The following Q & A’s will be handy to those who need clarification on some commonly asked questions, these are by no means the rules and are only to be taken with a grain of salt:
Q. Where do I sign up?
A. To sign up for a season just jump over to our sign up form on the front page of 2KCUP.com (the pink box)
If you didn’t take part last season please contact BBQ@2kcup.com to sort out a race number. It is up to you to get signage to show it, you may be able to purchase them on the day at the track.
Q. Do I need a race licence?
A. Yes. This is classed as racing, not a track day. All competitors need to obtain a C grade license. Details are on the NZ motorsport website.
Check our contacts list for some licence examiners. Although you can do it at any club you wish.
Q. What is a log book?
A. A log book is a record for the scrutineers to note defects, you will only need to be checked every three races. Vehicle log books are mandatory for all 2kcup cars, you will find the forms to apply for one on the NZ motorsport website.
Q. How do I enter a race?
A. Entry is done via the “ENTER” link at http://2kcup.com/?page_id=625
Q. Will there be certain things like a racing spec seat and window net that are necessary?
A. Since all cars will be standard, they do not need a roll cage, race seat or window net (we do recommend a race seat, harness and half-cage though as a sensible level of safety for the series and encourage people to do as much as they can to ensure their safety).
The exception to this is that all cars running a faster laptime than 1:24.0 at Hampton Downs MUST fit a suitable racing seat and harness as per “schedule A” of the MSNZ Motorsport Manual.
Q. What safety equipment do I need?
A. This is classed as racing, not just a track day. You will need a two layer fireproof race suit, fire proof underwear and an approved helmet as per MSNZ requirements . Your car will require a fire extinguisher with two metal straps secured as per motorsport regulations (as listed in the MSNZ Motorsport Manual Schedule A), a battery secured with a strap and positive terminal covered (electrical tape ok)
Q. I understand that all cars need to be ‘standard’ but does that also include a full and complete interior?
A. All cars not running a cage will require a full interior (the odd bit of small trim missing will be fine), If the car does have a cage it is not always practical to have a full interior due to bars being in the place of seats etc, Carpets can be removed only with a cage, but should be cut to fit around the cage where possible.As much of the interior as possible should go back in after a cage install. Centre consoles and full dashboards must be in place, as do door trims, although these may be cut to fit around door-bars if they’re fitted.
Q. Are beards compulsory?
A. Yes, but only if you are from Waikato or beyond, if you are from anywhere else it’s at your own discretion to wear one or not.
Q. In regards to ‘no dents or panel damage’. Is this an attempt to keep the class clean?
A. Yes, this is not banger racing. Rubbing is not racing in this series, and penalties or exclusions will come to those who do.
Q. Does this mean we are required to panel beat them and make them straight and re painted before we are eligible to compete?
A. The car does not need to be 100% straight but to an acceptable standard, we understand a lot of cars will have a few minor dents (the size of your finger or smaller) but anything more than that would be considered unacceptable and need to be attended to in some way. Damage to lights etc. incurred at a race must be fixed before the next round as the car must be to WOF standard including all standard factory lighting.
Q. If there is a bit of (inevitable) rubbing and paint swapping we will not be allowed to compete in that weekends second race or any races after until car is painted again?
A. It is not the paint swapping that will see you excluded, it is more the manner in which the paint swapping occurred which will see you excluded.
Q. Is there a targeted minimum time for the classes?
A. No minimum, but any cars that are showing signs of development will most likely be asked to move to a class where modifications are allowed. This is a class intended for standard, low-cost cars. Some types of cars will be faster than others, but if a good driver cannot buy one of these cars off Trademe and compete near the front of the field without illegally modifying it, then the series isn’t working as everybody wants it to.
Q. Are turbos allowed if they came out with the car on the showroom floor?
A. Turbos of less than 1.4L are allowed. The only exception is for diesel powered vehicles whereby turbo diesels of unlimited capacity are allowed to compete in the series granted they meet the other rules.
Q. Station wagons ok?
A. Yes, and in fact encouraged! How awesome is it to see wagons racing?!?!
Q. Can I run any tyres and wheels?
A. You should keep tyre and wheel size to the standard size where possible, changes to an acceptable variation (as specified in the rules) can only be made by application for dispensation, this will be looked at on a case by case basis, just because someone has it does not necessarily mean you will be granted it.
Q. My car came with a pod is that ok?
A. You will have to apply for a dispensation or contact us for anything on your car that is non standard at time of purchase, we have proven on a dyno that the standard airbox produces more power by the way, don’t let the noise fool you.
Q. What to do about brake pads?
A. We recommend as a minimum you change to a heavy duty racing pad and racing fluid (normal will boil) also that brakes are inspected and cleaned, sliders should be lubricated with synthetic grease, this will make your brakes work better. Use any brand you wish, though EBC gives us sweet discount.
Q. Reverse grid format?
A. Our second race of the day will usually be done in a reverse grid, so the person that won the last race starts last, there will be a number of groups split with a ten second gap as a handicap, this will be controlled by flag. Make sure you know which group you are in if we run this format.
