Build Your Own SCCA-Racer Solstice
Book Preview Of Solstice Performance
The Pontiac Solstice has generated interest from Pontiac aficionados and other performance-minded drivers since it was introduced as a show car. While many have been enjoying it on the street since late 2005, the Solstice is now building a great rep on the racetrack as well. With that interest growing, Pontiac wanted to make it easy for hobbyists to "see" what it would take to build a Solstice into a fun, fast and safe Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) racer. An overview of the upgrades required to begin racing your Solstice is presented here in a preview from Solstice Performance, a new, in-depth technical book available at your GM dealer (GM PN 88958697) in October 2007, or on-line at www.gmperformancedivision.com.
Cars For Classes
The SCCA has two road racing classes in which the Solstice can compete: "Showroom Stock B" (often call SSB) and "Touring 2" (often called T2). The SSB class is for the base 177 hp Solstice. This is a great entry-level class, as this Solstice has excellent grip and braking capabilities, but this engine package requires the driver to maintain as much corner speed as possible. The T2 class allows the 260 hp turbocharged Solstice GXP.
Many of the safety and performance upgrades are the same between the SSB and T2 classes, but the T2 car will be faster, due to its additional 80 hp and the fact that the T2 class also allows wider wheels and tires, a big radiator and a few other small changes.
Building A Solstice Racer
The majority of the changes required on the Solstice to make it SCCA road racing legal are centered around safety, but some are to improve performance. These changes include adding a six-point rollcage with door bars, a racing seat, six-point seatbelts, a racing steering wheel, a fire suppression system, window net and an interior head restraint net.
Racing pushes the drivetrain to the limit, so for T2 Solistices, a larger radiator should be installed, and a differential cooler is needed. In both classes, the stock fluids (coolant, engine oil, transmission oil, power steering fluid and differential fluid) should all be replaced with high-temp racing-style fluids. For outright increases in performance, a Hi-Po air cleaner element and straight-through exhaust are the only components allowed (mainly because the Solstice is already a fast road racer without much done to it).
There are a few more little details that need to be attended to before a Solstice is ready to hit the track-but not many. The Solstice was designed for performance with its hydroformed framerails, unequal length A-arm suspension and excellent weight balance, so making one into an excellent road racing vehicle isn't that hard-which is good, as building a Solstice road racer is really about having fun with a great handling vehicle.
For more information on racing a Pontiac Solstice in the SCCA, check out www.scca.org or www.gmperformancedivision.com
SCCA Wheel And Tire Specs For SolsticeThese fit in the stock wheelwell openings with no modifications.SSBT2Front Tire245/35R18275/35R18Rear Tire245/35R18275/35R18Front Wheel18 x 8.0/6.6-in backspace18 x 9.5/7.75-in backspaceRear Wheel18 x 8.0/6.6-in backspace18 x 9.5/6.6-in backspace



Read The Book: Solstice Performance
If you want to learn more about building a road racer Pontiac Solstice, check out the new technical build book from Pontiac, Solstice Performance (GM PN 88958697). Out in October 2007, it provides details on how to upgrade a Solstice to meet the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) racing requirements, how to set up the chassis, and tips on how to go fast at the racetrack. There are more than 800 photos that show the details for creating a fun, competitive Solstice road racer.






Photo Gallery: Build Your Own SCCA-Racer Solstice - High Performance Pontiac Magazine



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