*Improved Touring* 2002 Civic Si ?

[20CiviC02Si]

Thanks guys for all the help. However i went out to Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, MI for a 2 day track event. I think i am going to wait on going wheel to wheel. I really would like to, however i am only 22 and the budget just isn't there yet. I still may have a cage installed next year by king because they are just down the road from me. Just in case i decide to go for it! I think i'll just focus on doing a couple PDX Time Trials and a couple big Time Attack events for next year.

I really do appreicate all the help, and maybe i'll see you guys around at some of the regional or national events here in the Midwest. I'm not sure if i'll be going to The Run Offs but i am going to try my best to get off. Otherwise i'll be trying to get off Aug 8-10 for ALMS, World Challenge, MX5 Cup races at Road America!

If you think you'll be at these events feel free to drop me a line here!

Thanks Again! I'll be seeing you all around.

[20CiviC02Si]

Well i may bring this idea back to the drawing board. I have realized that my EP3 has over 100k miles on the chassis and i have another DD that i can drive. So building the EP3 could become reality if i simply put my mind to it.

I understand that i should not concern myself with making it fast, and just safe and reliable. Now my question is this: "What is the minimum i would have to do to make my car qualify for ITA?"

I am currently waiting on the 09 GCR to come out for complete guidelines, and to ensure no changes have been made since.

[Xian]

Bare minimum would be:

Cage with door bars
Roll Cage padding
Seat with Harness
Kill Switch wiring
Steering lock removed
Glass Moonroof replaced/skinned
Airbags disabled
ABS disabled
Tow hooks front and rear
Decals
Transponder

I'm sure I'm missing some little stuff but that's all I can think of right off the cuff. For the price of the stuff above, you could buy a "ready to race" used car and sell your 02 Civic... net cost to you would be very little. This would leave $$ for the actual racing budget.

Christian

[KMartin]

Why would you disable the ABS??

[Greg Amy]

Why would you disable the ABS??

Because it's required by the Improved Touring regulations...?

[KMartin]

Damn....Missed that line. Add that to the list. Thanks!

What is the thinking behind that?

[Greg Amy]

What is the thinking behind that?

When IT was developed in the early 80's, ABS was non-existent. As new cars have been added in over the years, ABS was disallowed because it adds in a "performance advantage" that is not accounted for in the classification process.

Some day that may change - or maybe we'll do an "adder" if you've got ABS installed and working - but for now, out it goes... - GA

[jay05]

Bare minimum would be:

Cage with door bars
Roll Cage padding
Seat with Harness
Kill Switch wiring
Steering lock removed
Glass Moonroof replaced/skinned
Airbags disabled
ABS disabled
Tow hooks front and rear
Decals
Transponder

I'm sure I'm missing some little stuff but that's all I can think of right off the cuff. For the price of the stuff above, you could buy a "ready to race" used car and sell your 02 Civic... net cost to you would be very little. This would leave $$ for the actual racing budget.

Christian

What he said. Then you can concentrate on driver development, not car development.

[R2 Racing]

Evan Darling's selling a 100% ready to race ITA CRX, with current logbook, for $3000. I'm just saying.


It boggles my mind when n00bs want to build what's sitting in their driveway. Do you have an extra $20K laying around to put into a car that won't be faster than that $5K pre-built car you passed up and could've been racing two years ago? If so, go for it. Most of the guys you see building their own cars have probably already gone through one or two pre-bought one's before, can recite the GCR from memory, have all the tools and connections necessary to build one, know how to get the best "band for the buck" as they buy parts for their car, and are just anal retentive enough to know exactly the way they personally like everything in an IT car, and then demand to have it that way.

[20CiviC02Si]

Evan Darling's selling a 100% ready to race ITA CRX, with current logbook, for $3000. I'm just saying.


