New Racers in ITS?

[Ron Earp]

Ed Palombo has recently fired up his 260Z ITS car (ex-Jeffrey R. 260Z) and is hoping to get a logbook for it before too much longer. I also understand that Bryan Parrish has acquired an ITS RX7. So, it looks like we might have two new racers in the SE ITS races for later this year.

Any other newcomers to ITS in the Southeast?

[Jeremy Billiel]

Ron there is no one crazy enough to build a FWD car in ITS! <grin> Seriously just poking fun. Not starting a war!

[Bryan88]

Yes I am now the proud owner of an ITS Mazda RX7........

I still have a few things to get sorted out before it hits the track but
hopefully it will be soon......

Now here's the deal........My 1984 Nissan 300ZX is for sale.......it is a factory
hardtop......serial number 20.......it came off the assembly line the first day
of production.......

pass the word.......it will make someone an awesome car if they can get it built
and finished out.......

[erlrich]

We appear to have a few new ITS cars in the DC region; Al Gervais has moved from SRX7 to ITS with a fast RX7 (won both MARRS races this weekend), Don Himes was giving Al a run for his money in an ITS Miata Sunday, and Dave Tilton seems to have his Brimtek 325 going pretty well. There may be a few more, but those are the ones that came right to mind.

Al seemed to have the measure of the rest of the ITS field this weekend, and was running good laps times...consistently within a couple of seconds of the top ITA times ;)

[Ron Earp]

Ron there is no one crazy enough to build a FWD car in ITS! <grin> Seriously just poking fun. Not starting a war!

And for good reason - ITS is a race class for race cars. And everyone knows that real race cars are RWD. So don't feel bad. Not everyone can have a real race car, but if you keep trying you'll make it one day! I'm pulling for you! :)

So at least two new ITS guys in the SE and a couple in DC? ITS might be on a growth spurt.

[tim240z]

Chris and Andy will have their second school under their belts after July... and I should be more active in the second half of the year.

[Ron Earp]

Al Gervais has moved from SRX7 to ITS with a fast RX7 (won both MARRS races this weekend),

I wonder if we'll see more migration to other classes from 1st generation RX7 racers? Some folks have written on this forum that the 12A housings are about all gone and it won't be possible to continue to race the 1st generation cars in IT7/SRX7 indefinitely. Be great to have some IT7/SRX7 racers move into ITA/ITS/ITR.

[quadzjr]

There is a ITS civic registered for this weekend at RRR :D

Last time we ran the previous ITS car there I think it did no less than 4 rolls in turn 9.

Driver hasn't ran IT in qutie a few years (was out prod racing).. does that count as new?

[erlrich]

I wonder if we'll see more migration to other classes from 1st generation RX7 racers? Some folks have written on this forum that the 12A housings are about all gone and it won't be possible to continue to race the 1st generation cars in IT7/SRX7 indefinitely. Be great to have some IT7/SRX7 racers move into ITA/ITS/ITR.

This is an intereting topic; and timely for me in that I was just thinking this weekend that I might start looking at ITS; I've given up on the ITR idea, and have come to the conclusion that I'm wasting my money trying to do anything else with the 240SX in ITA. I'm starting to think the ITS Subie may be the next "car to have" in IT.

[Ron Earp]

have come to the conclusion that I'm wasting my money trying to do anything else with the 240SX in ITA..

I don't know about that. Neil has one down here in the SE, has run 2:18 flat at VIR with more on the table. Pretty good I think. Good at CMP too and probably so at Roebling Road.

[JeffYoung]

Earl, the "big jump" in times for Neil came due to some serious suspension tuning. It was not motor. They went WAY high on spring rates, I think they are over 1000 lbs up front and 500-600 rear (don't quote me on it).

That and some off season work with data acqusition got them 3-4 seconds at VIR. It's not motor -- I've driven off from that car in a straight line. It's handling and driving.

Based on what Neil has done I still think a too the max 240sx can win. The Miata guys have raised the bar, but I don't think the Integra, the CRA, the SE-R or the 240sx are done just yet.

[erlrich]

I don't know about that. Neil has one down here in the SE, has run 2:18 flat at VIR with more on the table. Pretty good I think. Good at CMP too and probably so at Roebling Road.

Yeah, I talked with Neal for a good while when I was down there in May - he definitely has that car working about as well as any 240SX I've seen. He's also put a lot of time and a good bit of $$$ into it from what I gather. And for all that, on a track where hp cars should have the advantage (IMO), he was still 2 full seconds behind Brian. I could be wrong, but at this point I'm of the opinion that when the very best cars/drivers come out, ITA is down to a 2 car class right now - CRX or Miata.

[JeffYoung]

From following Brian around, he seems to have out of this world car control skills. He might be the 2 second difference right there.

