Originally Posted by
Gary L
As a relatively new Volvo driver, and a really new ITAC member...
For starters, if we were to seriously consider a base power/weight ratio shift in ITB, my vote would be a resounding "no". We have enough issues without completely reinventing the ITB wheel. Further, as I have stated on these pages multiple times, I don't see the 140 series Volvo as being that far out of whack anyway. Yes, there are other Volvo drivers that have called me out on this, and in no uncertain terms. That's too bad... the car is in my opinion, pretty damned close to where it should be (weight wise) in ITB. And it sure as Hell does NOT belong in ITC. I'm carrying ballast now, in the form of extra fuel and a spare tire, not to mention there is still a fair amount of undercoating left on the car, it has a stock radiator, etc. Why would I want to move to (a less-subscribed) ITC, while screwing the car up by adding another 10 or 12% to the as-raced weight? Illogical, Captain. :)
The 240 series is another story altogether, and the ITAC is working that problem as we speak. Yes - at least some of the 240's clearly belong in "C", IMHO. Maybe the whole damned bunch of them... they have (in some cases, significantly) less horsepower potential than the 140 and they all have significantly heavier curb weights. Unlike my car, many of the 240's (particularly with the 2.1 engine) will absolutely never make ITB weight legally; we're talking about missing the target by hundreds of pounds here, not dozens.