So I'm looking at doing a new build. Since I enjoy Chump so much I'd like to so an SCCA class car and race. The problem is I don't see a "class" for an older Mopar to fit into w/o getting crazy expensive. It looks like American touring would be easiest, however it seems limited to Camaro's, Firebirds and Mustangs. Anybody here race SCCA and give me some advice. I'd probably do 2-3 local events a year. This would not be a parking lot traffic cone racing type car. Or maybe I should just stick w/ Chumpcar and do a Mopar... Problem with that is suspension upgrades would add up quick.

Dave Dusterberg is the SCCA resident man, also Mitch T/A.

Are you talking abut going road racing? Developing a vintage Mopar is going to be a real uphill battle. If your only goal is to run Regional Club Races then I'd look at ITE (Improved Touring E). It's a very limited prep class and E is where they place all the cars that don't fit in any of the other Improved Touring classes. American Sedan would be a real tough class. It's a very competitive class that really favors late model pony cars. Engines are limited to 305ci with only a few exceptions for late model limited prep cars. EP (E Production) might be a slightly better fit but again Production is a tough place to compete with an "oddball" car. If it were me wanting to really go Club Racing I'd build a T/A2 Challenger and run it in GT-1 or 2.

That being said what I am doing is building my Aspen as a Pro-Touring car with a NASCAR chassis and an SCCA legal cage. I'm thinking of doing the odd Club Race in it when it's done but absolutely know I would not be competitive given the level of modifications would put it in GT-1 where T/A-1 cars live. The goal would be to have fun and see how many cars I could pass regardless of their class and try to keep from being lapped by other GT-1 entries.

I hate to say this but NASA might be a better place to run a vintage Mopar. American Iron Extreme rules might allow enough leeway for a competitive build.

What about the CAM class for autocrossing? It definitely seems like you don't need big money, just good driving experience.

I would just be doing a few regional events. I just want to know what classes would work best for an older Mopar.

sorry Not into Autocross.. I want to compete on a track with others.

I agree with Dave that NASA's American Iron or American Iron Extreme might be the better fit. You can always start with their HPDE or TT program to get a feel for it and see what's happening on the wheel to wheel classes.

What is NASA? The only NASA I know of launches rockets into space....lol

National Auto Sport Assoc.

https://www.nasaproracing.com/

Breakdown of racing classes:

https://www.nasaproracing.com/proracing/

In the southeast "oddball" cars commonly run in SPU or SPO. Over or under three liters.
Best part of the SPO class is no protests! Other than safety equipment, rules are open. I was told by a guy with a chevy that had formerly been in GT-1, that that's why he switched classes.
Would you win in that class, don't know, but you've always have someone to race with as you'd run with the other big bore classes. Great to hear you're motivated!

How's a 72 RR with a Gen III hemi and 5 speed sound? or would I be better off using a LA SB and 4 speed? Gen III costs are coming down.

It's a slickery slope but a few guys on here have done and are doing just that. I'm putting the finishing touches on my 6.1/6spd Dart as we speak. LOVE the engine so far.

I here what you are saying, but I see re-manned units for 2k or less. Hard to beat that price.

Mr. Yuck -- You're on the right "track" to first be deciding what class/club to build your car upon. So many ppl will just build and modify... then later discover they're not built correctly to be competitive in a class/club they enter... result: unhappiness, $$$ wasted, and back to the drawing board.

For the w2w racing with an older car, I suggest picking up an issue of Grassroots Motorsports magazine, or else Vintage Racing (?name?) magazine... they have multiple clubs and series you can investigate... and determine best class/club rules, etc.

Here in the Midwest there is the Midwest Council of Sports Car Clubs... www.mcscc.org (see their rules on their web-site) that has w2w classes for older cars... "Vintage/Historic" which is where older cars run for fun... not super competitive.. but gentleman fun!.. and very attractive to the fans and fellow racers.

There must be some similar clubs in your area... ??? Local clubs tend to be more at-ease and forgiving on rules vs national clubs.

Keep it low-budget and you'll race more than repair.

For parking lot/autocross racing, typically the SCCA classes we can set up our older cars best fit in E/Street Prepared (E/SP), CAM-T (a recently developed class rapidly gaining popularity), C/Prepared (C/P)... all-out race GT-1 style, etc.

My own car is setup and maxed-out for the E/SP class rules (introduced mid-1980s by the SCCA... very competitive!). CAM-T is looking more attractive to me... more mods allowed than E/SP... but then more $$ to spend to be upper-end competitive... time and $$ is all it takes, as with everything.

Eventually, most older pony cars want-to-be C/Prepared (for SCCA pylon Solo racing) as its the ultimate pylon class for our cars... It CAN be relatively low cost.. but typically becomes very expensive... good class for creative craftsman!

Most the one's I've seen require a core as an exchange.

yeah I see that. If I could find a 5.7 w/ 5 speed combo that'd be the way to go. Plenty of auto combos available.

Mr Yuck,
your best two W2W choices are probably to go for SPO in SCCA, or a vintage club. In our part of the country, for SPO check out what the Benson brothers have been doing (with a Dart and Barracuda); and for vintage groups, see Dave Mapes's (Lame horse racing) and his 'zebra' Dart.

Are those parking lot/traffic cone racing?

No

All these classes sound fun but where on the SCCA website are they? They don't have a "search tool" and I can only find the "Car Classifications and Groups" and that only has Touring, B-Spec, Production, Super Touring, Grand Touring, Formula, Sports racing and Sedan??