136 replies to this topic

[Sacslider]

Direct from the SFR Regional Exec---


San Francisco Region SCCA
www.sfrscca.org
office@sfrscca.org

May 16, 2011

To all SMT and SSM Drivers

As we outlined in the current issue of The Wheel, we are updating the SFR Sealed Spec Miata Supplementary Regulations to better support compliance and therefore driver cost control.

The SSM Supps printed below take effect immediately.

Also below is a recap of all dynamometer runs on SSM cars. These include the initial sealing plus any compliance runs. We do not list car numbers as we feel this info is personal to the car owner. In the future, we will publish an updated list every January and we will publish the results of dynamometer tests after each event where a compliance dynamometer run is done.

Amended SFR Supp Regs effective May 16, 2011:

11. SEALED SPEC MIATA (SSM): Sealed Spec Miata is a limited preparation class. To be eligible for points, trophies and any other rewards, cars must meet all of the rules for Spec Miata T plus the following

The engine utilized in the car for any session or race shall be sealed by MCE Racing located at Thunderhill Park, Willows, CA [530-934-3237] or another San Francisco Region designated supplier. The seals installed on the motor shall be registered by MCE Racing and shall remain intact and untampered with at all times. At any SFR Regional Event,  any car may be selected for compliance check which may include a dynamometer check for max HP and torque using a SFR-designated supplier.

Any seal that is missing or damaged or a dynamometer reading greater than 115 HP or 103.5 ft-lb of torque is grounds for disqualification from the event. In addition the car must be re-tested and re-sealed at the owner’s expense before being allowed to compete again, including any additional events on the weekend that the discrepancy is found. All compliance and testing results will be posted by SFR in such places as it deems appropriate.

SSM HP/Torque Recap *

Date         HP            Torque
10/23/08       112.40    99.14
10/23/08       112.52    100.45
10/24/08       113.18    100.06
10/25/08       113.22    100.61
10/25/08       113.97    100.52
10/26/08       112.16    101.13
10/26/08       112.52    100.92
10/26/08       113.02    97.71
10/28/08       112.47    101.07
11/1/08       108.69    96.81
11/22/08       114.21    100.57
1/3/09       108.45    99.86
1/3/09       110.40    102.61
1/3/09       113.52    102.15
1/4/09       103.22    99.95
2/27/09       112.21    98.48
2/28/09       113.63    102.70
2/28/09       113.75    98.78
3/1/09       108.65    96.00
3/14/09       105.32    95.18
3/14/09       110.12    98.85
3/14/09       113.75    102.00
3/15/09       104.95    99.40
3/20/09       113.27    101.08
4/10/09       109.11    97.41
4/11/09       111.25    97.35
5/12/09       112.01    100.03
5/21/09       109.69    95.33
5/23/09       113.91    102.14
5/24/09       112.65    99.64
8/30/09        99.25    97.24
9/25/09       112.59    100.89
10/15/09       107.98    95.51
10/21/09       113.20    100.01
10/22/09       101.39    96.57
10/23/09       112.89    100.71
10/23/09       114.05    102.62
11/16/09       108.37    97.41
12/5/09       111.99    98.30
1/2/10       113.38    101.35
1/3/10       112.75    99.47
2/25/10       112.29    100.69
2/28/10       113.48    100.65
3/19/10       112.42    98.21
4/8/10       114.40    99.40
4/10/10       112.72    99.96
4/11/10       104.72    93.25
4/24/10       113.28    102.38
6/19/10       108.64    96.74
7/10/10       111.60    101.54
7/23/10       113.54    100.50
8/30/10       114.37    100.63
4/1/11       107.46    96.78
4/9/11       111.67    100.21
4/10/11       111.34    97.79
4/10/11       113.89    98.78
4/10/11       121.15    103.78

*All cars sealed under the 113 - 1.5 = 111.5HP were done with the owner's knowledge.

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SFR SCCA | 5250 Highway 162 | Willows, CA 95988

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[Johnny D]

Hey Craig,
I was checking with Michael to see if the last line was a typo.
J~

[Johnny D]

The number is good.

