NCC Autocross participants, please see below for a list of proposed changes to the 2009 NCC Autocross class definitions to be effective for the 2010 season.

For a listing of 2009 base rules, please see this link: http://www.nccbmwcca.org/content.php?138-Classes

These changes will be brought up for additional comments before ratification at this Saturday's annual Autocross meeting. All rules are subject to change until ratified by the Autocross board. This set of changes was based on feedback from NCC autocross members, written comments on the year end survey, and comments posted to this message board.

You will notice below several major changes to the autocross program. Significantly for the BMW community, we will be eliminating the under-attended Unlimited class, and instead Unlimited vehicles will be placed into the Modified class of their chassis Group. We have also taken steps to begin to expand the Modified class, allowing more changes especially to forced induction vehicles.

Also of note is the expansion of the Tuner class to allow a wider series of modifications. Cars that are interested in running SCCA Street Touring classes should find themselves at home inside our Tuner classes this year, as we have expanded the allowed modifications to, and well beyond, SCCA ST* allowances. Notably, modifications to differentials, and factory forced induction cars will be allowed in the Tuner classes.

Last but not by any means least, we will be re-structuring our X-Classes for non-BMW competitors at our events. Our participants have spoken, and we have listened. We have revised our X-Classing from 2 to 4 Groups now, with the main differentiator between groups now being engine size, not tire treadwear. It is by no means a perfect system, and is intentionally designed to maintain simplicity while allowing various levels of competition among similarly capable cars. We welcome feedback on our new system from our participants as we progress through the year.




Proposed changes:

 ====================

#1: Springs (Tuner): - Clarification Only

Current: Spring Changes Permitted Only w/ Stock Location Placement (Note: This Prohibits Rear Coilovers)

Proposed: Spring Changes Permitted Only w/ Stock Location Placement (Note: This Prohibits True Coil-over Configurations in the rear)

====================

#2: Exhaust System:

Proposed new definitions:
Stock: Axle-back (muffler only) replacements permitted. No change to catalysts allowed.
Tuner: Catalysts required on 1980 or newer cars.
Modified: Free

====================

#3: Software (Tuner):

Current: Not Permitted On Forced Induction Vehicles / No Standalone Engine Management.

Proposed: Tuning on stock ECU via chip, flash, or piggyback ECU adapter allowed. No standalone engine management hardware allowed.

====================

#4: Forced Induction:

Current: "Stock" for all 3 classes

Proposed new definitions:
Stock: "Original Equipment Only"
Tuner: "Original Equipment Only"
Modified: "Free"

====================

#5: Strut Bar (Tuner):

Current: "Aftermarket Front Strut Bar Permitted"

Proposed: "Free"

====================

#6: Differential (Tuner):

Current: "Limited Slip Units Permitted / No Quaife Differentials"

Proposed: “Free"

====================

#7: NEW CATEGORY: “Engine Swaps”

Proposed:

Stock – “Not permitted”
Tuner – “Not permitted”
Modified – “Free”

====================

#8: Car Class Group Change:

Proposed: Move E30 ‘eta’ cars from Group 4 to Group 3.

====================

#9: Car Class Group Change:

Proposed: Change wording from “7-Series (6-Cyl) / 7-Series (8-Cyl)” in Group 4 to “7-Series”

====================

#10: X-Class Grouping Change:

Proposed: Re-structure the existing X-Class into more segmented Groups. Allow for the expansion of run categories from 2 to 4, with the primary decider being engine displacement.

The tiered structure would assign people a STARTING X-Group as follows:

Group = Displacement Range in Liters (Numbers rounded to nearest .1)
X1 = 0.1 - 2.0
X2 = 2.1 - 3.2
X3 = 3.3 - 4.6
X4 = 4.7+

After the STARTING group number is determined, add to the Group number as follows:
- Increase 1 Group if engine is rotary
- Increase 1 Group if engine uses forced induction
- Increase 1 Group if R-Compound tires are used. R-Compound is classified by NCC Autocross as any DOT tire with a tread wear rating of less than 140.

Examples:
- Mazda RX-8 (1.3L) would be in X1, but is an X2 car because of its rotary engine. If the same RX-8 competes with R-Compound tires, it moves up 1 more Group to X3.
- A 2010 Subaru WRX STI (2.5L) moves up from X2 to X3 because it has forced induction. Even factory forced induction, such as in this case, causes a car to move up 1 Group.
- X4 is the maximum Group. Example: a 5.0 liter car with R-Compound tires remains in the X4 Group.