When will the Focus become eligable for IT? Do you think it will be any good?
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When will the Focus become eligable for IT? Do you think it will be any good?
Cars become eligible for IT when they are at five years old. The focus will likely be in ITS and should be a fairly competitive car based on the after market parts available for suspension, bracing, bushings and minor engine mods. I might even think of one myself.
What was the first year of production? I could not find it. The best I could tell it is 2000. I thought it had been out longer than that though. I am suprised that it would be in ITS. I don't think the car is that fast. Maybe the SVT but that will not be available for several more years as last year was the first year of production for that model. The Focus is what I am waiting for. http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/biggrin.gif
It would be cool to get ahold of one, drive it in Showroom Stock until you could IT it.
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Doug
ITB Escort
[email protected]
That is not a bad idea. The SVT is in SSB and the standard ZX3 is in SSC. It might compete fairly well. Has anyone seen one out there? I saw an SVT out at Kershaw this past weekend.
I think the Focus was introduced in 1999, but as a 2000.
It will be a while before it becomes IT eligible and the new longer Showroom Stock eligibility rules may make that a longer wait.
I have rented a couple for regular driving and they scoot. However, I believe the ZX2 Escort is a better car for racing.
Nevertheless, the Focus is very popular and is attracting a lot of aftermarket parts development which is the key to a successful IT car.
Just look at Hondas for this formula.
They also make cool rally cars, although I would like to see an AWD offering by Ford.
Cheers.
Settle down guys.
As an SSC car a ZX3 gets CLOBBERED. 130 HP against a 160 HP Civic Si, both at 2450 pounds, it ain't rocket science.
(Note, I think a Fastrack updated the Focus weight, down a bit, but still.)
Maybe the SVT will have a shot in SSB, and then maybe somewhere in IT, ITS would still be a tough place, even with 170 HP, or about 140 at the wheels.
Back to that 130 HP. Maybe 110 at the wheels, 115 with a header, maybe 120 with a long tube header and racing exhaust. (I've dyoned them plenty, both chassis and engine dyno. IT legal mods don't help much. Cam gears, light porting do, big time.) Have you guys been reading the HP numbers tossed around about current ITS cars?
As for SCCA putting it in ITA, no way, too big of a motor, 2.0 16 valve, no go.
Dare I say IT2? Uphill battle there too. But possibly the right place.
Too bad the ZX2 and ZX3 only came with the 16 valve motor, the 8 valve might stand a chance of getting classed lower, but probably only ITA, cooked again. Figure out how to get one in ITB, and you might have a chance.
You have posted my worries about the Focus. What do I have to do to find a Ford that will compete in IT. If you own a Ford you must cheat to win. This is my opinion. Truthfully I am green and I suck as a driver but I plan to improve. I have been around SCCA long enough to know that a Ford cannot compete unless it is illegal. Sorry, I am not trying to offend anyone. I will continue to race a Ford and try to find some way to keep up in the straights. I still feel that the Focus will be the plan just due to availability of parts.
You are not offending anyone, but your stating you being a green driver helps to hammer home your point. Look at the current front cars in ITB, Volvo 142 mostly... 2640 lbs, same as the Mustang. Same displacement (actually I think the Mustang is a little ahead) and tons of parts available. Why do you have to cheat to make this car run? I've driven Escorts that scoot too, so I think you're painting with a really wide brush. At one time (about ten years ago) I thought everyone ahead of me was cheating, because no way could I be that slow. Honest truth... the more "stock" my car became, the faster I went. And it wasn't because the car was better, it was because the nut behind the wheel got tightened down. Two seconds a lap in the past year and a half, basically no changes to the car. Consistent top fives now, and the new car is on the way, another Ford. I think they can run, you just have to put together the proper package... car, driver, team, etc.Quote:
Originally posted by trueblue:
If you own a Ford you must cheat to win. This is my opinion. Truthfully I am green and I suck as a driver but I plan to improve. I have been around SCCA long enough to know that a Ford cannot compete unless it is illegal.
