PA Hillclimb

I've been digging through existing posts, and attempting to read through the GCR, time trial rules, and the Hillclimb Supplementary Regs, but need a little guidance in classifying my car. I've modified almost everything on my car because I enjoy designing and fabricating parts. I also like to have fun with the car, even though I don't fit well into most classifications, and have run with EMRA and Trackdaze, and would like to safely enjoy a learning new driving skills through hillclimbing. Can someone help classify my car so I can dig further into the GCR and Supp Regs to identify what areas I need to address so my car is safe?

Car
1986 (3rd gen) Camaro, street driven, almost full interior

Engine and mods

• Aftermarket big block chevy (not a swap within model years or a factory option)
  Custom fuel injection
  Centrifugal supercharger
  Custom intake

Drivetrain, suspension, brake mods

• 6 speed manual trans
  Coilover conversion up front
  Pushrod conversion in back
  Suspension links, torque arms, mounts, a-arms etc. are all custom
  Ford 9" housing in rear, different gears and differential
  Disc brakes in rear instead of factory drums
  Bigger discs and calipers up front +cooling ducts

Safety mods

• Roll bar (main hoop and rear braces are 1.75" x .134 wa, all welded to plates that are welded to structural parts of the unibody, LCA mounts, shock mounts)
  Front A-pillar bars from the floor up and across the windshield, plus 2 longitudinal members meet the FIA basic cage design in Appendix J, Article 253, 8.3.1 (everything else is 1.75"x .120 wa, all welded)
  My door bars look like picture 253-11, with the upper crossing between the shoulder and elbow
  I need a main hoop diagonal, planning on adding one following 8.3.2.4, picture 253-47 if I make it removable, or welding it in
  I don't have A-pillar reinforcements or roof diagonals, although the structural portion of the T-tops is tied into my two longitudinal roof bars
  Corbeau seats with anti-sub belt hole (looking at going to fixed back FIA or fabricating a seat-back mount if needed)
  5-pt harnesses (with proper belt angle to the rear, mounted to reinforced points in the rear, but not using a harness bar)
  Fire extinguisher

I would say SM, street Modified class.

Regarding car classification, talk to me at the PHA meeting. Just ask anyone for MREVIL.

Hi Keith. We met at the PHA meeting Saturday. After talking to some people to confrim things it looks like the only class for your Camaro is special 3. We don't use the C.A.M. class in PHA. Sorry bout that. If you can add the bars we talked about to your cage then you should be good to go.

I would think we can use that class. Its a national solo class.

Nuts,
Here are the items I had noted as needing to address from the discussions on Saturday:

• Harness bar, height matching shoulders, harness mounting points moved to harness bar
  Better seat, and seat back brace
  Steel hold down on battery

If CAM is a no-go, then I think the bars Mike is referring to were roof bars (I kind of lost track of that once we started talking CAM. )

So I dug back into the GCR to read about those bars, because I'm having a hard time figuring out how I would add two bars out near the edges and high, with as tight as I have the windshield and main hoops tucked, and still weld the full circumference.

2015 GCR April 1, 9.4.B.2.d, p 113:
Open cars must have 2 braces extending forward from the main hoop and attaching to the front hoop, not more than 6 inches below the top of the front and main hoop. It is recommended that the front and rear braces attach to the main hoop as close as possible to each other.

I would never argue the greater effectiveness of the roof bars being out near the edge instead of close to the middle like mine, but is there any possibility that I could pass tech with my current roof bars, given that they seem to meet the requirement listed above? At least until I figure out how the heck I can cram two more roof bars in there without them being 6" inboard, or next to my ear

Keith,

There are many solo classes we do not run like prepared and modified, or even street stock classes. If your is prepped beyond Street Modified as some are suggesting, then you need to look at GCR classes or PHA accepted classes. In some of these you can retain just a roll bar, but if you car is prepped beyond those rules, then you are forced to Special classes which require a full roll cage. You can do a halo bar or down tubes with a roof bar and dash bar. I know this is confusing, but we will all try to help point you in the right direction.

Steve

PM sent.

PM received, I'll be in touch! Thanks to everyone that is helping me work this out! Attached is the 'cage' as it is right now.

Keith,

The other issue I see is the design of the front tubes. The GCR states that the front tubes must go to the floor. In your design it goes to the firewall. It also states the tubes must follow the roof line from the main hoop to the windshield. I know that was you main issue. If you can get national office to sign off on the design, it would be easier for us to accept it. Their main concern will be no head support in the main cockpit area. AS stated above, you will need a horizontal bar in the main hoop as well. The only other item that may come into play here is whether this is classified as an open or closed car depending on whether or not the t-tops are used. Some classes allow for glass sunroofs if bolted in place, others require that they be removed and/or replaced with metal. If removed, then I would guess it would need to meet rules for open car? Not sure what your intentions are there.

You can email me or message me if you have other questions.

Steve

mrevilracing wrote:I would think we can use that class. Its a national solo class.

Steve, that is not a recognized class according to Time Trial Rules, they only specify:

ELIGIBILITY OF VEHICLES: All vehicles meeting the minimum vehicle safety equipment
standards:
• All current GCR (both National and Regional) classes
• Solo Street Prepared and Street Mod classes
• Vintage-legal (SCCA, HSR, SVRA, etc.) cars
• Other classes (such as Specials, Rally, Legends, other race series, etc)
• Automatic transmissions and hand controls are allowed.