Challenge rule question...

Ok you figured I would know this by now considering I am working on my 5th challenge car but I figured I would ask just to be safe.

Since the Miata is the first challenge car I am actually planning on keeping for awhile, I want to do some routine maintenance. I received no records with the car so I don't know when it's timing belt was done. The belt and the water pump are fine but changing them would give me some piece of mind. What is the ruling on replacing the timing belt, tensioner and water pump. As you know there is no performance advantage from a new belt. Do I take a budget hit? If it doesn't hit the budget I will go OEM. If it does hit the budget has anyone had experience with the cheap timing belt kits from ebay?

The lack of records didn't effect the price of the car when I purchased it because it was from the copart auction. On a related note what about oil changes, do I count one towards the budget or any I perform between now and the challenge.

Thanks in advance...

Wait till after and hope out holds or take the hit.

do you also take a hit when you do an oil change or put in a set of new oem spec spark plugs? it's maintenance- do it... if the rules say it's a value hit, then the rules are stupid.

Fluids are not included in budget. Don't think anyone is going to have a problem with spark plugs.

As for the timing belt... it's a Miata. If it has to go towards budget, bring a timing kit to the Challenge but don't use it until the belt breaks. Non-interference motor ftw!

Did they ever decide on the roll bar rules, I remember there was much discussion at the event regarding bars, but was a consensus ever reached. Is a bolt in bar still exempt?

Cages or bars of any kind are no longer exempt.

Swank Force One wrote: Fluids are not included in budget. Don't think anyone is going to have a problem with spark plugs. As for the timing belt... it's a Miata. If it has to go towards budget, bring a timing kit to the Challenge but don't use it until the belt breaks. Non-interference motor ftw!

Our spark plugs and oils are in the budget. Car doesn't run without it. Purchase price would have been higher if it were new and did not need replaced.

Unless it was changed, fluids were listed as excluded in the rules I thought.

If I buy a car with no plugs or shot plugs, i'd put them in.

I can't find the rules anymore, they are no longer under the link for the challenge.

wheels777 wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: Fluids are not included in budget. Don't think anyone is going to have a problem with spark plugs. As for the timing belt... it's a Miata. If it has to go towards budget, bring a timing kit to the Challenge but don't use it until the belt breaks. Non-interference motor ftw!

Our spark plugs and oils are in the budget. Car doesn't run without it. Purchase price would have been higher if it were new and did not need replaced.

How about your gas?

Car doesn't run without it.

SVreX wrote:

wheels777 wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: Fluids are not included in budget. Don't think anyone is going to have a problem with spark plugs. As for the timing belt... it's a Miata. If it has to go towards budget, bring a timing kit to the Challenge but don't use it until the belt breaks. Non-interference motor ftw!

Our spark plugs and oils are in the budget. Car doesn't run without it. Purchase price would have been higher if it were new and did not need replaced.

How about your gas? Car doesn't run without it.

No fair! Bryce gets an advantage!

In the website update over the holidays, the link for the $2014 Challenge rules did not survive. We are currently working on getting the link back up. Stay tuned!

In reply to pimpm3:

The timing belt, tensioner and water pump would need to be included in the budget. Obviously if you do the labor yourself, that would be free.

Here's the rules, for your perusal:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/events/extra/2014-challenge-rules/