I'm hoping there are some SCCA classing/eligibility experts on GRM that can help me with whether my E21 currently fits into a class and, if so, which one that may be. It seems that the SCCA race at Nelson Ledges over Haloween weekend is a go and I'd like to run the BMW if I can.
It was an ITB car back in the 90's I know it doesn't fit there anymore. No more front bumper and it's got a trunk mounted fuel cell.
Although I'm SCCA licensed, I'm not terribly familiar with all the rules but from digging a bit through the GCR, it seems that my best bet is EP. It clearly allows a trunk-mounted fuel cell and I think body modifications are OK. It's essentially a stripped down E21 with a stock engine, original fuel injection, bilstiens with coilover inserts, stock brakes, stock driveline and a fuel cell.
My biggest qconcerns are with the cage and the fire suppression system.
Cage - exactly as it was in the early 90's as an ITB car. It's stamped, matches the SCCA log book and has a hole to check thickness. 6 point, two door bars on each side and a dash bar under the steering column.
Fire suppression - it seems like EP just requires a 5 lb extinguisher, is this right? I eventually plan to put a real fire system in the car but don't have one right now.
Any direction is appreciated.
It sounds funny but I 100% don't care about being competitive in whatever class I end up in I just want to help support the NEOhio Region and encourage the relationship between NEOhio and Nelsons and not be run off the road while doing so. That is, if I have to put the car in some catch-all class when I'l lbe on the track with some built to the n'th degree monsters, that won't be fun for anyone.
I think 320s were GT-3 cars so it would fit there but obviously be totally outclassed.
Does the car meet the ITB minimum weight? If the only non compliant piece is the bumper but it meets all the other rules I doubt your competitors would object.
Do double check the cage rules as sometime in the mid 90s SCCA updated the cage rules. The biggest change was a diagonal being added for the rear hoop. It had to go from the upper rear hoop down to the opposite side of the car and connect to the down tube that from the rear hoop straight back to the rear fenderwell.
In reply to Tom1200 :
Thanks - good point about the bumpers in that likely no one would care. Honestly, the car will be far from competitive either way... But no, I'm about 200lbs under the minimum weight.
Clarification on the cage point. You're not talking about a diagonal for the main hoop itself; from a top corner to the opposite bottom corner. Rather, you mean a diagonal from one corner where the main hoop and a down tube intersect to where the opposite down tube intersects the car (rear strut mount in my case). My cage does not have that.
I suppose I could find some ballast and bolt it down for ITB but it sounds like EP is where the car stands now. Need to study cage requirements more closely.
I just checked the GCR and it doesn't require a diagonal from the the main hoop to the rear brace. The only diagonal is from the top of the main hoop to the opposite leg of the main hoop. Although you will see many cars with this to stiffen the car.
In reply to Don49 (Forum Supporter) :
Yes - more careful looking at the GCR and a quick email conversation with our local tech guy found that what my cage is missing is tubes from the front down tubes to the firewall.
I'm going to give myself until the end of the week to decide whether I feel like doing that between now and the end of October or not.