Neil still has development to do on the 240 as well.

I still ITA as fairly balanced. Integra, 240sx, SE-R, CRX, Miata -- all seem to have a chance depending on who is driving and where.

[RedMisted]

So at least two new ITS guys in the SE and a couple in DC? ITS might be on a growth spurt.

Ahem. And it seems that ITR, at least in my parts, is stillborn... :(

[Andy Bettencourt]

We are seeing ITS shrinkage and ITR growth in the Northeast.

[timo944]

If you know anybody who is looking for a ready to race ITS car I have an '85 300ZX. Needs a little work but it's legal and could be pretty quick. Good spares box, etc. Price is right too = "cheap"

PM me if interested.

[JeffYoung]

Is that David Ross's old car?

[Bryan88]

I'll be DARN !!!!.......I looked for 300ZX to buy for a year.......I finally buy the Mazda RX7 and now a 300ZX is for sale..........CRAP.......

[timo944]

Don't believe so. It was built in Michigan and bought by Tom Degregorio. He sold it to Scott Freedman who sold it to me. I ran it in a few races and had problems with brakes and fuel. A switch to Hawk blues solved the brake issues (they were overheating with Porterfield sprint pads) and replacing the fuel filter (was meant for carbeurated car) fixed this issues. I made quite a few updates - suspension, cage, fuel cell etc.

So when I finally got it running well at CMP it was pretty good. I had a qualifying session then got wacked on the opening lap by an RX-7 and that broke the RF suspension! I have all the bits needed to put humpty together again but no time and I only need one IT car.

Motor feels pretty strong and the handling has less feel than my 944 but is basically OK. I really should keep it - makes a great sprint car, and use the 944 for Enduros, or even vice-versa.

[JeffYoung]

Hmmm...is it brown or white?

[R2 Racing]

I was about 95% certain I had my ITS Prelude Si sold to a guy in the Atlanta area last month. He was looking to make the jump from HPDE/PDX's to racing. He sold the HPDE car, bought the truck, but then ran into some cash flow problems. Might not be dead in the water, but looking bleak. I was really excited about the idea of that car heading to the SEDiv where a "smaller than me" guy could race it at minimum weight against good fields. I still think it's hands-down one of the best cars to have in ITS.

[JeffYoung]

With the power and torque numbers I heard for it, I agree.

Hope it works out and we see that car out next year.

Corrado and that car are the two high power FWD cars that, while it may take dollars to get them competitive, sure seem like they could be winners.

[seckerich]

We have had a few really fast Preludes in the southeast, just not after lap 10. By then the front tires are toast.

[JeffYoung]

Didn't Lucho drive one?

[seckerich]

He had Tom Fowlers old OPM Prelude. Very fast.

[RedMisted]

We are seeing ITS shrinkage and ITR growth in the Northeast.

I've noticed the ITR growth in that division. Which is why I don't race in Ohio anymore, unless it's the IT Fest.

[Jeremy Billiel]

We are seeing ITS shrinkage and ITR growth in the Northeast.

I am not sure I would have said that Andy. ITS has fallen off the earth with like 3 cars entered per weekend in the Northeast...

[R2 Racing]

He had Tom Fowlers old OPM Prelude. Very fast.
That was the H22 powered "Prelude VTEC", which has to weigh ~400lbs more than my H23 powered "Prelude Si". It's actually lighter than my ITA Integra, so tires aren't a problem on it at all. The biggest problem with the Prelude Si is that the driver can only be about 170lbs in order to make weight. Compared to my ITA car, which has done 1:42 flats at Road Atlanta, it's 40lbs lighter, has +25whp, and +50wtq. Sub 1:40's, all day.

[tade]

I was about 95% certain I had my ITS Prelude Si sold to a guy in the Atlanta area last month. He was looking to make the jump from HPDE/PDX's to racing. He sold the HPDE car, bought the truck, but then ran into some cash flow problems. Might not be dead in the water, but looking bleak. I was really excited about the idea of that car heading to the SEDiv where a "smaller than me" guy could race it at minimum weight against good fields. I still think it's hands-down one of the best cars to have in ITS.

I still can't believe I couldn't make it :( There's still some hope, but I may end up with an ITA or ITC car what I know I would regret. We'll see...

[timo944]

hmmm...is it brown or white?


red!!!

[lawtonglenn]

I am not sure I would have said that Andy. ITS has fallen off the earth with like 3 cars entered per weekend in the Northeast...


You know Jeremy, my mother told me a million times not to exaggerate....