"As you can see up to 4/10/11 all the numbers were within the range. This one is not, thus the change in rules."

Didn't hear about a DQ but not my class.
J~

[Juan Pineda]

So do the engines get sealed at anything up to 113.99 HP? Or only up to 113.0?

-Juan

[dp35]

I didn't hear anything about any SSM's being DQ'd on 4/10/11. Did I miss something, or?

If I still had my 1.6 I'd like to take it to that dyno for reference purposes. IMO 121/104 from a 1.6 is national caliber SM power, not a SSM. Even 115/103.5 seem like a lot to ask from most 1.6's, as proven by most of the figures posted.

[Johnny D]

So do the engines get sealed at anything up to 113.99 HP? Or only up to 113.0?

-Juan

Any seal that is missing or damaged or a dynamometer reading greater than 115 HP or 103.5 ft-lb of torque is grounds for disqualification from the event. In addition the car must be re-tested and re-sealed at the owner’s expense before being allowed to compete again, including any additional events on the weekend that the discrepancy is found. All compliance and testing results will be posted by SFR in such places as it deems appropriate.

J~

[Johnny D]

Not naming any names but I wonder if his new track record will still stand after this.
J~

[Juan Pineda]

I looked at the SFR rules area, and I gather this is the extent of the rules prior to the NEW rules added by Mike's Email:

"Sealed Spec Miata is a limited preparation class. To be eligible for points, trophies and any other
rewards, cars must meet all of the rules for Spec Miata T plus the following:

The engine utilized in the car for any session or race shall be sealed by MCE Racing located at
Thunderhill Park, Willows, CA [530-934-3237] or another San Francisco Region designated supplier.

The seals installed on the motor shall be registered by MCE Racing and shall remain intact and
untampered with at all times. Any seal that is missing or damaged is grounds for disqualification
from the event.

All SSM’s shall use fuel having an octane rating no greater than 91.5 as measured by testing
equipment maintained by the Region. The Region may specify other parameters such as dielectric
constant and/or specific gravity for the fuel to be used."

Is that all there was prior to Mike's Email? Doesn't say anything about specs or compliance margin...

-Juan

[Johnny D]

I looked at the SFR rules area, and I gather this is the extent of the rules prior to the NEW rules added by Mike's Email:

"Sealed Spec Miata is a limited preparation class. To be eligible for points, trophies and any other
rewards, cars must meet all of the rules for Spec Miata T plus the following:

The engine utilized in the car for any session or race shall be sealed by MCE Racing located at
Thunderhill Park, Willows, CA [530-934-3237] or another San Francisco Region designated supplier.

The seals installed on the motor shall be registered by MCE Racing and shall remain intact and
untampered with at all times. Any seal that is missing or damaged is grounds for disqualification
from the event.

All SSM’s shall use fuel having an octane rating no greater than 91.5 as measured by testing
equipment maintained by the Region. The Region may specify other parameters such as dielectric
constant and/or specific gravity for the fuel to be used."

Is that all there was prior to Mike's Email? Doesn't say anything about specs or compliance margin...

-Juan

Isn't that a Sup Reg to the SCCA rules.
J~

[Juan Pineda]

Johnny,

Found the SSM rules here:

http://www.sfrscca.o...t/view/4476/49/

Perhaps they are duplicated in the Supps.

-Juan

[D Biggar]

Not naming any names but I wonder if his new track record will still stand after this.
J~

Well for some reason he wasn't DQ-ed from the race for this...not much they can do after its all been made official.

[Johnny D]

Well for some reason he wasn't DQ-ed from the race for this...not much they can do after its all been made official.

Ah, Barry Bonds Syndrome
J~

[Dan Cooper]

I know I have voiced how I felt about SSM as a class to at least one board member (cough cough Mr Niemann...) and I'm glad to see that things are being done. Although I am no longer running SSM, it's nice to see that voices are being heard.

---------------

On another note, "he" can very fairly explain what happened and I'm sure that if he feels he needs to do so, he will.

