2012 stf

[GodLovesUgly]

honestly the stock intake is solid, you wont see much gains from an aftermarket intake. i'd go with a tune over an intake, you will get better low end power. (which the SVT lacks)
did they change the rules for STF? because in ST you could not remove the cat, that would have bumped you into STX.

[pkolator]

I thought all ST* classes (ST,STS,STX,STU,STR) has to retain the cat within 6" of the stock location.

[GodLovesUgly]

You are right. I forgot a high flow cat is still a cat LOL.
I think the SVT focus is going to be a very good car in STF.

[tukaniSVT]

I am running in STF, already started. And all alone ... for now.

But am looking forward to having some fun in there in the next couple of months.

I was already close to those older Civics, so now I am going to be a competitive one in there. Yay.

The people in our region are calling in ST-Focus now. hahaha

-Ray-

[Techpriest]

I have been running my 2012 Titanium in STF. The only change I made was a new set of wheels and Falken Azenis FK452 tires. Heck, it still has the original oil in it.

In my region my only competitor is in a Mazda2 but I have been able to keep ahead of him.

I think the new Focus can be very competitive in STF. Problem is there is such a small list of vehicles that fit in it that I don't see me having much to compete with. I could run in HS but that has had less competitors in my region.

We have a local class called Street Touring Open 4. Any mods, ST legal tires and 4 cylinder naturally aspirated. We also have STO6 and STO8. Forced Induction bumps you up a level, except for 8s. Rotarys run in 6. We had 6 people in it last event and I would have won that but not by much, so maybe I should move there.

Those classes are always the ones with the best turn out. A number of stock cars are always entered because many people would rather lose to someone that win against nobody. Seems to go against the Solo mindset of each car needing to be competitive in a class.

[tukaniSVT]

Here in TX, we have the HS class full of people. 2 Stock Minis, 2 VW Rabbits, 1 Tiburon and a few other cars as well. Those 5 people are the same ones at every event and add or subtract newcomers each event.

In STF here, there is Myself, an eclipse, a couple of Mazda2s and a Mazda Protege.

I missed my last event. But will be back by the next.

-Ray-

[tukaniSVT]

Are you close enough to the OK region to race against them instead of the KS peeps?

You may re-kindle your joy of racing a person in your class.

-Ray-

[Techpriest]

I am smack in the middle of KS. I can get to Salina Region and Wichita region in an hour. The rest would be kind of far to drive. Our events tend to be 30-40 people so not a lot of people to spread among the classes. Last event in Salina there were 2 in STF. STO4 had 7, STR had 4 and the rest had 1 or 2.

If I ran in ST04 that event I would have taken second, I was less than .4 seconds behind first in that class. Winner was in a road race prepped Mazda Protege MP3.

[roadracerex]

So my wife has asked to head down the path of setting up her car for STF. She and my oldest son got smoked by Andy and Ann Hollis at the Packwood Tour last weekend. Some of it is driver.

I think I will go with the H&R Race springs and Koni Yellows to start. I will have to get the more expensive camber plates for the front aqnd bolts for the rear.

What header? I have one vote here for stock intake and one for AEM. I want to do the tuning once so I want the exhaust and intake installed before I tune it.

What wheel tire combo sizes? 225 width on a 16" wheel?

[Zewerr]

You should have chatted to me about it last weekend. I plan on jumping to STF from H-Stock.

For start, just worry about upgrading the suspension, and finding the right combination of wheel/tire. If you have the winter package (like me), then disabling the traction control should be high on the priority list as well.

H&R race springs and Koni's should be a good start. I'm looking around to see what coilover set I want. A rear swaybar is a must, if you haven't already. I was planning on the H&R rear bar to start, and if I feel it's not enough, I will consider the Steeda bar.

For wheels and tires, I am going to run a set of 16x7.5 Kosei K1's that I have (there's another set currently for sale on FJ that I would like to buy as a spare set, but you should maybe try to pick them up if you can). Toyo just made R1R's available in 225/45R16, which is what I plan on running for dry days. It's slightly shorter than the stock diameter which will help with the ridiculous SVT gearing. These would work well in the wet as well, but 225/50R16 Continental DW's should be better.

After watching Andy race his 2 the last couple weeks, I am convinced that the SVT can keep up with him, but it's going to take everything we can throw at these cars in order to do so.