Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => SCTA Rule Questions => Topic started by: Deuces13 on January 01, 2026, 06:44:23 AM

Title: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Deuces13 on January 01, 2026, 06:44:23 AM
   I want to open this up for discussion.
I have a Lotus 7 race car I want to race. My question here is why is there not a class for this car that's been around since 1959. Why can it not be raced in one of the Roadster classes or BT or BTM. The Factory Five Cobra can race in BT classes I feel the Lotus should be allowed in this class. The Lotus 7 has been around long before the Cobra and long before Factory Five. Both cars are kit cars!
Thanks for any input.

AJ Burr
Stay Salty Racing


Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Stainless1 on January 01, 2026, 10:35:56 AM
AJ, is the Lotus 7 the open wheeled one with the fenders?  Post a picture...
Probably GT only if it was a 500 unit production street vehicle with original engine type... possible MGT or MS from there.
Definitely not roadster... roadsters are probably the most defined class in LSR... Hopefully you have a rulebook  :cheers:
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Deuces13 on January 01, 2026, 11:03:43 AM
My car is under construction but open wheel with fenders.
I have a picture but its to large I have to figure out how to downsize it
AJ
Stay Salty Racing
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Stan Back on January 01, 2026, 12:22:28 PM
I'd guess that open wheels with fenders kinda means "cycle" fenders.  Best thing to do before you want to prepare a vehicle for Bonneville is to get a current Rule Book.  You need to see exactly what each category demands -- and if you don't understand, usually someone here can expand the meaning for you. 
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Deuces13 on January 02, 2026, 05:51:11 AM
I have the 2025 rule book.
Under the GT classes it states the Factory 5 Cobra is allowed which is a kit car. The Lotus is a kit car that has been around since 1959.
My car would fit in the GMS class because of the front renders arena?t stock to a Lotus.
The car pictured is my buddies car it is not the car I'm building.
My car has the same front half but it's built different from the dash back. It's a one seat cockpit set up with a cage built like roadster cage.
I will post some pics of it.I have to go through my pics and re size them post them here.

AJ
HeadFlow Performance LLC
Stay Salty Racing
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: desotoman on January 02, 2026, 11:33:43 AM
Check out 5.D.4.a Modified Grand Touring Sport (Gas Only) Page 81 of 2025 rule book.
50 units must have been produced to qualify for this class. Your front fenders would probably qualify it???????

Tom G.

Not legal for Roadster class.
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: tallguy on January 02, 2026, 07:05:57 PM
Rather than ("popular") general discussion among anyone reading or posting here, may I
suggest that the "official" person(s) be contacted in order to define/clarify/enlighten regarding
this specific issue? 

I don't know who those individuals are, but their feedback/information probably "holds more water",
compared to wishful thinking or "voting" from the rest of us here. 

All submitted with due respect.
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Deuces13 on January 03, 2026, 03:52:30 AM
Tallguy
I contacted SCTA on this subject and I'm going down the rabbit hole with them.
like to go to the racers racing the class because ultimately they are the people who contest your run so for me its worth the discussion.
Desotoman good call!
Modified Grand Touring is the  class I feel it would fit in I read 5.D.4.a . There is 250 of these cars with this fender modification way over 500 Lotus 7?s built. Stainless put me on to that class with his experience and long list of records with Bockscar when he speaks I listen.
If anything ECTA has a street class at Bonneville I can run the car in. I plan to run with them in May.

AJ
Stay Salty Racing

Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: AJR192 on January 07, 2026, 03:28:02 PM
USFRA also has the 130 and 150 clubs that you might want to look into..
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Deuces13 on January 17, 2026, 02:46:35 PM
Im scraping the idea to run this car and I decided to build a G/MR car instead.

Thanks for all the input and discussion.

AJ
Stay Salty Racing
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: dw230 on January 22, 2026, 05:57:21 PM
Good call.
A long standing "common knowledge" salt racing saying is because you have it doesn't mean there is a class. Current racing and classes at Bonneville(SCTA) are not what your father/grandfather were used to. A real salt specific vehicle is now in required.
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Rex Schimmer on January 30, 2026, 11:00:51 AM
AJ,
If you are going to build a modified roadster, check out the old "Contrivance" modified roadster. Not the "standard" modified roadster configuration, that is a 27T body, long nose, extremely low to the ground.The Contrivance car is totally different BUT it has held almost all of the modified roadster records from E through AA.

Rex
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Dynoroom on February 02, 2026, 03:06:46 PM
Quote from: Rex Schimmer on January 30, 2026, 11:00:51 AM
AJ,
If you are going to build a modified roadster, check out the old "Contrivance" modified roadster. Not the "standard" modified roadster configuration, that is a 27T body, long nose, extremely low to the ground.The Contrivance car is totally different BUT it has held almost all of the modified roadster records from E through AA.

Rex

Rex, the Yellow "Contrivance" modified roadster is a '23 T.   :cheers:
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: WOODY@DDLLC on February 02, 2026, 03:52:22 PM
There's a '23 in there somewhere!  :-o  :cheers:
Title: Re: A Class for the Lotus 7
Post by: Elmo Rodge on February 02, 2026, 04:15:12 PM
And always a contender.  :cheers:
Wayno