There is no denying the popularity of SCCA’s Street Touring category among the cone-dodging crowd. These street-friendly autocross classes continuously draw the largest fields, while others shrink.
Another option has been added to the card for 2012: Street Touring FWD—a new class for mildly modified, front-wheel-drive machines.
A Little From Column B
Originally introduced in 1998 as an experiment, the Street Touring class was designed to attract the sport compact crowd from the street scene to the autocross course. The target vehicles were four-seat sedans and hatchbacks with small four-cylinder engines, and the allowed modifications included the typical bolt-on engine and suspension goodies.
The other key ingredient was the use of real street tires. The SCCA’s goal was to facilitate an arrive-and-drive type of experience—no second set of wheels mounted with dedicated race tires.
Whether that message reached the target market is debatable, but there is no doubt that the formula has become attractive among existing competitors. Recognizing this, the rule makers eventually added classes targeting other vehicle types popular within the SCCA ranks.
In 2002, Street Touring X was formed around the then-new Subaru Impreza WRX as well as rear-drive pony cars like the Mustang. The BMW 3 Series added some spice to the mix.
When the Subaru STi and Mitsubishi Evolution überboost buggies arrived in 2004, they were given their own playground in Street Touring Unlimited. High-performance sedans and coupes like the BMW M3 also joined the fray.
At the same time, older two-seaters like the early Mazda Miata and Honda CRX set up camp in STS2, later renamed STS. Finally, in 2010, STR became the home for the faster, more modern two-seaters already in the garages of many SCCA members—cars like the Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5 and Toyota MR2 Spyder.
As the original class within the category, the recently renamed Street Touring C has had the longest time for development. Veteran participants have carefully sifted through the eligible cars to find the one single model that best takes advantage of all the allowed modifications: the 1989 Honda Civic Si.
A large part of that advantage comes from the era in which that car was built, as this model predates airbags as well as the excessive comforts and conveniences that weigh down many of today’s…
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