The "Potential ITC Cars That Aren't Classed" Thread

[Catch22]

Since some folks believe that there's a bunch of potential 1.5 to 1.8 liter cars out there that could be seen in ITC, lets put together a list.

If we come up with some good ones I'll write the letter(s) requesting classification.

I know there was a Nissan Sentra 4 speed that was very similar to the Civic Standard back around 1990 or so. My brother used to have one and actually chose it over the Civic. With the SeR as a ptential parts donor(?), this could be a cheap and effective ITC car.
Problem is that I haven't been able to fish up any information on it. I think it was called the Sentra S (seems there was an "S" on my brothers trunk lid).
I'll keep looking, but if anyone has any info please share.

Any other potential chassis???

[Catch22]

I actually found *most* of the info on this car (at MSN of all places). Looks like a good ITC car and from what I can tell it isn't classed anywhere.

89-90 Nissan Sentra Standard
1.6 Liter
90hp/96tq
4 Speed (cant find ratios)
2156lbs
9.4 Compression
Front disc/ Rear Drum (cant find sizes)

The hp and tq look very good for an ITC car but the 4 speed tranny will slow it down (assumption since I havent seen the ratios, but 4 speeds in base model cars like this are typically B-A-D). A spec weight of 2250 to 2300 puts it right in the ITC p/w ratio range the board appears to be working with.

I'd consider building one as it looks good on paper to me. Which in my mind makes it a good candidate for classification request. Of course, there might not be any aftermarket support at all for this car...

Thoughts?

[Catch22]

Here's another one. Although this is one of those things that falls into the "Its an OK ITB car but if you threw some lead in it it'd be a good ITC car" category.

90-93 Mazda Protege DX
1.8
103hp/111tq
5 speed (ratios-?)
2388lbs
8.9 compression
Brakes - ?

At 2375 its a decent looking B car. At 2575 it looks kind of like the New Beetle in ITC. At any rate it probably needs to be classed *somewhere.*

Honestly I can't believe this car isn't classed. There's thousands of them out there dirt cheap and that 1.8 mazda motor is a really nice powerplant.

[Knestis]

Neglected Asian shitbox C candidates...

Suzuki Esteem
Hyundai Accent
Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Toyota Corolla

Not much aftermarket performance part support but they are cheap, cheap, cheap.

K

[Jake]

What about all the cars that are in ITB that really should be in ITC. Cars that at least someone in the past has built, but are not run because they should be in ITC?

[Mark LaBarre]

I'd like to run the wifes RSX-S in ITC....

[Knestis]

By the time it's eligible, it'll probably be listed in A.

K

[Jake]

I got a silly one - why limit ITC cars to 5yr old models? There is no place in Showroom Stock to run these low powered models. I think the Scion xA and XB would make great ITC cars.

[Greg Krom]

The VW Fox from the early 90's would probably be a decent ITC candidate. It had a detuned 1.8, 4 speed with really crappy gearing, 13" wheels and as I recall it was rather heavy.

I owned one of these fine machines (major sarcasm) and it was defintely slower than my previous Rabbit GTI and my brothers 1.7 Rabbit. It also didn't have the nice handling of the rest of the VW's of the day.

[Catch22]

Good ideas guys.

What I intend to do is compile a list of candidates and pick the best 3 or 4. I'll write letters requesting classification for those cars.

The point of this being that people are alot more likely to build a car thats already classified, so how many folks are just skipping over the Sentras and VW Foxes because they can't find them in the rulebook.
I haven't figured out the average age of the currently classified ITC cars, but I'd guess that its easily 15 to 20 years old. Thats not healthy for the class.

I've got some mid-90s gas mileage focused Honda Civic coupes (the CX hatch is already classed) on my list as well. On the surface they look like a good ITC fit.

[Jake]

Here's a few more from the 90's:
Dodge Colt
Mazda Protege (1.5L)
Mazda 323
Mitsubishi Mirage
Hyundai Excel
Hyundai Accent
Toyota Tercel
Toyota Paseo

[p.keane]

Jake, I think the Paseo would be a killer, I believe it had 100 hp stock.

[planet6racing]

How about the old beetle?