[Johnny D]

Who ever it was, a quote from Bob Uecker.
"Just a bit outside"
J~

[Brian Ghidinelli]

There are 3 current miata racers on the SFR board, a 4th is a former SM driver and a 5th rents a miata! Don't think we don't spend a lot of time discussing SM/SSM!

The crux of the situation is that the previous supplementary rules did not permit a DQ on HP/Torque but focused exclusively on seals and other standard SMT compliance criteria. The new version keeps those requirements (which have been working well for the 2.5 years the program has existed) plus adds the HP/torque requirement in order to be compliant.

The compliance check on 4/10 was such that tech/stewards did not have clear grounds (e.g., that couldn't have been appealed successfully) for a DQ. However the HP/TQ was clearly not within the spirit of the class, so we have changed the supps to suit.

Since the car was not protested and not found out of compliance, the track record will stand.

As you can see from the readings, throwing out the one high and one low, the spread is very tight which is why there is good competition among the SSM cars. Now we have one more arrow in the quiver to enforce cars stay within that range. We'll continue to adjust as needed in order to keep the class inexpensive and competitive.

[Johnny D]

D'oh,
So why the dynos ?
Are we missing a seal on the bottom end?

IMO, if you have the Max HP and TQ in the rules and your going to dyno then you don't need seals.
If your not going to dyno or not very often then seal it all up.
J~

[Ron Alan]

SPIRIT????? What was the whole point of a compliance check then?? And who would know to protest without the information you just put out??? Its one thing for track records to stand when nothing is checked...but to let stand a record when a car IS checked and found to be 7hp over a sealed mark(114hp)makes me question the boards reasoning...take my opinion for what it's worth(not much I'm sure )

I will withdraw my last statement if in fact the record was set on Sat...but the spirit of it still applies

Thanks for clarifying Brian...many disagree but like I understand. To bad this stuff happens...no one wins!

[Johnny D]

Rules are rules.
SMT 206.821 81.356
SSM 207.158 81.14
Just need pre Barry Bonds record and post Barry Bond record.
J~

[Phillip Holifield]

Brian, I thought we did have a rule for checking HP compliance. Last year we had a discussion about SSM on the old site and the region published these specs. Have they changed since then?

MCE will perform the dyno process as follows:
1) MCE will supply, gap and install a standard spark plug, Autolite AR3935 gapped at positive electrode end to 0.028 inch +/-0.003 inch.
2) MCE will check for proper oil levels using MCE retained Miata oil dipstick and will check to insure the oil measurement system has not been altered.
3) MCE will tune the SSM engine to target HP target window of 113 HP +/- 1.5 HP and 100 +/- 3 ft lbs of torque by adjusting the distributor and/or the MAF valve, All testing will be performed before engine cooling fan starts at 180° engine temperature.
4) While checking the HP, MCE will look for any indication of an out of range power train drag issue by performing the negative HP test, using Dynojet 224X Dynamometer.
5) A Miata that cannot be raised to meet the HP target will be sealed with the owner’s approval after notification of result.
6) If the Miata fails, the driver will be only told the following; your car could not meet the SSM sealing criteria for the following reason(s):
a. The HP could not be raised to the proper target and was sealed per #5 above.
b. During the dyno process your car’s negative HP test was above the target range.

Once the Miata is set for the proper HP target, MCE will perform a sealing process using proprietary color/bar code detection system. The following items will be sealed:
1) Oil pan
2) Valve cover
3) ECM
4) Airflow Sensor
5) Cam Sensor

From time to time SFR will ask MCE to provide compliance testing services. SFR will select the cars to be tested. MCE will validate, that all seals are in place, the car falls in the target HP and negative HP range. MCE will notify the SFR Chief of Tech if the car passes or fails.

The car will fail inspection only if any of the following is determined from the dyno process:
1) The car’s HP was above the target levels
2) The car’s negative HP was above the target range.
3) If any compliance seals are broken or tampered with.
The SFR Chief of Tech will be told the car failed for which of the above reasons.

MCE will provide an SCCA witness statement and meet with the SOM as required to document the results of the testing for the purpose of assessing penalties. In the event of failure, a copy of the dyno sheet will be supplied to the SFR office.

[Numbersix]

I want my track records back