Q. So what modifications are allowed?
A. Short answer, none. Or at least very few.
- Tyres must conform to a treadwear rating of >200. This allows a choice of tyres but limits them to, at best, high performance road tyres. This specifically excludes specialist race rubber and “semi-slicks”. It also means that all competitors should have tyres that work safely in both wet and dry conditions
- Suspension springs are free (this does not include swaybars) since these become pretty hard to police as one spring looks like any other. Because high performance shock absorbers are illegal, there’s a limit to how low/hard a spring can be to remain captive (and WOFable) and a standard damper will have such poor control of a hard spring, the handling will suffer. Springs are to be single-piece at each corner only, no tender springs allowed.
- Shock absorbers MUST remain factory original items or be an acceptable aftermarket replacement for your model of car. An acceptable aftermarket replacement shock absorber is a factory-fit replacement not designed as a higher performance item. As a blanket rule, and to make policing easy, anything from the Monroe “GT-GAS” range and the KYB “Excel G” range is acceptable. These are affordable ranges that are available at nearly every garage you care to mention. Their catalogue contains a listing for pretty much every car in the series so you’ll have no trouble finding them. ONLY THE ABOVE OPTIONS ARE ALLOWED. In the event that there’s no aftermarket option listed above for your car and OEM replacements are prohibitively expensive you may submit a request to the technical committee to have another aftermarket option approved. This will only be granted if there’s genuinely no other option and you’re not trying to gain a performance advantage. No, we will not allow your KONI or BILSTEIN shock absorbers. If your car came with flash shocks then go to Pick-A-Part and get some standard ones for less than $80 for a set of four.
- Brake pads are free as these are considered a safety item and theyr’e a cost-effective way to make your car safe and suitable for hard track use. The remainder of the braking sytem must remain completely standard although braided brake lines (to WOF standards) and high performance fluid are permitted.
- Removal of optional items fitted to a car are permitted. These include anything that may have been a factory option on your car such as air conditioning, a sunroof, a towbar, a stereo, airbags etc. (so long as these removals are done to WOF/MSNZ standards).
- Exhaust systems must remain in the same configuration as factory with the exception that catalytic converters may be removed and silencers may be substituted (not removed) for aftermarket replacements. This means that only factory headers may be used, the exhaust tubing must be the same size as standard and follow the same routing as the original system. and be press-bent (no mandrel bent systems). Any aftermarket silencers should function so as not to make the car appreciably louder than standard. A sporty sound is fine, but anything loud will be excluded from the series until it is made quieter.
- The steering wheel may be replaced for an aftermarket item of your choosing so long as it meets WOF/MSNZ standards, particularly with respect to airbag removal).
- ABS braking systems may be removed or deactivated (for example, by pulling the ABS fuse on race day) so long as this is done in accordance with WOF/MSNZ standards.
- Bodywork must remain standard, so if your car came with aftermarket spoilers, skirts or bumpers, these must be substituted for factory original items. The only acceptable modifications allowed are to restore factory-option bodykits, bumpers or spoilers if these were available on your car when new (Such as the optional Mazdaspeed “Whale-tail” spoilers on Type-R Lantis hatchbacks, or factory-option “Aero” kits on Nissan Silvias).
- Gearboxes MUST remain factory standard including all factory ratios. Substituting a gearbox from another model to obtain more sporty gear ratios, or building a hybrid gearbox using parts from another model are explicitly forbidden. LSDs are only legal if they were factory fitted to your particular car or were an option on your particular car (this includes make, model, sub-model and model-year). You may not fit an LSD from a later or higher-spec model of car and may not fit any kind of aftermarket LSD. Only the factory option LSD for your car may be fitted (eg. The Honda DC2-R Helical LSD may not be fitted to the non-R DC2 gearbox. These must use the standard Viscous LSD or an open differential)
- Rollcage/Race Seats/Harnesses/Window Nets etc, as listed in the FAQ above.
Anything not covered in the above list MUST remain standard without exception. Bear in mind that all cars have weaknesses, particularly sub-$2k cars being spanked around a race track. You will not be able to drive flat out on track race after race without breaking something at some point. We will not allow you to run a bigger radiator or an oil cooler or a sump baffle because your car keeps breaking down. Part of the fun of the series is driving to and/or around the limitations of your car. Everyone’s in the same boat.
Cars will be checked randomly and penalties will be given depending on the indiscretion. Cars may be impounded and ordered to undergo a supervised dyno-session at any event and any cars over their factory quoted power output will face penalty. Given that any $2k car should be well below the power it came from out of the factory, any car producing close to factory horsepower may be looked at suspiciously.
Handy hints!
Timing apps, check out Track Attack or Race Chrono on your phone, there are a variety of apps available, just make sure you know how to use them before you get on the track and make sure the phone is secure.
Camera recommended but not compulsory, great for reliving moments of glory