THE GURU:

I don’t believe you can call yourself a heavily involved Soloist if the name "Strelnieks" doesn’t ring a bell, so we got ahold of Dr. Erik Strelnieks to tell us all about what it takes to run at the top of Super Street Modified. The beginning of Erik's Autocrossing career dates back to 1984, where he has since then acquired 7 SCCA Solo National Championships and 13 ProSolo Championships, in 4 different classes. This also includes an Overall ProSolo Challenge Championship in 2005, as well as earning the highly regarded "SCCA Driver of Eminance" award in 2007.

Three of his National Championships and 6 of his ProSolo championships can be linked to the SSM 20B 3-rotor Mazda RX-7 that he has been running in the class since 2006, but the success of said RX-7 didn’t begin there. Erik actually married into the car after in 1997 marrying his wife, Beth, who not to mention has 3 National Championships, 4 ProSolo Championships, and 3 Overall ProSolo Challenge Championships herself. Between Beth and Erik they had acquired 2 National Championships and a ProSolo Championship running the RX-7 in Super Stock before turning it into a SSM monster.

So, if you’re interested in winning, I would listen to everything that comes out of the mouth of Erik or Beth Strelnieks.

THE PITCH:

Once you’ve found yourself jumping both feet into Super Street Modified, you know that you have reached the point of no return; the remainder of your car’s life will likely be nothing but a dedicated Autocrosser. While it may be a rather expensive route to go in the end, Erik states that the experience of building and driving these machines is priceless. Once you get a taste for extreme horsepower and grip, you will never want to go back.

THE SCOOP:

The doc filled me in on everything needed to run at the top of this highly modified class, and starts by breaking it down into two simple categories; “the trail blazers and the copycats”. Unfortunately no matter how hard we try, we are unable to calculate the superlative car for any given Autocross class with a pencil and paper. The first decision to be made when joining SSM is whether to roll the dice and try a car that has yet to be done, or build a car based on the success and glory of past class champions. Erik believes there are four rather simple formulas that should bring success (and one bonus formula).

Mazda RX-7:

More than likely, these fire-spitting, turbo rotary powered beasts are the first things that come to your mind when you hear "SSM", and Dr. Strelnieks is surely one of the "trail blazers" when it comes to their development in the class. The motors you'll find under the hood vary on the grid between the "13B" two-rotor rotary engine found in the RX-7s from the factory, and the "20B" 3-rotor rotary engine, which is what the Strelnieks’ car is carrying. Both motors will require a single turbo conversion and proper engine tuning to compete in SSM, as well as replacing the fuel and exhaust system. Some parts such as the transmission may require modification to hold up throughout the event, but others such as the rear axles seem to withstand the massive power no better or worse than aftermarket ones. A weak point is the rear differential which requires bracing structure to keep from breaking, and even then Erik has to cross his fingers sometimes. 315/30/18s on 18”x11”s all the way around is proper racing rubber for SSM, but with modified bodywork it’ll take 335s in the back.

Mazda Miata:

A well prepared Mazda Miata could be a competitive alternative to the RX-7. Although will not make near the power of the RX-7s, they can run a lighter weight with small wheels/tires, and can still make plenty of power through forced induction. Erik figures it should be roughly 20% cheaper to build than an RX-7 as well, looking at the initial selling prices of the cars for starters.

Chevrolet Corvette:

While they currently aren’t very popular in the SSM grid at Nationals, Strelnieks believes that the numbers are there for a Corvette to be a fierce competitor in the class. A C5 Corvette powered by a 6.2L LS3 only needs to weigh slightly more than their 3-rotor RX-7, and packs a lot of punch. An issue Erik mentions is the inability to use the torque that a LS3 provides on an Autocross course, so a high-revving 5.7L LS6 may be a better alternative, and comes with a 100lb weight break. The Vettes can take 335s in both the front and rear, while the RX-7s cannot fit more than a 315 in the front. Something to think about.

Lotus Elise:

To put it simply, ballast up Fred Zust’s winning X Prepared Elise and you’re looking for a formula for success in SSM. The lightweight and mid-engined combination led Matt Glagola in an Elise to the championship in 2014, perhaps it's the beginning of a new era in Super Street Modified.

Honda S2000:

The fact is, no one has really gone and tried this car to the extent of any of the other chassis mentioned. With that being said, if you would like to be the "trail blazer" of this chassis, have I got a deal for you... As a service to our SoloMatters readers, we hope offering an SSM-car-in-a-box will help urge you to jump into the deep end.

THE PRICETAG:

The overall price of a Super Street Modified winner will vary greatly just based on the car you choose to start with. From a $3,000 Miata to a $25,000 Elise, you have to factor it into the overall build.

Wheels/Tires:

You may be spending as much as $3,000 for a set of wheels when you’re looking at the wheel/tire combo needed in SSM, and two or three sets of them. A set of “Purple Crack” in 335s will set you back roughly $1,600 a set, so tire size and cost should be taken into consideration when planning out your build.

Turbo/Supercharger System:

Most of the cars run them, and roughly $8,000 should be estimated to hook up your SSM car with forced induction. Converting a 2-rotor motor to a 3-rotor motor is also an added expense of roughly $10,000.

Suspension:

Full suspension modification is permitted in SSM, so depending on the degree of quality and adjustability you are looking for, expect to spend in the realm of $5,000-$8,000 for a nice shock/spring set up, sway bars, and upgraded braking rotors/calipers.

Clutch/Trans/Diff:

A heavy duty clutch from a performance brand such as ACT, a limited-slip differential, and upgraded transmission will be important to the reliability of the car as well as performance. Erik estimates from $5,000 to $10,000 for those drivetrain components.

Wing/Aero:

You don't see a true SSM car without it's massive splitter and rear wing, and varying on the materials used it’ll cost around $1,500-$5,000 for proper Super Street Modified downforce.

ECU/Tuning:

Custom tuning with dyno time could be as much as a $3,000 addition to the build.

Weight Loss:

Weight loss is really as cost and labor intensive as you decide to make it, but expect around $2,000 for key items such as racing seats and a lighter battery.

The bottom line is, regardless of the car you choose, it'll take at least $40,000 to play with a nationally competitive Super Street Modified car. By talking to veterans in the class, you can significantly cut down on costs by simply knowing what/what not to buy. As a “trail blazer” experimenting with a new car for the class, learning what works and what doesn’t work will most definitely be an added expense.

THE HONEST TRUTH:

Competing in Super Street Modified is not an entry-level class into the sport. It requires a lot of knowledge and you must always expect things to not necessarily go as planned. It’s not exactly the most friendly for the wallet either. However, none of these aspects compare to the thrill of these incredible machines, and the experience that building and competing in them will bring with it. Also, you’re usually guaranteed a pretty good turn out at Nationals, because anyone that enters the class will never want to leave.