SPDA'S Newcomers Guide to Ontario Regional Autoslalom Car Prep Levels
Jan 28, 2012, 07:05 PM
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SPDA'S Newcomers Guide to Ontario Regional Autoslalom Car Prep Levels
Choosing a Car Prep Level Guide for the Ontario Autoslalom Regionals:
Autoslalom is very firmly a grass roots motorsport. We want folks there in their ordinary grocery getter cars. We want people there in their track cars. We want the cruisers with modded cars that are tired of hard parking. We want mad scientists that have built some car like thing in their garage. What we don’t want is the people showing up in their stock Mazda 2’s and getting trounced by a guy in a custom built race car.
To this end, cars are separated into classes. You will compete directly against people in your own class and you’ll compete against people in other classes by using a handicap system that we call PAX. I’ll not get into PAX much here, but essentially if you’re the person in the grocery getter you keep approx. 80% of your time on the course, the mad scientist could be up around 90%. On a 60 second course that’s 6 seconds difference. A looooooong time in autoslalom.
For the 2012 season, CASC-OR (Ontario Region ‘Provincials’) is adopting the American SCCA rulebook and classes, putting us line with the States and the rest of the Canadian regions. The downside to this is that the rulebook appears massive and that there are a scary looking 43 classes. Bit daunting if you’re a new competitor reading this? Well don’t worry, I can guide you through it.
All these classes are split into seven groups: Stock, Street Touring, Street Prepared, Street Modified, Prepared, Modified and Formula. We can pretty much ignore Formula (unless you’re building an FSAE car or such like).
So what do all these prep levels mean? I will post a rundown on what common mods land you in each class. This isn’t ALL the info, but will help you identify which prep level your car will likely fit into.
Stock:
Stock mostly means just that: Stock. There are, however, a couple of mods allowed. These commonly include:
In order to keep things simple, if the rulebook doesn’t specifically say you CAN do something, then you can’t.
The stock classes are split into groups from A-Stock to H-Stock. So STi’s are grouped with Evo’s, Mustangs are grouped with Camaro’s, base Honda Civics are grouped with Corollas etc.
This is the place to start playing if your car is showroom stock. When you have some experience and want to compete harder; pick up a set of stock size wheels, throw some R-Comp tires on, maybe a sway bar and have fun.
Street Touring:
The biggest aspect of street touring is, NO R-Comps. Street tires only, with a treadwear rating of 140 or higher (basically any street tires). However, it does open up some popular mods that people commonly do to their cars, such as:
These classes are the place to be for newcomers with common bolt on parts and are very popular for that reason. Also popular for the fact that you don’t need to change tires to drive home!
Street Prepared
This starts to open up mods that allow for a seriously fast car. From this prep level onwards there’s an awful lot you can and can’t do, much more than is listed below.
If you have one of the below commonly found mods, you’ll be in this class or higher. At this point, it’s worth checking out the full rulebook and contacting us for clarification.
Street Modified
Faster still! For cars that have been more than slightly breathed on. Allows everything listed in Stock, Street Touring and Street Prepared, plus:
Prepared
About as far as you can take a car with it still being recognisable as the street going vehicle it was based on. Anyone planning a car at this prep level needs to read the full rule set. A summary really isn’t possible or useful.
Common mods that could place you in this category are:
Generally bonafide race cars that you won’t ever see on the road. Touring Cars, GT Cars and custom built autocross cars with huge wings weighing as much a pack of cigarettes.
Again, this is at a pretty intense level. If you want to play here, you need to read the full rule book.
Summary
As newcomers, nearly all of you will look to choose between Stock and Street Touring.
Some may have mods installed already that put you in Street Prepared or Street Modified. Our advice is this: Don’t sweat the classing too much.
Some people get a little carried away with this and jump up and down in frustration because their turbo swap has put them in Street Mod and they couldn’t ever possibly compete because yada yada yada or “My car SUCKS in stock form without this particular mod that EVERYONE does anyway, why should I have to go to Street Prepared??”.
Relax.
Autocross is still awesome fun whether you’re competing in stock, street prep or mod. The fact is this: Your first season should be ALL about tightening the nut behind the wheel. Let your car class where it classes, go burn rubber and then you’ll have a really good idea what way you want to change your car and class for your second season.
Most of us don’t have dedicated autocross cars and do what we can to enjoy our daily drivers.
I will post another guide once the 2012 rulebook is published that will help you choose the final class for your car, so, please hold the “My car’s a XXXX with XXXX. What class am I?” questions for the moment.
If you would like to ask for advice on what prep level your car might be, or choosing between Stock and Street Touring then fire away on this thread or email barry at spda-online dot ca
Please note that this is a basic guide only. Don’t go building a car for a class looking at only this summary!
Only a few more months until the 2012 season begins!
Autoslalom is very firmly a grass roots motorsport. We want folks there in their ordinary grocery getter cars. We want people there in their track cars. We want the cruisers with modded cars that are tired of hard parking. We want mad scientists that have built some car like thing in their garage. What we don’t want is the people showing up in their stock Mazda 2’s and getting trounced by a guy in a custom built race car.
To this end, cars are separated into classes. You will compete directly against people in your own class and you’ll compete against people in other classes by using a handicap system that we call PAX. I’ll not get into PAX much here, but essentially if you’re the person in the grocery getter you keep approx. 80% of your time on the course, the mad scientist could be up around 90%. On a 60 second course that’s 6 seconds difference. A looooooong time in autoslalom.
