December 2025 Fastrack

Yay, now I own 2 HP cars! Just need to actually get out and race more..

(My Datsun 1600 hasn't run for decades, would need massive upgrades to run again, but it's cool to see it in HP as an LP car. No idea if the engine will make enough power in LP trim but let's hope so. The chassis on my Datsun never got beyond LP rules so it doesn't need a lot of downgrade from its old GP trim, mostly just head, cam and stock carbs. But the cage would need a total redo.)
 
That's good to hear! I had a few people reach out to me about the Datsun (Mind you, I have zero input/influence with the rules committee...) and my only concern was that most of the cars that would be eligible are ex GP, full prep chassis cars (ie. Wessel/Col Joe's car, etc.) and that it would be a shitton of work to go back to a stock suspension. Glad to hear there's one that might come out - maybe there's some still running/parked in IT trim that could be quick as well.
 
Jason Stine said:
That's good to hear! I had a few people reach out to me about the Datsun (Mind you, I have zero input/influence with the rules committee...) and my only concern was that most of the cars that would be eligible are ex GP, full prep chassis cars (ie. Wessel/Col Joe's car, etc.) and that it would be a shitton of work to go back to a stock suspension. Glad to hear there's one that might come out - maybe there's some still running/parked in IT trim that could be quick as well.
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A friend just texted me a pic of a caged slider chassis that would be perfect for an LP HP build!

Back when Col Hauser had his car, afaik the chassis wasn't much if at all beyond current LP rules. Not sure what was done since then.

I'm unlikely to ever switch from my Scirocco back to the Datsun, though it would be a cool project. It would be instructive to put a stock 1600 head on a flow bench vs a good ported head, that would give some idea as to the power potential in LP.

Question - does anyone have a late 70s/early 80s PCS? I've forgotten what the 1600 weighed in GP in that era. Mine needed ~150 lbs of ballast to make weight but I can't remember WHAT weight! Note that it had a braced roll bar and side bars, but not a full cage. OTOH full steel fenders.
 
With so many Miatas racing and winning in FP - I believe most of us consider it to be the baseline for the FP/GTL class.

Did anyone notice the FP Miatas all geting a 3-6% performance increase by compression and valve lift.

Which means all the Miatas need to spend cash to keep up with all the other Miatas who do upgrade creating haves and have nots..

Which means every non-Miata FP car just became slower by comparision to the FP baseline Miata.

Which means every GTL car just became slower compared to the FP baseline Miata.

If you disagree with discouraging almost everyone....

Then write your letters now before the Miata folks spend a collective boatload of money. And other folks just give up because they were already behind the baseline.
 
And with that.... Instead slow the few evil Integras and Hondas more - while leaving the basline Miatas alone.

or leave the evil cars where they are now after the new December penalties -- which is fine with me too. 🤔
 
I have been saying for years the miata needs the same specs (11:1 comp and 425 lift cams) as the Honda/acuras. then add weight to the Honda/acuras to make up for the 1.6 to 1.8 diff. I just got my engine back from the builder and did the break in and some testing. Now it's getting pulled and sent back to the builder for the upgrades - yess a pain but im not complaining. I was about to sell it to concentrate open my AS mustang but now I have to figure out how to transport 2 cars lol. On the other forum, Jesse says it's only good for 5hp more (there is a tread about all this over there as well).
 
I agree with Strittmatter - How is this change even possible?
Every other car that asks for a change gets a "we're monitoring results, wait until next year". The Acura/Honda's received a penalty, which would normally get a "wait and see". But the Miata that qualified 5-8 at this year's Runoffs and finished 2-8 (and one was leading out of the last corner) needs help??? In 2023, a Miata won and the others finished 3-10. Yep, way too slow. Eric won 3, Charlie Campbell was never far behind and there's a gaggle of others that are right there.

As stated above, the Miatas should be the baseline. If a particular car is ahead of that baseline, slow it/them down. Every car slower now needs an adjustment to maintain it's relative position to the Miata. WTF??

FOR SALE - GTL/FP Nissan Sentra, great car with some great finishes at the Runoffs with multiple drivers. Strike now, will make a great deal to interested party.
 
COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH DAVE S AND BRIAN. And as Brian said, with the abundance of Miatas in the class, they should absolutely be the baseline and adjust around them. Another very nearsighted decision by the Club and I guess we chalk it up to the power that Mazda holds with the club.

Is this a done deal or just "under consideration?"
 
craig chima said:
Is this a done deal or just "under consideration?"
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TBs, so "All changes are effective 12/1/2025 unless otherwise noted."

I've observed this for decades, both as an Improved Touring and later a Super Touring driver. I don't see this as some deep dark backroom deals, I see it as simple ignorance: I suggest our rulesmakers are well aware of the superiority of the Honda engines but have yet to (willingly?) comprehend the superiority of the Miata chassis. And those few that do are a loss at how to address it.

So they flail around the china shop swinging big hammers breaking stuff, seemingly at random.

Saw it in IT, saw it in ST, seeing it now in FP.
 

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The EP change in the tech bulletin looks like a mistake. It shows a change for Triumph TR2 thru TR4a of eliminating triple Weber carbs. The TR four cylinder cars were never allowed triple Webers.
 
For the last two + years, they were allowed.
That's why I wrote the CRB.
Hard to put triple Webers on 4 cylinders, but someone would try.

Does anyone read the GCR?
 
Put me in the camp of disagreeing with the Miata changes. They were already competitive and have long been the benchmark of FP. Maybe the other bad decision to put GTL into FP contributed to this bad decision.
 
I was going to build my ITB car for FP but as I see how the Miata's are so favored I decided to go EP instead. No chance in FP to be competitive.
 
and the GTL/FP Toyota 4AGE help ask is given the usual "Thank you for your letter, but adjustments to this classification are Not Recommended at this time".........
 
isaac said:
and the GTL/FP Toyota 4AGE help ask is given the usual "Thank you for your letter, but adjustments to this classification are Not Recommended at this time".........
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You do understand where this comes from, don't you? As in the 4AGE based FAtl engines that frighten the crap out of the CRB.
 
Peter Olivola said:
You do understand where this comes from, don't you? As in the 4AGE based FAtl engines that frighten the crap out of the CRB.
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So because FA were spinning the 4AG to 10k RPM 30 years ago with 1 race longevity we are stuck with an uncompetitive 23.5mm restricted engine? Shakes fist at sky……
 
isaac said:
So because FA were spinning the 4AG to 10k RPM 30 years ago with 1 race longevity we are stuck with an uncompetitive 23.5mm restricted engine? Shakes fist at sky……
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While your characterization is more than a bit over the top, the 4AGE is viewed with extreme suspicion. That FAtl was able to get the performance it did out of the engine isn't an entirely irrational concern.
 
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