ITS / ITA Honda/ Acura

[IPRESS]

As usual I am entering into an area I know little about...... but that is what you guys are for. I have been giving some thought to buying a SSC or SSB car for a trip through the dreaded national race scene next year. RAmerica is one of my favorites, and going to the ROs once would probably be plenty for this "sandyroots" racer (grassroots is higher up the chain!) With that in mind I have been sniffing around different BBs and come across several different cars. The best deals seem to be on B or C cars that are close to the end of SS eligibility. ( Yeah I want to be able to decently compete in SS, but I am not exactly looking to climb any ladders as I have "high anxiety"!) One of my questions is, "would there be any IT value in these cars after their SS days?" One is a 2000 Civic Si. The other is a 02 RSX s. (There are others, but $wise these look in the ballpark.)
Being that I doubt I would run more then one SS season, my next question is, "converted to IT would they be competitive" (if done right?)
Thanks for any feedback.

[Xian]

I don't see the Civic Si being too competitive in ITS at 2430... just not enough oontz to run with the Integra's (or anything else really). I don't think the regular RSX is classed... the RSX-S in ITR looks like a potential contender. With the VIN Swap Rule going into effect, you could always turn your "base" RSX into an "S" and run ITR at 2665. The big downside of the early RSX's is their fairly craptacular suspension design. Not sure how much luck you'd have working around that within the IT ruleset.

Christian

[type r rocket]

Mac,
Keep me up to date on what your thinking of next year.My Miata is for sale and if it sells I will run the Type R in a few enduros and rent or steal rides the rest of the time in 2009.
2010 I hope to be set up back in nationals in a T3 car or something close to.I thought about top shelf SSB car but there not really any faster then a good SM,after running the Type R the SM is a cream puff.Also I really don't want to have to explain to everyone that I race a Pontiac Solstice if I went with SSB.

[R2 Racing]

Isn't the RSX classed in SSB the "S" version, or "the RSX-S"? I always thought that's what it was. Got to be. They always seem to have some of the highest trap speeds of any SSB car every year at the Runoffs. They can and have run up front, but it seems like being able to drive it and keep the tires under it is the most difficult thing.

Then for ITR, I think the RSX-S could be a decent car for the class, but again, keep tires on it and deal with the rather crappy (for a Honda) suspension design. But, those cars were run for a pretty long time in Grand Am Cup and World Challenge competition with good success. So if those guys can do it, so can you. Here's a hint: 2500lb rear springs.

[IPRESS]

Mac,
Keep me up to date on what your thinking of next year.My Miata is for sale and if it sells I will run the Type R in a few enduros and rent or steal rides the rest of the time in 2009.
2010 I hope to be set up back in nationals in a T3 car or something close to.I thought about top shelf SSB car but there not really any faster then a good SM,after running the Type R the SM is a cream puff.Also I really don't want to have to explain to everyone that I race a Pontiac Solstice if I went with SSB.

My intial plans for 09 included opening a franchise of the "Gay Shoe Warehouse" somewhere in Texas...probably Austin..... but with the chance that you and Sidewalk would not be available for the Grand Opening I just canned the whole scheme and moved on to this "national racing" idea. I got pretty spoiled running with the SAFERACER guys last year. Made me even consider going back to SM.
Unless I can find a body shop willing to do free work (and probably lots of it) SM is out. I have enough trouble staying clear of IT cars. I figured spending the year trying to catch ol John in "C" might be fun. Not really interested in spending the $$ it would probably take to do real well. The older C / B cars meet the price range but run out of time in SS pretty quick. Maybe instead of IT they would be better converting to Honda Challenge. I raced a SSC Protege one time and after I got use to throwing it in the turns, it was OK. I probably should do like you are talking about and run the enduros, but then I would miss all the MidDiv paddock hijinx!

[type r rocket]

I still will do a few Midiv races next year,just a few less.2-3 Midiv races and 2 enduros should be enough to get me by.I want to kick back and see what class looks good to jump back into for 2010.I loved Spec Miata and will miss the close racing but I need something to get the blood going again and I hope its from a different class,so just the change will do the trick.And I'll still have the friends from SM and the "Warehouse"


D

[quadzjr]

Our 99' si that we built for ITS with Dave behind the wheel when we got it running right was a consisten thrid place car. It could not compete with the BMW or speed source RX7s but it was a fast car. We only had a few races on it and still had ALOT of developmebnt to do but unfortunately we got punted in turn 9 at roebling causing the car to do multiple flips. Now we are building a similiar chassis (99' EX) for ITA.