25 Jul 10 WGI(p)ITS = 11 entries
25 Jul 10 WGI(r)ITS = 10
24 Jul 10 WGI(r)ITS = 10
11 Jul 10 NHMS, ITS = 6
11 Jul 10 NHMS, ITS = 6
10 Jul 10 NHMS, ITS = 7
19 Jun 10 LRP, ITS = 7
06 Jun 10 NHMS, ITS = 6
05 Jun 10 NHMS, ITS = 6
02 May 10 NHMS, ITS = 6
10 Apr 10 NHMS, ITS = 7

Look, I am not saying 6 or 7 is adequate, it is not...I long for the
good old days with 10, 12, 14 or more ITS entries....however, your
erroneous exaggeration doesn't help... not one bit.



From what I can see, there are two related pressures on this:


1. Competing schedules...just yesterday there were races at WGI, NJMP, and NHMS


2. The very existence of the Pro-IT series.

While it is a good formula, and a fun time, my comments about its parasitic
nature are still true, and the parasite is continuing to strengthen
at the expense of the host...

In the upcoming WGI races in two weeks, 9 of the 21 Drivers registered in
ITR and ITS the Pro-IT race are not registered for the regional ...

This is just not consistent with the economics of the relationship
between the regionals and the Pro-IT series. I don't blame the drivers, they
are playing the game within the rules...I think the rules need fixing

It is my understanding that because the Pro-IT entrants are "extra" the
regions justify only taking half of the normal entry fee, leaving the
other half for the Pro-IT prize pool.

While that is certainly the case when a Pro-IT is married with a National race,
or with another Pro race, I suggest that when a Pro-IT race is run with a
Regional race, the region should only agree to take half when in fact the driver
is also registered for the regional race (ie truly an extra)...if not
they should insist on taking the full fee. In the upcoming WGI case that
would make my suggested fee structure:

$300 for regional
$450 for Pro-IT ($300 to region, $150 to prize fund)
$600 for both ($450 to region, $150 to prize fund)


Where now the current fee structure is:

$300 for regional
$300 for Pro-IT ($150 to region, $150 to prize fund)
$600 for both ($450 to region, $150 to prize fund)

Essentially, the people ONLY running the Pro-IT series are racing
for HALF PRICE, since the prize money comes back to them...
and if they only do the Pro-IT series all year, their entry budget is
reduced by half...50%....4/8....4 slices. Wow!

The way it is currently structured, the regions are not only supporting
the Pro-IT series by doing all the work, they are subsidizing the effort,
and as a result we have almost half of the ITR and ITS drivers ONLY running
the Pro-IT series, leading to reduced car counts in the regionals.


Kudos to those drivers for recognizing the bargain...
Shame on us for creating the bargain while simultaneously reducing
car counts, regional income, and racing fun


Glenn


PS Jeremy...instead of complaining about the low ITS car count, why don't
you get out of the Laz-Z-Boy and get your ass to the track, you
do have an ITS car, remember?


.

[Charles Perry]

I still have a Si Prelude, I could not keep a motor in it for some reason. Probably jumped time 4 different times!! But when it ran it was quick and easy to drive. So I went to the old reliable ZX!!

[Ron Earp]

Kudos to those drivers for recognizing the bargain...
Shame on us for creating the bargain while simultaneously reducing
car counts, regional income, and racing fun.

On the surface it does sort of seem that way. I don't know enough about it to form an intelligent opinion, however, I am sort of glad ProIT doesn't exist in the Southeast so I don't have to worry about it. ITS counts down here are strong and seem to be getting stronger. As of now, at least in the SE, ITS is a great place to race and seemingly as large as, or larger, than the ITA, ITB, or ITC fields.

[spawpoet]

As of now, at least in the SE, ITS is a great place to race and seemingly as large as, or larger, than the ITA, ITB, or ITC fields.

Echoing what you are saying, we have 8 ITS cars entered in the Sebring drivers school alone this weekend. More than any other class including SM.

[racingralph]

Yes I am now the proud owner of an ITS Mazda RX7........

I still have a few things to get sorted out before it hits the track but
hopefully it will be soon......

Now here's the deal........My 1984 Nissan 300ZX is for sale.......it is a factory
hardtop......serial number 20.......it came off the assembly line the first day
of production.......

pass the word.......it will make someone an awesome car if they can get it built
and finished out.......
hope bryan will let me know when he's ready to go racing. i'll try to help him learn these cars faster. i'll share almost everything i had learned 'bout these cars ....still got to outrun him if/when we come back racing. ralph

[Bryan88]

hope bryan will let me know when he's ready to go racing. i'll try to help him learn these cars faster. i'll share almost everything i had learned 'bout these cars ....still got to outrun him if/when we come back racing. ralph


Hey Ralph......I'll give you a call this week......Hopefully I'll be shooting for the double Carolina cup races at Kershaw.......Those should be my first time out on the track with the new car.....