First of all, at the local level tech is very light and easy. They are only
looking for major problems, that being said it is up to you to prepare the
car safely. They will rock the wheels to make sure everything is secure,
they will check that you have a snell (not DOT) approved helmet and they
will make sure that you don't have any loose stuff to go flying around.
They will ask where the battery is and are usually happy that it is under a
cover, so it is up to you to secure it for your own safety and
responsibility. A strap around it should work fine. As long as the wires
are in tip top shape they will work ok unless you try to put sticky tires on
them. If you use sticky tires, even the rostyle wheels may be too weak. If
you find that you are breaking spokes, or you are going to keep at this for
a while, I would spring for the minilites. A roll bar is not mandatory
since speeds are low. You could run a hardtop if you want, and you can run
top up or down but no harness without a roll bar or fixed roof, I don't know
how they would feel about a harness with only a fiberglass roof . I always
strapped the top down with the stock straps and put the tonneau over it,
nobody ever said anything, and it never gave any indication of wanting to
move. The top is pretty heavy and once you have folded it up it really
doesn't want to move from there.
I have only ever seen one car roll at an autocross and it was out of the
drivers negligence. He was driving a VW Rabbit with stock suspension and
slicks. Each run through the slalom the car went closer and closer to going
over until he finally rolled it on run three. The moral of the story is if
you are going to modify a car, do it right. Also don't be stupid. I have
spun my tourer out a couple of times over the years and it never even hinted
about doing anything nasty.
Autocross is a lot of fun and is low impact on the car. The best tip that I
can offer is make sure everything on the car is working well (brakes,
suspension, etc) don't modify anything yet unless you want to change wheels.
Seems like you have the background for performance driving, but there are
usually experienced autocrossers available for ride alongs if you so desire.
James Nazarian
71 MGBGT V8
71 MGB Tourer
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgs@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of TJ Tryon, Jr.
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 11:12 PM
To: 'MG Discussion'; midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com
Subject: SCCA Solo II in a "B" or a Midget?
OK, time for some fun. Anyone here race their MG in solo II? Stories and
suggestions would be appreciated. I've done AMA Motorcycle Road Racing,
track days in my Beretta, and raced a friends 969 a couple of times when he
was laid up injured.
I was just checking out the rules for MGs, and they look to be in a fairly
fun class for Solo II, and the very minimal prep work makes it quite
feasable (and the fact that I own a B and a Midget makes this more fun).
Any thoughts on the following:
1. Battery on the B is not really strapped down. Is it good enough that a
tie down strap hold it down more securely?
2. Can stock wire wheels handle the pressure, or are the mini-lites a must?
3. I'm assuming that a roll bar is mandatory on a convertible (though the
rules didn't say)? How about a fiberglass hard top?
4. Is the convertible top tonneau cover enough to "secure" the top, per the
rules, or do you need to remove the top/frame?
Any other thoughts, tips, stories, etc? I'm sure I am not the only one
interested in hearing...
TJ
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