parts is parts...?

[Michael Edick]

time was when the FM folks had to buy their bits and pieces of their cars thru the manufacturer when there was a pro series for the "standard car"...was wondering if that rule still pertains in the regional or national level, or can parts be bought from other sources?

[glenn cooper]

Hi Michael,
Yes, during the SMPS years, all parts on the car had to be STAR bits. There were a few exceptions like steering wheels, brake pads, hardware, etc...,
For instance the uprights had the STAR Mazda logo cast into them.
Running in the Southeast and then the East Championship (FM Regional series) required this as well.
If you run as an FM, and not in any series, you still can't change out certain items, gear ratios are spec'd for instance.
Best bet would be to check the SCCA GCR book for particulars.
The fact is that there are not a whole lot of folks making parts what with only somewhere around 250-300 (?) Star Mazda FM's having been built.
Bodywork has always been open to the best of my knowledge, it just had to be identical to the original.
Again, economy of scale sort of prevented the "monopoly" from being exploited!
GC

[Steve Herrod]

Fabworks in Buford, GA builds an SCCA homologated FM and also sells parts, according to their website.

http://www.fabworks.com/index2.html

[Michael Edick]

Thanks all!
The reason I was asking is that I currently build suspension bits for the Jim Russell driving school (along with headers for the Mazda Pro car) which are the same as the Mazda arms except for the lugs...the major difference between the two is that my arms are all TIG welded as opposed to MIG welding on the stock arms...much, MUCH nicer and stonger.
Just seeing if there might be room out there for really nice after market arms...
Michael
www.mteengineering.com