Vintage car and autocross

[FrogRacing]

Hi all,

Best racing wishes to you all for the new year.

I would like to start Autocross in 2012 with my 69 Corvette convertible. I have some questions related to the regulations:
- is it ok to race with the original lap belts (no 3 points)
- is it ok to race without a roll bar or roll cage? If not, would using the original hard top be ok?
- the car has the original side pipes (loud but original mufflers, can't be any quieter). Would that be an issue?
- any advice on what works best to put numbers on a fiber glass body?

Anything else I should know about bringing a vintage car to an autocross event?

Thanks in advance for your advice
Manu

[pzahornasky]

I would like to start Autocross in 2012 with my 69 Corvette convertible. I have some questions related to the regulations:
- is it ok to race with the original lap belts (no 3 points)

Do believe that the rulebook still specifies two point (lap) as a minimum for belts.  So you should be okay there.

- is it ok to race without a roll bar or roll cage? If not, would using the original hard top be ok?

No roll cage is okay.  You can run with or without the top.

- the car has the original side pipes (loud but original mufflers, can't be any quieter). Would that be an issue?

As long as it passes our sound regs you should be okay. 

- any advice on what works best to put numbers on a fiber glass body?

Painters tape should work.

[Solwyvern]

Anything else I should know about bringing a vintage car to an autocross event?

I'm sure you know, but hitting cones can have adverse effects on fiberglass and/or paint. (I know it seems obvious).

My drooling over your '69 will only have adverse effects on the dryness of my chin.

[FrogRacing]

I'm sure you know, but hitting cones can have adverse effects on fiberglass and/or paint. (I know it seems obvious).

My drooling over your '69 will only have adverse effects on the dryness of my chin.

The advantage of the 69 is that is has chrome bumpers front and back. The paint is getting old so I am not worried about it. I am more worried about a cone being stuck under the side pipe, that would smell bad!
My neighbor just got an old 75 with t-tops that we will try to get ready too but there is a lot of work to do on it!

I will try to attach 2 pictures of the cars in my garage but be careful, don't drool on your keyboard! 

Any idea when the first event will take place this year?

[Leafy]

It doesnt smell that bad, but will leave a black streak that easily rubs off once the exhaust is cold (sometimes).

[batchman]

- the car has the original side pipes (loud but original mufflers, can't be any quieter). Would that be an issue?
- any advice on what works best to put numbers on a fiber glass body?

Welcome, always good to see more vintage hardware getting "used well".

That said, side pipes can be tough - if you think it's loud it may be iffy for our sound limits.  Especially with big cubes.

http://www.soloperformance.com/ has vinyl that sticks to glass cars, but  I'd suggest blue tape until you know what class you're targeting and can what numbers are used.

Look forward to seeing your car!

[Gus Heck]

- the car has the original side pipes (loud but original mufflers, can't be any quieter). Would that be an issue?

Generally you are not required to run original muffler... I think you are even allowed to change that in stock class (check your rule book). If it's loud you can, come and play, but be prepared for a possible short day if you don't make sound limits. Please be aware that that it's nothing against you or your car, but rather a strong need to not piss off the town-folk who live near by (which could lead to to loosing the site). Some of our most experienced drivers have been flagged on the sound meter and they don't get to play either if it happens a second time on the same day.

That said, 90dba at 75 ft is pretty loud. Quite a bit louder than you average lawn mower for example, so you might not have a problem in any case.

If you are over, you then have the option of installing an alternate non-stock muffler or putting various devices on the tips to limit the sound (which is easier to remove later). Just make sure that the things on the tips will actually stay on for 60 seconds or so .