifications have, ranging from those egregious to the compliant, compared to one another and to stock heads. These findings will be shared with SCCA, NASA, and Mazda and in turn be shared with the entire Spec Miata community.

 

Using these data, the weight adjustments, if any, will be determined and outlined during the December 14 SCCA Board of Directors meeting, in conjunction with NASA's determination. NASA, SCCA, and Mazda are working together to help make the right decision for the good of the class - one where members will have the opportunity to compete in low-cost, production-based cars with limited modifications, suitable for racing competition.

 

As always, we appreciate your support,   

 

Lisa Noble, SCCA President and CEO

John Doonan, Mazda Motorsports Director

John Mueller, NASA Spec Miata National Director

Robert Clarke, SCCA Pro Racing President/SCCA VP of Business Development

Tony Ave, SCCA Club Racing Board

Steve Sanders, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Manager

Mike Allen, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Specialist

[James York]

Pretty much BS to me.  They are dead set on stock heads.  Everyone bend over.

 

And, if they don't make the weight punitive for running heads compliant to 2014 rules, now which head to you want to run comes into play.  Just offsetting the HP advantage from the plunge cut with additional weight might still make it advantageous to take the penalty.

 

I can see it now.  Short track head, and Super Speedway head.  Great.

 

If they want stock heads, you might as well just screw over everyone one big time and get it over with.

[Jason J Ball]

+1^

[Jason J Ball]

Duplicate!

[john mueller]

Pretty much BS to me.  They are dead set on stock heads.  Everyone bend over.

 

And, if they don't make the weight punitive for running heads compliant to 2014 rules, now which head to you want to run comes into play.  Just offsetting the HP advantage from the plunge cut with additional weight might still make it advantages to take the penalty.

 

I can see it now.  Short track head, and Super Speedway head.  Great.

 

If they want stock heads, you might as well just screw over everyone one big time and get it over with.

 

+1^

 

Okay, now I'm gonna be a dick...  

 

You two and your ilk are jackasses.  Todays message was sent to recognize the hundreds of emails (and petition) that were not in favor of ONLY running OEM heads.  The intent now is to allow as many to continue racing with their current heads unless they are significantly smoothed/ported (those need to go) at a reasonable weight addition - NOT PUNITIVE.

 

There are a good size population sending emails supporting the move to 100% OEM heads too, their voice is reflected in todays message too.

 

Testing will be completed in a few short weeks and we'll begin to have the info for this weight add and for parity adjustments.

 

 

So, believe what you want and think what you will, but you're both being stupid-poo-poo-heads. 

[Blake Clements]

This has turned into a circus, a circus many people are not going to attend.

8 plus different "models" now. Goodbye parity.

[john mueller]

This has turned into a circus, a circus many people are not going to attend.

8 plus different "models" now. Goodbye parity.

 

Not if done correctly.

[Johnny D]

http://blog.asiantow...mething---.aspx

J~

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

You remember when a bunch of fools killed SM? Oh yea... That was today.

[john mueller]

http://blog.asiantow...mething---.aspx

J~

 

HAHAHAHAHA !!