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I'd say then *maybe* it needs to be 100 in ITA.
Note that I said "maybe" because I don't know for sure yet, and neither do you.
Or *maybe* just a few cars will struggle with the weight and others won't, so some cars might need a little help.[/b]
Then we will agree to disagree - for now. Your 'estimation' on weight is totally subjectve and based 100% on the longevity of parts - not sprint performance.
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Sure, ITA is very healthy right now. Better than it has been in years.
But that doesn't mean its "right."
Maybe (note the "maybe" again) it could be more healthy???[/b]
We have made a one-time 'correction' to get everyone on the same page. Nit-picky fiddling is not in the future. IT has undergone some MAJOR changes over the past 18 months and the goal is stability - but we had to get to a consistant and repeatable spot first.
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Honestly answer this...
What if:
The CRX weight didn't change from 05.
The Integra weight didn't change from 05.
The 1.6 Miata weight didn't change from 05.
AND...
The Neon came to ITA from ITS
The Civic EX came to ITA from ITS
The Sentra and NX came to ITA from ITS
The later Integra came to ITA from ITS
The 1.8 Miata came to ITA from ITS
The 12A RX7 lost a bunch of weight
Would the CRX and Integra STILL be considered "overdogs" even at their old weight?
Would the class be just as healthy as it is now?
My answers are no and yes.
What are yours?[/b]
My answer is that the 3 cars you mention would be the only 3 cars that hadn't been through the process in ITA - and that is a bad thing. Facilitating that thought is that they would be out winning races without ANY justification to their minimum weights. If you were driving a car that was 'overweight', would you be making the same argument?
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Here's what I've seen since last year at this time...
Integra... Fast, harder on parts in 06 but still finishing races.
1.8 Miata... Very fast
1.6 Miata... Added weight had little effect
NX... Very fast
Civic EX... Very fast
12a RX7... Much faster, winning ITA races with the right driver
CRX... Struggling with reliability and DNFs in 06. Still fast, but can't sustain it. Quickly becoming the option at the bottom of this list of cars.[/b]
I am going to call a 1/2 BS on this one. We are talking sprints here. Typical club racing. You are basing your statement on enduros. If you told me that the CRX couldn't stay together for a 30 minute sprint, then I think we would need to look at it. (and when I say that, I don't know what I would recommend as I wouldn't have a car at an artifically low weight just to make it relaible but also unfairly quick...).
Bottom line is that the car is just as fast as it used to be. Now it just fits the process.
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That last one is a red flag to me. And if one is concerned with the health of ITA attention should be paid to that. My observation and experience tells me that a 2150 (or 2175 or 2200)lb CRX is no more of a threat to a 1.8 Miata, Integra, or NX than a 2250lb CRX. Its just that the lighter CRX has a better chance of still chasing those cars at the end instead of being 3-4 seconds off the pace or parked with a busted hub.[/b]
And I hear you but your opinion is 100% subjective. The system has to work for everyone, not just one car.
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Again, and I can't stress this enough, I don't own a CRX.
If I built an ITA car today it wouldn't be a CRX, not even at 2140lbs instead of 2250.
My concern is strictly that, a concern.
[/b]
But you are racing one. The goal is to have lots of options - and we have that in ITA now - and the CRX is most certainly one of them.