What happened to IT7?

Hopefully anyone who used to race a first gen. RX7 (or still has one parked in their garage) will answer this question. Where are the RX7 ITA/IT7 race cars? We finally received official approval of the IT7 class in CenDiv East, yet I've been the only IT7 at the last two SCCA Regionals that I've attended (Grattan and MidOhio).

In the mid-late 90's at MidOhio there would be 20+ first gen RX7's within the ITA field. In the early 2000's Waterford Hills began the ITR (later renamed IT7) class and we also organized the G-Force Engineering IT7 MidOhio championship with 10-12 cars competing.

I realize the economy has decreased overall race participation and Spec Miata is becoming very popular (I don't know of any recent IT7 racers that now drive Spec Miata)

Where did all of the race cars go?

I think this is just a smaller chunk of the whole picture that is suckin' wind - entries are down everywhere. I play with the IT7's at Waterford, and there's only 4 showing up regularly. http://ITForum.ImprovedTouring.com/frown.gif At least B's still strong with usually 8-10 cars...

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Vaughan Scott
Detroit Region #280052
'79 924 #77 ITB/GTS1
www.vaughanscott.com

I think Vaughan is right about the whole picture getting smaller. Except for SM and FSCCA the number of cars competing in a given class seems to be shrinking every year. Or maybe you have to wait for word to get around.

I am toying with racing IT7 next year here in the SEDiv many because of the cost vs. # of other cars that regularly compete in the class. By looking at MyLaps it would seem that there are almost as many IT7's as there are ITA, B and C combined at some SEDiv races.

For me there is a "fun or interest" factor between the price to compete and the number of other cars you race against. A cheap car isn't much fun if your the only guy on the track or if there are so many that it feels like Atlanta rush hour. On the other hand an expensive car, in my case, would not be fun irregardless of the number of competitors.

Or, maybe the IT7's lost interest due to not being competitve in ITA?

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Tom Sprecher
Team SuperTech

We just got IT7 here in MiDiv last season. There were about 6-8 cars that campaigned pretty regularly. This year... seems like there's 3-4 in MiDiv. Nadeem Bari, Lynn Lamb and Scott (Peterson?). My cars been on mechanical sebatical for almost a year (and was last season as well, although I refused to accept the fact), Mark Jeffery has been semi MIA. Steve Burkette has 2 IT7 cars, but also a T3 RX8. Which one do you think he drives http://ITForum.ImprovedTouring.com/wink.gif

I don't think that it's lack of interest, just a case of Mass bad timing.

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Scott Rhea
It's not what you build...
it's how you build it
http://www.izzyscustomcages.com/images/IzysLgoSm.jpg
Izzy's Custom Cages

Mark has only been running Memphis. Time off work issues, I think he said . . ..

Nadeem is flyin' though!

While I agree that enterants are down as a sum. I would also say that ITS is very healthy and ITA is strong. The problem is that newer cars coming in are in ITS or if lucky put into ITA. Therefore there is no real number of cars that are going to ITB and for sure ITC. To answer the question of why IT7 is down or dead, I think the main reason lies with SM. It took forever to get IT7 in cendiv. The cars we getting old and competitors did not see a healthy future with 1st gen RX7 in IT. The spec miata came, and it was reasonable cost, dependable, cars everywhere and national recognized as a regional class. As a bonus it is going to a National class. So the mazda fans took there game to the miata. I know of a few competitors who switch to SM from IT7. In the Southeast Div. where IT7 was very large the numbers have gone down while spec miata has become very large, while the other IT class have stayed the same.

In the Southeast this year there have been over 50 drivers in IT7 drive in at least one race in the SAARC series. In the Central Florida Region we have had 15 IT7 drivers gain at least a point in the Regional Series.

No IT7 in Northeast. 1st Gen still run ITA unless SpecRX-7 in WDCR unfortunatly switching back from ITA to spec 7 looks like too much work. We seem to hold our own with the other RX-7 in ITA but of course can't get near the new ITA cars IE those with Fuel Injection, engine management systems, overbore etc. just plain more modern cars.

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Tom Weaver: Logistics & Technical Support Manager IE truck driver for 1980 RX-7 ITA #63
"Hemi Haulin' Rotary" Bill Weaver Driver- 2004 NYSRRC John Chave Award

***Where did all of the race cars go?***

I'll ask the same question ? Where did all the 1st gen RX-7's go ? Anyone know of any for sale ?

Have Fun http://ITForum.ImprovedTouring.com/wink.gif
David

EDIT: Forgot the http://ITForum.ImprovedTouring.com/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by ddewhurst (edited July 14, 2005).]

Mine is almost ready I swear!!!

Can I ask a dumb question, there still isn't IT7 in Area 5 correct? Just checking.

Sorry to hear about the car David. That's just what happens when you get TO fast.

David,

I wasn't there on Sunday but saw on the on-line results that you DNF'd.

What happened?

On Saturday, you looked like you picked up quite a bit of speed since your last race there........

[This message has been edited by Greg Gauper (edited July 15, 2005).]

Quote:

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Originally posted by ddewhurst:
***Where did all of the race cars go?***

I'll ask the same question ? Where did all the 1st gen RX-7's go ? Anyone know of any for sale ?

---

Mine is resting right now, no time, no time in the forseeable future. :-(

Contemplating selling, give me a shout if interested.

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Steve
[email protected]
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/jake7140" TARGET=_blank>My racing page
</A><A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/elrss" TARGET=_blank>Elkhart Lake Racing_&_Sipping Society
</A>

I'm still running. But there has never been a huge group where I run (Nelson,BeaveRun,MidOhio) I think the most I've ever run against was 6 or 7.
I just don't understand it. My car is set up like a go cart, rattles your teeth out, you get a good work out trying to steer the thing where you want it to go, and the you hope the rear end stays behind you. What are all these 'racers' doing in cars with power steering and independent rear suspension. I've driven a few (miata, 89 240sx, 87 318i) and it feels like your out for a Sunday drive. Which is I guess what I'm doing in my car. Things that make you go Hm.....

Anyhow, I'm not planning on giving up on the 7 any time soon, got too many damn spare parts.

Hoping to make it to Mid-Ohio Jully 31st

BTW

My car driven by my dad in his second race weekend since completing Drivers School this spring, I think he's around 70 (yeh I know I'm a great son for knowing his age and all), scored 2 first places at the CenDiv dbl Regional @ Nelson Ledges

WooHoo!

***got too many damn spare parts.***

Scott, please check the spare parts bin for a good chassis. Need one bad to get another IT7 back on track. Toasted mine two weeks ago.

Have Fun http://ITForum.ImprovedTouring.com/wink.gif
David

EDIT: Please congratulate you Father on his licence. Man is never to old to play. I am not quite his youthful age (-7 years) but maybe he & I could start a seniors IT7 tour.

[This message has been edited by ddewhurst (edited July 21, 2005).]

Dave,
I will.

An I do have a chassis, that has been in my garage for 4 years, and the guy I bought it off of had it in storage for a couple before that. However, I'm going to hold onto it for the um inevitable?

Don't think I'll make it to Mid Ohio on the 30th, since I'm still in CA and probably will be thru most if not all of next week http://ITForum.ImprovedTouring.com/frown.gif