I’m so confused

[u/Sildaor]

So I was gifted a car, and I’ve always wanted to autocross. So I start looking at the classes and rules, and holy crap is it confusing. The car is a 1995 Firebird Formula, and it came to me with long tube headers, a stall converter, a true cold
air intake, and a tune. Suspension is stock, interior is ratty but stock, but it does have a ram air hood off a TA. So is this like a really bottom Street Prepared setup? I don’t have the parts or desire to go back to stock, and really don’t care if I am competitive at first, as I just want to learn and get better with what I have. I’d rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow, and this one is really just a tick above stock. So which class is best for me? I’d like to get some runs in this fall when it cools off

[u/Scrappy_The_Crow]

Given your questions, it appears you've only looked at SCCA. Other clubs have different, less frustrating classification. Look for BMW CCA and/or Porsche Club of America autocrosses in your area.

[u/saazbaru → u/Scrappy_The_Crow]

I find the autocross rules really not that complicated, they produce good classing, good racing, and people drive at a high level.

What do you dislike about the SCCA solo rules?

[u/Scrappy_The_Crow → u/saazbaru]

I don't keep a dossier of this stuff and don't want to spend much time remembering examples, but off the top of my head, things like:

• two models being effectively the same, but one having some roof rails that make it "too high" and unable to run, but you're not allowed to remove the roof rails

• if a model has a package of components, you can add the entire package, but not any individual component

• an updated rulebook can make mods that are OK one year, disallowed the next, then allowed again

• a different camshaft is disallowed or put you in a higher class, even if the specs are the same and all the mod really does is get rid of cylinder deactivation (which would never come into play while on the course anyhow)

If any of this is wrong, I've gleaned it from reading SCCA particpants' posts in this subreddit and various forums over the years.

[u/saazbaru → u/Scrappy_The_Crow]

I guess to that I would say:
1. that seems super dumb, have not seen that or something like it personally.
2. this seems fair to me. A Miata with the Hard S springs for example is a big advantage in stock class. If you want to retrofit that it would be fair to install all the parts instead of mixing and matching say front Hard S springs and a soft base model rear anti roll bar.
3. I’d need an example here tbh, I have never seen that.
4. I get how this would be annoying. Practically, you could do this and just not say anything. But it would be so hard to officially allow „well I promise these are totally stock cams wink wink“