SCCA Runoffs, Are there any 914's currently competitive in the SCCA? Options

[Craigers17]

Several years back, I used to watch the SCCA Runoffs, many times at Mid-Ohio, on the SPEED channel. It was always cool to see a few 914's running in, I THINK, the E Prod and F Prod classes.

I just happened to look on their website today and didn't see any 914's in the results. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I might have missed one, but I thought I would find them in either E, F, or H. Anyone here know if there are any 914's still running competitively in the SCCA, and, if so, what class?

[GregAmy]

Nope, I didn't see any 914s at VIR.

EProd has turned into a big-engine class. You can see from the results that it takes some muscle to win there (Prather's lap record was in a BMW Z3). My 245whp Honda Civic Si is on the edge of possibility, but even then I was a mid-pack car this year.

I personally don't think that a 2L full-prep 914 has a chance in that field, certainly not without a SHAT-ton of developement (and by that, I mean tens of thousands of dollars "investment").

However, that said, this year's EP champion, Kip van Steeburg (also champ at Daytona), bought Len Hoffman's old FProd car and it has a /6 drivetrain in it. That, I think, would be a decent EProd weapon. Kip has the $$$ to fully develop that car and I expect to see him campaigning that in EP in 2020 (I actually hoped we'd see it in 2019).

FProd is a Miata class. Full Stop. Sure, there are other options (Acura Integra, for example, or an old Little British Car) but the Limited-Prep Miata is just such an easy and well-developed package that it's hard to beat.

Chris is still convinced that a 914 can be competitive in FP, and I agree with him to some extent, but the $$$$ involved in fully developing a Prep Level 1 ("full prep") 914 is a big hurdle. Between Len, Chris, and others, it's all been done, but plan on opening the wallet to make it happen.

Then there's H Prod. "Wait, the 914 is in H Prod?" you may ask. Yup. Who has noticed that the 1.8L is currently classified in HP in Prep Level 2 ("Limited Prep")? I just did this year. That car is, basically, an Improved Touring A car with 10.5:1 compression, .450 cams, slicks, and fuel injection developed around the stock throttle body (SDS? Megasquirt?) That's an attractive package, something I've been mulling over, given I have to build a replacement engine anyway (I broke the crankshaft on the 2L engine). I do have concerns with racing one without a dry sump (not allowed in Limited Prep), especially when we get to talking about grip levels of slick tires.

Of course, the hardest thing for 914s in SCCA racing is that they are very welcome in historics circles; I think I counted 4 other 914s at the Labor Day Historics (we had more last year). Go out, have fun driving, don't worry about trophies, no chance to get hit by a Miata. PCA is also starting to be more wlecome to them as well (not that they rejected them before, but PCA racing lately has been all about the more-modern cars).

And that's roughly about where we stand...