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-Marcello Canitano
www.SilverHorseRacing.com
Point taken. So what is the best Ford to run in IT? Why does the Volvo and BMW do so well?
What's best to run:
1) If you like FWD, then an Escort
2) If you like RWD, you can go Capri (old), Pinto (old), Mustang (getting old)
All have pros and cons. Do you want to fab parts or buy them, what about spares, what about sponsor opportunity, etc... it's all about compromise. For me it's the Mustang, some of my friends run Escorts, and I've seen a couple of fast Pintos and old Capris in my time as well.
Why do the XXX cars do so well?
They are developed. Developed car, and developed driver. In IT (especially B) I feel that the driver is as or more important than the car, so long as it meets a minimum level of preparation. Once the driver is taken care of, the car normally falls into place.
Just my .02 on the subject.
YMMV
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-Marcello Canitano
www.SilverHorseRacing.com
[quote]Originally posted by trueblue:
[B]You have posted my worries about the Focus. What do I have to do to find a Ford that will compete in IT. If you own a Ford you must cheat to win.
Trueblue, I'm not offended by your statement but like any other class, brand and breed of race car, it takes $$$$$ to make your car fast and takes seat time to make yourself fast. I'd like to say that my car is perfectly legal but like most cars, not all, mine probably has some parts that could be construed as illegal although I don't think so. Alot has to do with rules interpretation as well. The bottom line is we have cars that have a place to race and we race brands of cars that we like (ie. Ford). Nobody at SCCA or NASA guarantees that the cars will be equal or competetive. Keep in mind what we are racing for and why you are racing in the first place. If you are in it for the money, wrong place; if you are in it because of the thrill then who cares where you finish. I've had some of the best races ever in the middle of the pack. I actually have less fun the farther I move up in the field. If you think that you will have to cheat to be competetive, think seriously about whether this is for you. There are very few of us who knowingly and wantonly cheat although most of us probably have a fender that sticks out over the tires an 1/8" or an engine that has a head a little too shaved and the compression is 0.6 points over stock, etc. Get my point, find a Ford that you enjoy and race the heck out of it and finish last but have fun doing it. My 2cents (and then some).
Trueblue--Think of the dilemna you'd be in if you were a Chevy fan.
Not much pickens on the ITCS lines for that marque either!
Chevettes anyone?
The Volvo 142's do so well because the car has a lot of good design features. Very stiff uni-body, double wish-bone front suspension, 4 wheel discs (with large swept area), bulletproof OHV 4-cylinder with Bosch D-Jet EFI (135hp stock), close to a 50/50 weight distribution, etc. That along with a lot of development thanks to Bob Griffith and friends.Quote:
Originally posted by trueblue:
Point taken. So what is the best Ford to run in IT? Why does the Volvo and BMW do so well?
The Volvo 242's also have a lot of potential with the primary difference between it and the 142 is the MacPherson strut front suspension, larger brake swept area along with ventilated front discs, and more modern SOHC 4-cylinder. The 142 and 242 have pretty much the same uni-body as doors and windows are interchangable.
I'll let a BMW guy speak up for his brand.
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David Russell
'80 ITB Volvo 242 under construction
[email protected]
Quote:
Originally posted by joeg:
Trueblue--Think of the dilemna you'd be in if you were a Chevy fan.
Not much pickens on the ITCS lines for that marque either!
Chevettes anyone?
Now that brought a grin to my face. http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/biggrin.gif There has been some great input here. Perhaps I have lost sight of why I really wanted to race. I let the competitive macho side of me take over. I love the feel of going as fast as I can inches away from someone else. I love Fords. When focusing on the positive, life could not be better. I really liked this reply from Silver Horse Racing as well, "At one time (about ten years ago) I thought everyone ahead of me was cheating, because no way could I be that slow." (Hmmm that sounds familiar) Maybe after a few more years of racing my opinion will change as I develop into the driver I thought I was going to be out of the box. http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif
It normally takes 2 to 3 years before the nut behind the wheel is tightened enough to begin to extract much of the car's potential. I raced with NASA's PS3 (similar to ITB) with VW Jetta, Datsun 510 (2nd gen), Nissan 200SX, and a couple of Capri's in 1998 through 2000. It took many years before I learned enough about suspension setup and tuning in addition to car handling so I could go faster. I've always been a fan of underdogs, and my current goal is to win a championship while racing a non-"YUPPIE" overdog.
