Introducing - Classic American Muscle (CAM)

By Raleigh and Velma Boreen - Regional Development Managers

Muscle cars have always been a passion of mine. Why did I join SCCA? It was because of the TransAm Series and especially the year 1970. In 1970, all of the manufacturers had entries in the TransAm circuit. Ford with their Mustangs, GM with its Camaros and Firebirds, Chrysler with its Barracudas and Challengers and even American Motors with the Javelin. If you were a car enthusiast in the late 60’s and early 70’s, you were aware of Muscle cars. Today you cannot pick up any car magazine that does not talk about autocrossing and how to enhance the suspension on the car of your choice. It makes perfect sense that SCCA find a spot for these cars to compete and have fun.

The new Muscle Car class for SCCA Solo is a culmination of over two years of research in trying to find a way to get a new crowd of Soloists to run our events and to join SCCA. Muscle Cars dominate car shows, concourse events and impromptu Cars and Coffee activities. Why not give these enthusiasts with Muscle Cars a place to play? After two years of going to events hosted by The Good Guys, Hot Rod Magazine, Monster Mopar and other organizations, it is obvious that people with Muscle Cars want to try autocrossing. For 2014, the SEB has decided upon a class for Muscle Cars in SCCA. The new class will be called – “CAM” – and it stands for Classic American Muscle.

The new class will allow all American built cars that are front engine, rear wheel drive a place to compete. All of the cars in the new CAM class will run on 200 tread wear street tires. This CAM 1 fits in with the idea that all of the cars are street legal. All of the cars will need to be street legal, insured and licensed. All of the cars will need to have interiors. The engine and drive train are unrestricted. The class will give people a place to run if they have a 1955 Chevrolet, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, a 2013 Dodge Challenger, a 1970 Ford Mustang or any other American built car. We even could see cars from the 1940’s and early 1950’s. The class will be a Regional only class in 2014. It will be in the Solo Rulebook and we are asking that all Regions around the country offer the class and encourage people to participate in this class.

This should be an exciting opportunity for our clubs to acquire new members. Many fathers in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s are into Muscle Cars and in many cases, so are their sons and daughters. What a great way to introduce them to the SCCA!

CLASSIC AMERICAN MUSCLE Overview

Rationale: The purpose of “CAM” is to attract automobile enthusiasts who are currently interested in and/or participating in the Goodguys® Autocross events or other similar events for “classic” vehicles (e.g., Street Machine, Muscle Car, Hot Rod, Truck, Street Car, Late Model, etc.) built in North America by manufacturers based in the US (e.g., “The Big Three” – GM, Ford, and Chrysler). These avid enthusiasts would largely be a new and different group of folks to join with us as SCCA® members and participants.

However, many of these types of cars may not have a favorable classification at their local SCCA® Solo® events. By having a simple, single set of rules used across the country, these new autocross enthusiasts would be able to participate in multiple Regional Solo® events with a more consistent experience. Additionally, this gives SCCA and the Solo® Events Board an opportunity to see the viability of this type of participation at all levels of Solo® events.

Eligible Vehicles
Vehicle must be considered a “street legal” (lights, wipers, etc.), US-domestic automobile of front-engine/RWD configuration or a “pick-up” truck. Must be licensed and insured.
Vehicle must pass the mandatory safety inspection (tech) and be in compliance with Section 3, Vehicles, of the 2014 SCCA® National Solo® Rules.
Vehicles must weigh at least 3000 pounds.

Body
All body panels must be present in the original standard locations and may be modified or replaced.
EXCEPTION: High-Boys (1954 and earlier), Roadsters (1954 and earlier), and Trucks (1940 and earlier) are not required to have fenders or hood sides.
All glass must be present. Glass components may be replaced by Lexan®.
Interior must be finished and have minimum seating for two adults.
The fuel tank/cell must be separated from the driver/passenger compartment by a metal panel/bulkhead. The fuel tank/cell must not vent into the driver/passenger compartment.

Wheels and Tires
Any metallic wheels are allowed. Non-metallic wheels must be certified from an appropriate, recognized standards organization (e.g., SAE, SFI, FIA, TUV, etc.).
Only DOT-approved tires with a UTQG Treadwear Grade of 200 or higher are permitted.

Body Electrical System
Electrical components and wiring are unrestricted.

Brake System
Brake system and components are unrestricted.

Suspension and Steering
Suspension and steering components are unrestricted. Method of attachment is unrestricted.

Engine and Drive Train

Engine, drive train, and associated components (internal and external) are unrestricted.

Danny Popp adds ‪#‎Goodguys‬ Autocrosser of the Year to his credits.

"This was the hardest field I've ever raced," Popp said of the finals where many of his competitors were SCCA veterans with championship titles. "My mom and dad raised me at the track, and today we got it done!"