------------------
Bill
Planet 6 Racing
bill (at) planet6racing (dot) com

[bhudson]

Old Beetle has been classified in the past, not sure if it still is. Saw one at Kershaw and VIR a few years back.

Even though it appeared nicely built, it was - not surprisingly - really slow.

[gsbaker]

Let's go the other way with this.

Assuming we are talking about 20+ pounds per HP, how about my two ton wagon (with dogs), or my neighbor's 23' long, armor-plated SUV--three tons, easy. Token motors in both.

Yeah, let's hear it for the high mass crowd (vehicles, that is)! Anyone out there with a '65 Buick Roadmaster?

Gregg

[Quickshoe]

Originally posted by Catch22:
I've got some mid-90s gas mileage focused Honda Civic coupes (the CX hatch is already classed) on my list as well. On the surface they look like a good ITC fit.

Catch22,

How about a 96-00 Civic HX coupe (the high mileage 1.6 SOHC)? 4th and 5th are taller than 1:1.

I have a FSM for the car, was originally going to attempt to get it classed, got sidetracked with another project. Really close to going FP with a MR2.

What do you think?

[Geo]

Originally posted by Catch22:
...so how many folks are just skipping over the Sentras and VW Foxes because they can't find them in the rulebook.

Well, the B12 Sentra you're talking about is already classified in ITB. Only the 89 is listed, but that's easy enough to correct if someone wants to build one.


------------------
George Roffe
Houston, TX
84 944 ITS car under construction
92 ITS Sentra SE-R occasionally borrowed
http://www.nissport.com

[Catch22]

Been doing some digging and I've come up with what appears to be some good ITC candidates. Granted, I'm missing gear ratio and brake information and have no idea what the aftermarket support looks like, but these are cheap, mass produced cars built after 1990 that could easily be spec'd to have around a 25 p/w ratio (what the board appears to have as a goal for ITC, which is very reasonable).

89-90 Nissan Sentra Standard
1.6 L
90hp/96tq
4 speed
2156lbs
9.4 Comp ratio

90-94 Mazda 323 Hatchback
1.8 L
82hp/92tq
5spd
2238lbs
9.3 comp

90-93 Mazda Protege DX
1.8 L
103hp/111tq
5 speed
2388lbs (would need significantly more weight (2575?) for ITC, but the LX is classed in ITA at over 2500lbs)
8.9 comp

91-94 Toyota Tercel Coupe
1.5 liter
82hp/90tq
4 speed
1975lbs (would need some lead)
9.3 comp

88-93 VW Fox 2 door
1.8 L
81hp/93tq
4 speed
2172lbs
9.0 comp

91-96 Ford Escort Base Model
1.9 L
88hp/108tq
5 spd
2323lbs
9.0 comp

As far as the Civic HX is concerned I think that its likely an ITB car. Its got mileage gearing, but its also pretty light and has a 100+ HP VTEC 16v motor if I remember right.

I'm on the fence with the Protege DX. It appears to be a car that can fit in either ITB or ITC depending upon the final weight tally. My first thought was ITB, then I saw the LX classed in ITA at 2511lbs. Is this a gross error on a 125hp car (maybe why nobody is racing this otherwise great car) or will it take that much cage because its a 4 door? I dunno.

I do realize that all of the cars I've listed above have more power, more torque, and likely better brakes than just about every current car in ITC. I also realize that the average age of the cars classed in ITC is 15 years or older with very few cars built in the 90s. The class will simply not survive long term like this.
So lets take some of the cars I've listed above, put the right amount of weight on them, and throw them in ITC. Hopefully somebody would build them. If the aftermarket support is there, they all look like potentially good, cheap, competitive cars. And isn't that what ITC is all about???

[Jake]

Sorry, I meant the later model Protege 1.5's. There are a lot of these out there in the used car market and they can be had VERY cheaply (because everybody prefers the 1.8L):

94-98 Mazda Protege DX/LX
1.5 L 12V SOHC
92hp/ 97tq
5 speed
Curb weight:
DX Manual – 2385lbs
LX Manual – 2445lbs
10:1 comp

[Jake]

And here's another:

93-98 Mitsubishi Mirage 1.5L
1.5 L 12V SOHC
92hp/ 97tq
5 speed
Curb weight:
2100-2300 depending on model
10:1 comp