For the 2012 season, CASC-OR (Ontario Region ‘Provincials’) is adopting the American SCCA rulebook and classes, putting us line with the States and the rest of the Canadian regions. The downside to this is that the rulebook appears massive and that there are a scary looking 43 classes. Bit daunting if you’re a new competitor reading this? Well don’t worry, I can guide you through it.
All these classes are split into seven groups: Stock, Street Touring, Street Prepared, Street Modified, Prepared, Modified and Formula. We can pretty much ignore Formula (unless you’re building an FSAE car or such like).
So what do all these prep levels mean? I will post a rundown on what common mods land you in each class. This isn’t ALL the info, but will help you identify which prep level your car will likely fit into.
Stock:
Stock mostly means just that: Stock. There are, however, a couple of mods allowed. These commonly include:
- ONE swaybar (front OR back) plus aftermarket endlinks for that one bar
- Shocks (in stock location only with no changes to the car itself)
- Catback exhaust
- Tires! This one is very important. You CAN run almost anything up to and including race only, non highway use, super sticky slick tires (referred to as ‘R-Comps’). Whatever size you want provided it fits on a stock size (diameter, width and offset) wheel and fits under your stock fenders (no flares, no pulls, no lips).
In order to keep things simple, if the rulebook doesn’t specifically say you CAN do something, then you can’t.
The stock classes are split into groups from A-Stock to H-Stock. So STi’s are grouped with Evo’s, Mustangs are grouped with Camaro’s, base Honda Civics are grouped with Corollas etc.
This is the place to start playing if your car is showroom stock. When you have some experience and want to compete harder; pick up a set of stock size wheels, throw some R-Comp tires on, maybe a sway bar and have fun.
Street Touring:
The biggest aspect of street touring is, NO R-Comps. Street tires only, with a treadwear rating of 140 or higher (basically any street tires). However, it does open up some popular mods that people commonly do to their cars, such as:
- Bolt on suspension upgrades: Springs, shocks, camber plates, coilovers, bushings & sway bars.
- Wider wheels and tires. (Still have to be completely under stock fenders with no flares though)
- Header back exhausts. (Must have cats. ST cars basically have to be emissions legal.)
- Cold air intakes.
- ECU Tuning. Note for boost fans! Any tunes have to keep stock boost targets.
- Lightweight batteries
- Big brake kits.
These classes are the place to be for newcomers with common bolt on parts and are very popular for that reason. Also popular for the fact that you don’t need to change tires to drive home!
Street Prepared
This starts to open up mods that allow for a seriously fast car. From this prep level onwards there’s an awful lot you can and can’t do, much more than is listed below.
If you have one of the below commonly found mods, you’ll be in this class or higher. At this point, it’s worth checking out the full rulebook and contacting us for clarification.
- R-Comps are allowed with wider wheels and fender flares.
- All suspension mods described in Street Touring.
- Header back exhaust and intakes.
- ECU tuning with altered boost targets.
- Functional race spoilers, splitters etc.
- Aftermarket intercoolers & intake manifolds
- Aftermarket clutches & flywheels
- AC removal
Street Modified
Faster still! For cars that have been more than slightly breathed on. Allows everything listed in Stock, Street Touring and Street Prepared, plus:
- Engine swaps from other versions of the same model
- Turbo / Supercharger swaps and installs.
- Transmission swaps
- Aftermarket steering racks
- Various lightening steps (stereo removal, convertible soft top removal etc.)
Prepared
About as far as you can take a car with it still being recognisable as the street going vehicle it was based on. Anyone planning a car at this prep level needs to read the full rule set. A summary really isn’t possible or useful.
Common mods that could place you in this category are:
- Chassis bracing mods beyond the likes of strut braces
- Internal engine mods
- Changing suspension attachment points
- Stripped interior
Generally bonafide race cars that you won’t ever see on the road. Touring Cars, GT Cars and custom built autocross cars with huge wings weighing as much a pack of cigarettes.
Again, this is at a pretty intense level. If you want to play here, you need to read the full rule book.
Summary
As newcomers, nearly all of you will look to choose between Stock and Street Touring.
Some may have mods installed already that put you in Street Prepared or Street Modified. Our advice is this: Don’t sweat the classing too much.
Some people get a little carried away with this and jump up and down in frustration because their turbo swap has put them in Street Mod and they couldn’t ever possibly compete because yada yada yada or “My car SUCKS in stock form without this particular mod that EVERYONE does anyway, why should I have to go to Street Prepared??”.
Relax.
Autocross is still awesome fun whether you’re competing in stock, street prep or mod. The fact is this: Your first season should be ALL about tightening the nut behind the wheel. Let your car class where it classes, go burn rubber and then you’ll have a really good idea what way you want to change your car and class for your second season.
Most of us don’t have dedicated autocross cars and do what we can to enjoy our daily drivers.
I will post another guide once the 2012 rulebook is published that will help you choose the final class for your car, so, please hold the “My car’s a XXXX with XXXX. What class am I?” questions for the moment.
If you would like to ask for advice on what prep level your car might be, or choosing between Stock and Street Touring then fire away on this thread or email barry at spda-online dot ca
Please note that this is a basic guide only. Don’t go building a car for a class looking at only this summary!
Only a few more months until the 2012 season begins!
I look forward to the upcoming season of the Ontario Autoslalom Regionals. 
Jan 29, 2012, 04:27 PM
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There'll be an Open House at CSC Racing in Newmarket on April 1st. This is really just to help with registration etc. Come if you can, but no prob if you miss it.
We usually do the autocross school in Brampton towards the end of April. I'll post dates when it's confirmed.
We usually do the autocross school in Brampton towards the end of April. I'll post dates when it's confirmed.
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