Im running SM2 and cannot for the life of me figure out if stitch welding the chasis is legal or not? Sure, i could probably get away with it but i want my car to comply with the rules as well.

 

The 2007 Solo rules, section 16.1 G provides that:
I suppose thus that if you really wanted to ensure legality you could just make the stitch welding somehow connect to a subframe reinforcement.

 

cool, that sounds good enough for me. Ive been itching to weld it up around the door to stiffen it up.

 

My understanding is that FM frame rails are NOT SM2 legal, so I would guess that stitch welding wouldn't be legal either. I'd ask this on m.net or sccaforums.com.

 

Ive heard that the braces are legal as long as they do not connect the two frame rails together (aka the butterfly part of the brace). Ok I guess I am going to keep digging on this one. Off to M.net land for me.

 

I think it is the definition of subframe connector. I THINK it was Andy Hollis that brought up the idea that the rails aren't really subframe connectors. The last time I saw something there was talk about a rules clarification.

I didn't find anything specific to stitch welding. If you do find out please let me know. In Canada we run different rules, but the writing is on the wall we'll eventually adopt SCCA rules. So I don't want to do anything that might **** me later. If it was legal I'll look at stitch welding my car this winter.

 

Well, from my limited ammount of searching thus far, It looks like this may throw me out of the street categories and into the prepared category, although I think I could make a "tortured interepretation" and go ahead and do it anyway (like i am going to be competetive anyways lol). Besides, with some careful grinding and new paint, im sure one could make it very hard to detect such modifications ...

 

I dont think it is. Look it up
www.scca.com they have the rule book there

 

i have the rulebook on my computer and I just do not see any provision that would allow this on any street class vehicle.

 

Or you can skip the autoX and get in on some real raod course action where you can actualy use the car to its most potential. i dunno auto X is just to constrained for me esp since most courses aren't marked for ****. just my 2 cents

 

i've heard that about a lot of places. The Texas region is really good for autoX though. Probably because we get to do it for 12 months a year versus 5 or so for a lot of places.

 

Well, i am lucky enough to be a 20 minute drive from one of the best locations in America. The courses are constructed on roughly the same area as two football fields and the surface is brushed concrete and grips extremely well. there are many people who have to drive four hours, but are at every single event.

 

Screw it, i am going to do it anyway because I will do it myself and it will cost me nothing.