1st gen VW Jetta - my starter car but it was so slow that I quickly was able to keep the gas floored around the track. The car needed development, but I just didn't feel passionate about the car to work on it. It was bulletproof and reliable, a good starter car.
80 Datsun 510 - this car was fast but had some issues with the rear suspension. I finally figured out that the rear bushings were binding which caused the car to inadvertantly oversteer and cause me to spin out. I replace the bearings (spherical) and the car was a dream to drive. I was still learning how to drive a rear drive car when I spun out and rolled it 3 times- May it rest in peace. Wonderful car.
72 Capri - I built it and wrecked it the first race. I was accidently punted on a fast straight and I went into a wall. RIP
80 Nissan 200SX - A friend and I built it as an Enduro racer. The suspension from the 510 bolted right on and the car handled like a dream once we got enough front camber. It felt like a go - cart and the car got quite fast with my friend and I driving it.
Current 71 Capri - I'm still developing it, and it is currently a wee bit faster than the 200SX. The car is more difficult to drive fast, but I'm confident that I and this car can beat the Yuppie cars.
83 GTI - I raced 2001-2002 in the NASA GTI Cup class and I was finally able to drive the GTI to nearly 100% of it's capability at our local tracks. It's a tremendous joy to master a particular track with a particular car, knowing that you are nearly at 100%, hitting the apexes right, braking right, and able to go around the track setting a track record.
2003 - 71 Capri. I've learned a lot the last 2 years racing in the slower GTI Cup class so I'm optimistic about extracting more performance from the Capri and myself. I hope to learn to drive the Capri to it's limits just like I drove the GTI last year, then I should have a lot of fun this year and maybe set a track record or two. I'll do my best to seek perfection, and therein lies my joy. However, I do expect to give those Beemers and Volvos a strong run so they better be at 100% if they want to keep up and perhaps beat me!
71 ITB Capri
Two cents from me, one of the newest additions to the corral of ITB Mustangs drivers in the nation...
This will be my first season, and I have very few expectations. In fact, I have ONE expectation--to have fun. Priorities after that include: staying alive, not losing my car, finishing a race, winning a race, then winning a series.
Just by showing up to the track with my friends as my crew, I will manage to meet expectation number one. Everything else is a bonus, and none of it will be taken for granted.
It's help from friends like Marcello that has even made getting this far possible. So I'm just thankful for the relationships I've established in my new hobby. I could finish last all season, and I'd still have a smile on my face because:
1) I'm having FUN,
2) I've made new FRIENDS,
and 3) I'm racing in a FORD!
You can't beat it with a stick--even though you can probably beat it with a Volvo. http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif
Hope this puts things into perspective.
Sincerely,
Don
Well put Don. http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif
When the #93 is ready, the smile will be on my face too! Good luck to everyone this season, no matter how far behind us you are http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gifQuote:
Originally posted by baileydl:
It's help from friends like Marcello that has even made getting this far possible. So I'm just thankful for the relationships I've established in my new hobby. I could finish last all season, and I'd still have a smile on my face because:
Thanks! http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif
You can't beat it with a stick--even though you can probably beat it with a Volvo. http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif
Yeah, but we're about to fix that problem!
Hope this puts things into perspective.
Sincerely,
Don
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-Marcello Canitano
www.SilverHorseRacing.com
All of this makes me want to get a Mustang for my next car. I have always had Mustangs but they were set up for drag or pleasure not road racing.
Thanks for all the input from everyone.
See you at the track http://Forums.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif