[Ataru]

A clarification in the March SCCA Fastrack added in this statement about strut tower bars in ST and SP classes:

14. Street Touring: Add “..and may only provide stiffening along one axis…” to the second sentence of 14.8.M.

14.8.M now states:

M. Strut bars are permitted with all types of suspension. Strut bars may be mounted only transversely across the car from upper right to upper left suspension mounting point and from lower right to lower left suspension mounting point...and may only provide stiffening along one axis... No other configuration is permitted. Additional holes may be drilled for mounting bolts. Only bolt-on attachment is permitted. Interior trim panels may be modified to allow installation of strut bars. Holes or slots may be no larger than necessary and may serve no other purpose. This does not permit any modifications to the frame or unibody beyond the allowed mounting holes.

That one small statement has basically made ALL common strut bars for cars illegal unless it has a heim joint. Lots of discussion on the SCCA forums:

http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/235596.aspx

I was JUST about to buy a strut bar for my car, but am going to hold off until the clarification is.....clarified. :lol: It looks like there have been a lot of complaints already and they are looking over the clarification again.

Hopefully they can change it to allow strut bars back in STS as that mod does fit into the spirit of the class.

PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS THREAD FOR DEBATE ON THE BENEFIT OF A STRUT TOWER BAR ON THE FOCUS. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS THREAD IS ABOUT.

 

[thefrush]

Interesting, I wonder what drove them to outlaw them. They really do fit the spirit of the class.

 

[ZX3autoxtasy]

So I'm guessing this makes my FocusSport strut bar illegal?

 

[Ataru]

Later in that thread I linked to a guy comments on it. It was due to some LOWER strut bars that they were trying to address, but in doing so, it basically outlawed all upper bars by accident.

He explained to me the issue is with the LOWER strut bars. I had to explain to him that this rule "clarification" effects BOTH upper and lower strut bars, and not just the lowers. Example:

I can see how that 'bar' really does skirt the rules, as written and now I can agree with the SEB in disallowing them. However, I firmly believe the $50 solid bars going between Strut TOPS can be solid in nature. $50 for a TOP sway bar vs $200-$300? Yeah. Exactly.

 

[MichaelXi]

I'm pretty sure that the intent is to say "No Triangulation", but they didn't want to pigeon-hole themselves with the term "triangle".
Our available strut bars simply go from left to right JUST AS THE LATTER PART OF THE PARAGRAPH SAYS that it MAY.

 

[Ataru]

So I'm guessing this makes my FocusSport strut bar illegal?

Under the updated definition, yes.

This would be the closest thing to legal:

Heim joint at each end so there is only stiffening in one axis.

 

[Ataru]

I'm pretty sure that the intent is to say "No Triangulation", but they didn't want to pigeon-hole themselves with the term "triangle".
Our available strut bars simply go from left to right JUST AS THE LATTER PART OF THE PARAGRAPH SAYS that it MAY.

Correct, but bolting it down does provide stiffening in 3 axis. Quoted from SCCA Forums:

It means that it must move freely in every direction but one. The most functional dimension for a strut bar is tension and compression. So by adding a heim joint at each end, it moves freely in every direction except tension and compression. If it was bolted down, it would be stiff in bending along multiple axes, and in torsion (twisting) as well.

This would make it illegal, and opens up the possibility for people to use bars that do not fit within the scope of the class. No triangulation was already covered in the existing rule.

Strut bars may be mounted only transversely across the car from upper right to upper left suspension mounting point and from lower right to lower left suspension mounting point

That already covers triangulation as being illegal.

There is a difference between "legal" and "common sense". We all know by common sense that the bars we are using now should be legal because they aren't going to do much other than tie the strut towers together, stopping them from flexing towards each other. But the clarification makes them illegal according to the rules.

SCCA Forums again:

our rules are constantly explained as accounting for the furthest that a creative person w/ time and money could stretch them. measuring things objectively is the only logical way to set rules, and there seems to be no objective standard in this rule.

Protests CAN happen at a national level because of this clarification being unclear.

 

[Auto-X-ZTS]

If I still had a Focus in STS, I'd be happy--you don't need a stut brace (it does very little if anything for a Focus) whereas the Honduh guys in their flexy-flyer old Civics were using them like candy (especially the lower rear ones).

 

[RPIJG]

I was about to say, this is really a slap at the STS "Spec" civics isn't it. I always thought that comptech piece looked extremely fishy for being just a "strut" bar.

 

[thefrush]

Wouldn't this rule also make all strut tower bars in SP illegal, and then since SM adopts the rules of SP and builds on them, wouldn't strut tower bars in SM also be illegal?

SCCA better get on this.

 

[Ataru]

Yes, the change was for ST and SP classes.

 

[RPIJG]

yes, essentially, if you have the strut bar, you'd be in a Prepared class the way the rules are currently written.

 

[Jasonof2000]

I have no problem taking off the strut bar and putting it up until the rules are clarified, its not like the Foci really need them or anything.

 

[ZX3autoxtasy]

I'll see if other racers remove them.




It might be a good move on my side, and maybe slow down the Civic/Integra's in my class.

 

[RPIJG]

I'm betting they make a re-clarification before long, the way those honda boys are howling.

 

[Silonius]

I'll see if other racers remove them.




It might be a good move on my side, and maybe slow down the Civic/Integra's in my class.

Those guys need something to slow them down. Maybe try slipping in a few hundred pound bags of sand when they're not looking!

Now I'm glad I didn't spend any money on a strut bar!