RotaryNews.Com FC ITS racer finally coming around

[Bern]

Guys,
Just wanted to let you all know that the RotaryNews.Com 2nd gen RX-7 ITS racer is finally starting to make some progress. Our intention with this project is to build and race this car in the most budget and grass-roots way possible. We really want to try and encourage young guys and folks on tight budgets to not be afraid to get into racing, especiallty the SCCA, which is very intimidating for some. This is not a WIN the champiomship the first year project.

The following is the second story on the race car.
http://rotarynews.com/node/view/481

We actually announced the car a year or so ago, but just like life, something came up and the project went on the back burner.

We encourage any input and comments you guys might have. You can leave input directly on the site for folks to see and read.

Thanks and I hope you all come on the journey with us.

Cheers,

-Berny H.
http://rotarynews.com



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[bldn10]

My only input at this point is: restore the rare GTUs and make the other '89 into the race car! Good luck, and pass on any West Coast tricks you discover.


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Bill Denton
87/89 ITS RX-7
02 Audi TT225QC
95 Tahoe
Memphis

[Bern]

Thanks Bill, but the GTUs is going to be a race car. We gave it considerable thought and decided we were ahead of the game with this gem, so we are going for it. Believe you me it hurt us too.

Hey, what do you mean west coast tricks... is that anything like the east and south tricks?!?!? http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif

-Bern

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[MaxEnergy]

I 2nd Bill's comment about the GTUs . For an ITS car there is nothing about the GTUs that you can't find in any series 5 car. You are breaking the most fundamental rule of doing it on the cheap. Sell the GTUs to someone who appreciates it for the uniquiness it has and you'll have enough cash to pick up 2 more 89+s or cash for upgrades and suspension parts. In any event good luck.

Jamie Kekeisen
NER 86 RX7 ITS

[Bern]

Thanks Jamie... but the GTUs stays as the race car. In Cali you can find them from time to time and this one was in need of some work. The guy who sold it to us had it for sale for many, many months at $1.5k and no one had even bothered to look at it.

Anyway, we figured the nice 5th gear in the GTUs tranny and the 4:30 diff put's us ahead of the game for starters. We know to get serious in ITS you need a 4:88 or 5:12, but we are not going there at the moment. But we did want to start with the best OEM combo possible and the GTUs fit the bill.

Sorry guys... we really do appreciate the GTUs, but this one is going racing.

-Bern




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[bldn10]

"Hey, what do you mean west coast tricks... is that anything like the east and south tricks?!?!?"

I mean down here in the Southeast/Midwest we've all had a chance to check out SpeedSource and van Steenburg cars and the other RX-7 shops, but don't ever hear anything from the west coast. You are dealing w/ people like Mariah, who we know little about (saw their nice EP at The Runoffs), and I just thought you might be trying some different things.



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Bill Denton
87/89 ITS RX-7
02 Audi TT225QC
95 Tahoe
Memphis

[Bern]

Oh, I see on tricks... no, if we had a little larger budget, and wanted to create a top flight ITS car, then maybe we would, lets say, "innovate" a little more. Mariah is always willing to think outside the box and do things a little different, but this project will be straight forward.

What we really want to do is encourage younger folks to get involved with the SCCA and not be so intmidated by it. So, this will be a straight forward ENTRY/NOVICE type project.

Btw, I might've met you at the RUNOFFS... I'm the crew chief on the Mariah/FROG team E-PROD car.

This one...
http://www.mariahmotorsports.com/images/racing/runoffs_04/mid_ohio_04_med.jpg

They also have some nice '04 E-PROD RX-7 cars up at their site at:

http://www.mariahmotorsports.com/ --> *Mariah Motorsports Products @ the 2004 SCCA National Championship Runoffs*

Cheers,

-Bern




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[bldn10]

We did meet! A buddy and I stopped by the Mazda tent after the race and I have your card right in front of me. Small world.

Do you guys offer those tow hooks that are shown on the EP car?

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Bill Denton
87/89 ITS RX-7
02 Audi TT225QC
95 Tahoe
Memphis

[Bern]

I'm sure we do... just call the shop and ask to speak to Jim. 805.965.5115

I do remember you and your partner stopping by.., definitely a small world!

Cheers,

-Bern


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[greendot]

For those who are lamenting the "passing" of this GTUs into a race car, here's your chance to save one:

http://www.waterfordhills.com/phpBB2/viewt...opic.php?t=3689 (http://www.waterfordhills.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3689)



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[GEO46]

Nice pics. Is that a University of Michigan decal on the back glass?

[Bern]

Why yes it is... thanks on the pics comments.

See here for confirmation:

http://images.rotarynews.com/images/ITS_20...es/IMG_0133.htm (http://images.rotarynews.com/images/ITS_20041210/pages/IMG_0133.htm)

-Bern