As far as classification goes, the newer classes of STS, STS, SM, SM2 are confusing as hell because for the first time, they overlap with existing classes. IOW you can have a car legal for ESP also run in SM if that's where they want to run, and then keeping track of STS vs SM and all that can get confusing. The job often falls to the tech inspector (namely ME) but it's not officially the tech inspector's job. I do the best I can but I take no responsibility for being correct, that's the competitor's job and the job of his fellow class members.
That's why I started having registration issue that crib sheet that allows you to go down a long list of possible mods and then see how far it bumps you.
For instance STX now allows 8.0 inch wheels because there's a car that's legal for that class that comes from the factory with 8.0-inch wheels so they made the change to accomodate it.
I don't know which guy you're talking about with the 10k worth of mods but the Subarus are kicking ass right now, mods or not. Steve in the Impreza (tags say ZZYZX) just flat-out kicks ass and his car isn't that heavily modded that I know of.
Both the clubs here use the SCCA classes. Matter of fact Crown adopted SM2 before the local region SCCA did. Why? Because we can, and because we saw a need. The classes are never completely fair. One of the reasons my wife no longer competes in our contour is because it was so hopelessly outclassed just because it has a V6. It's not an SVT, it's not a 5-speed, but there it was in G Stock with the SVT's and with Integra Type R's. Give us a break. But that's the way it is.
The STS/STX classes are actually MORE fair than it used to be without them. The reason is the Stock and Street Prepared rules just flat-out don't accomodate the kinds of mods that the typical guy does to make his car cool on the street, and it was hurting the sport. A kid shows up in a tricked-out Honda and just because he's got a big wing and an inlet pipe and a body kit, he's bumped all the way to a Modified class. Now THAT is unfair. So they made these Street Touring classes specifically to give guys like him and guys like you a place to play on a more representative field instead of having to compete with full-on race cars.
Street Modified is sort of the same gig. Street Prepared has simply not kept up with the reality of what people now do to their STREET cars. Back in the 70's it was an accurate representation. Here and now, it's not. I run subframe connectors on the mustang like a ****load of other mustang drivers do to make their cars stronger and more pleasant on the street. Nope, not legal in street prepared. I run rear LCA's with a different bushing design than stockk so the car behaves better on the street. Nope, not legal for street prepared. If I had a wing on it because I thought it looked cool, nope not legal for Street Prepared. Idiotic. So along comes Street Mod and I have a place to put my car which I built for ME, not for some inane class rules. Unfortunately (for me), our region is an oddity in that the pony cars still tend to win out in the SM class, at least for now. The ****in' subarus are now taking THAT class over now too, in other regions. Nationally it's ruled by the likes of guys with 400+hp twin-turbo Supras. How fair is that, that I have to play in the same arena with a car that so massively outclasses me in both power and suspension capability, not to mention brakes? Not very, but there it is.
If you want to really be competitive you have to chose your car and mods wisely. If you just want to have fun, build the car the way you want to and say "screw the rules".
Meanwhile if you guys know of a car competing in your class that you don't think is legal, you should say something to the driver and see if he even knows that it's illegal or can defend why he thinks it is. If you can't resolve it there, talk to the event chair and they'll probably re-class him without any stupid protest proceedings, which do exist if it has to go that far.
