2002M3Drew

I was really hoping that the SCCA would come up with some kind of a vintage street racing class, incorporating allowances for popular mods that people with 15-30 year old sports cars typically make. Cars in such a class could include all pre-964 911s, all 944s,all 924s, Datsun/Nissan 240Z/260Z/280Z/ZX, 300ZX, BMW E30 M3, Alfa Alfrettas and GTVs, Alfa Spiders, FIAT X1/9s, early MR2s, NA 2nd gen MR2s, Supras, etc. For kicks, you could put in early Eclipse/Talon turbos, Starions, Mk1 and Mk2 VW GTIs, etc. Vintage racing could be a lot of fun.

In comparison, STR does not appear to be much of a break for older 911 guys. I don't understand the rationale of mixing up mid-eighties 911s and 944s with overdog S2000s and Miatas. There are plenty of places for S2000s and Miatas to shine already, and we are left with only BSP or SSM for most lightly-modified mid-eighties 911s (and in both classes a 3.0 or 3.2 911 would be dogmeat).

In a class for older cars, you have to open up the allowances as a matter of practicality. I would think a rule set similar to that of street prepared or street modified would work well.

Assuming this new STR comes to fruition, though, I hope they at least open it up to SCs and maybe even earlier 911s.

j-rho

The cars in your list are either already allowed in the ST category (E30 M3 in STX, early MR2 in STS, Supra in STU, etc.), or are now allowed in STR. Until the creation of STR, classing was done on the basis of #seats and displacement.

I believe a properly built 911 3.2 Carrera will be competitive against the S2000s and Miatas in STR.

The S2000 is competitive in Stock but not so much in any category above that.

"Vintage" isn't really the theme of the ST category. The allowances aren't tailored to older cars, especially anything pre-fuel injection. The Street Prepared and Prepared categories are more along those lines.

The 911 could be a great SSM car if someone really tried. You're no longer tied to the stock engine or its internals in SSM, only the engine block maker (Porsche, etc.).

DMikko

I had a chance to take one run in a 1989 3.2 Carrera ASP prepared 911 this last Saturday, let's just say I'm hooked for life... course, the Hoosiers were a bit addicting as well, he was only running 225's though, and it was a lightly prepared ASP car.

timhill78

That's it I'm selling my BSP Evo and building a STR 3.2. It just sounds like to much fun.

timhill78

So what would would be the ideal set up for a STR 3.2? What would a good autocross street tire suspension set-up be?

I just found this

In addition to the 312 Club Sport Coupe’s, a solitary Targa was also manufactured along with 28 US cars that featured standard American-spec 217bhp engines.

http://www.qv500.com/porsche9118489p3.php

Does that mean us spec Club Sports have the average 3.2 engine with out the hollow intake valves?

DMikko

any updates on any builds here? curious to hear if anyone is seriously (or otherwise) planning on running a 911 in STR this season.....

j-rho

I don't know of any 911 builds in the works. I've seen at least a dozen Miatas and S2000s getting put together. The STR class has a provisional status for 2010, where it is not fully recognized as a National autocross class with the SCCA. Because whomever wins the race at the National Championships 2010 will not be crowned a National Champion, the real serious efforts are holding back until the class gets fully recognized. Typically that wouldn't be until the 2012 or 2013 season, but with strong participation this year, could be as soon as 2011.

DMikko

good point, although I won't be surprised if STR makes the cut as an offical class for 2011

... no STR-911 news around here either, rummors are of a 944 build though

and some A-Stock builds, for sure

j-rho

Sometimes car choices are influenced by what's available. I'm just going to throw this out there now. Won't be in a position to make a purchase until at least the winter of 2010, 9+ months from now. If you've got a car that meets this description and might we thinking of parting ways with it around that time, let me know.

Since the car would be built expressly to run in STR and because I'm weird, I'm picky about different things than most Porschephiles-

#Must haves:
'88 or '89 911 3.2 Carrera coupe narrow body
Red, white, or black paint (doesn't have to be in perfect shape)
Black interior
No crazy un-doable modifications or damage (big flares, frame damage, motor swaps, etc.)

#Really want:
No sunroof
Rear spoiler
Motor and trans in decent condition so I don't have to rebuild them right away

#Things I don't care much about since I'll be removing or replacing them:
Front & rear seats, steering wheel, shifter
Radio
Air conditioning system
Suspension bushings, shocks, torsion bars, ball joints
Wheels and tires
Exhaust system

I'm in San Diego but don't mind traveling long distances to pick up the car, so long as it's in good enough condition to be driven home. Last two autocross cars I bought both came from Washington state.

analogmike

The 915 tranny is a lot lighter. And I have done a lot of pro solos in them with no problems, I think I am one of the few people to trophy at the nationals in a 3.2 carrera. The 915 Cheap to rebuild too. I would get an '84-86. Good luck!

DMikko

wow, no kidding? that's HUGE.... all I've heard, over and over again was how careful you have to be shifting (shifting from 1st to 2nd is what concerns me most obviously), slow and diligent... not necessarily what's conducive to a good/competitive pro-solo launch (?)

more history/insight please!

Doug

j-rho

Mike, the Club Sport (or a clone thereof) would be lighter than a 915 tranny'd car. I think the only way the 911 will have a chance in this class is with the extra 100+ pounds of weight reduction available via a CS. The delta to a 915 car would be less than 100 pounds but still a significant amount. Plus the extra reliability would be nice.

Mike Buck

There is a white Club Sport for sale in Panorama. It's even from WA. Sounds like the perfect car for you

DMikko

.....what are the details? Me, personally, I haven't seen anything listed locally (I'm in WA) and I'm not "elligible" for the magazine subscription :/

thanks!

j-rho

Haha, not quite! I would become the villain of every Porschephile on the globe were I to turn a real CS into an STR autocross (oh the shame, not even roadrace!) car.

I ordered WKD-494-021 that has all the CS details for $9, should save about $29991 over the real thing.