It boggles my mind when n00bs want to build what's sitting in their driveway. Do you have an extra $20K laying around to put into a car that won't be faster than that $5K pre-built car you passed up and could've been racing two years ago? If so, go for it. Most of the guys you see building their own cars have probably already gone through one or two pre-bought one's before, can recite the GCR from memory, have all the tools and connections necessary to build one, know how to get the best "band for the buck" as they buy parts for their car, and are just anal retentive enough to know exactly the way they personally like everything in an IT car, and then demand to have it that way.

You have a good point. Right now i have a couple prebuilt cars that i have my eye set on. However i am thinking of all the possibilities that surround me. It wouldn't really cost all that much to get my car where it needs to be. Probably right around $7000 to get it there.

I would just love to race this car because i know the car so well.

[Xian]

I just can't seem to part with my 2002. So this is why i am considering turning it into a race car.

Let me take a moment to tell you: You're Doing it WRONG.

You have a good point. Right now i have a couple prebuilt cars that i have my eye set on. However i am thinking of all the possibilities that surround me. It wouldn't really cost all that much to get my car where it needs to be. Probably right around $7000 to get it there.

I would just love to race this car because i know the car so well.

Ok... so your current car is worth what? Maybe $6,000-7,500? Say you can "only" sell it for $5,000. Take your $5k and buy a ready to race car for $3k and have $2k for driver gear and then go race on your "budget" of $7k to develop the old car.

Obviously you can do whatever you want to do but developing/building a car just b/c you can't part with it isn't the brightest thing (then again, neither is racing).

Christian

[Greg Amy]

It boggles my mind when n00bs want to build what's sitting in their driveway.

+1.

Buy, don't build.

I just can't seem to part with my 2002. So this is why i am considering turning it into a race car.

Let me rephrase: "I have a car that I really love. So, since I love it so much, I'm going to hack into it, removing most parts and cutting into others to install safety equipment. THEN I'm going to put it on the same track as Kevin Ruck and Joe DiMinno - maybe, probably, BETWEEN Kevin Ruck and Joe DiMinno - so that they can beat the shit out of each and every body panel for me. Oh, but they'll say 'I'm sorry'. Maybe."

It wouldn't really cost all that much to get my car where it needs to be. Probably right around $7000 to get it there.

May I rephrase, again?

"I'm going to take a nice car worth roughly $10,000, add in $7,000 worth of modifications, and instantly make it worth - maybe - $4000-5000 in resale value as a race car. But only if I can find that special someone else that loves it as much as I do."

I would just love to race this car because i know the car so well.

Which means, in all truthiness, you are completely unenlightened as to other possibilities there are out there.

For reference, a Honda CRX Si won (on the track) the last two years of National ITA Championships. You know, the same make/model car that you can buy right now for $3000...?

Hey, just sayin'....

Buy, don't build.

[20CiviC02Si]

Bare minimum would be:

Cage with door bars
Roll Cage padding
Seat with Harness
Kill Switch wiring
Steering lock removed
Glass Moonroof replaced/skinned
Airbags disabled
ABS disabled
Tow hooks front and rear
Decals
Transponder

I'm sure I'm missing some little stuff but that's all I can think of right off the cuff. For the price of the stuff above, you could buy a "ready to race" used car and sell your 02 Civic... net cost to you would be very little. This would leave $$ for the actual racing budget.

Christian

I just can't seem to part with my 2002. So this is why i am considering turning it into a race car.

[RacerBill]

Bare minimum would be:

Cage with door bars
Roll Cage padding
Seat with Harness
Kill Switch wiring
Steering lock removed
Glass Moonroof replaced/skinned
Airbags disabled
ABS disabled
Tow hooks front and rear
Decals
Transponder

I'm sure I'm missing some little stuff but that's all I can think of right off the cuff. For the price of the stuff above, you could buy a "ready to race" used car and sell your 02 Civic... net cost to you would be very little. This would leave $$ for the actual racing budget.

Christian

I didn't see anyone else mention it, but how about a fire bottle or fire system?

I have not seen any posts that I would disagree with. I chose to build my first car, but only because it was the only option I had. On the other hand, it has been a great experience and satisfaction.

Have fun with whatever you decide to do!