Would an Alfa GTV V6 be hopeless in ITS?

[Spinnetti]

Me and a bud just bought one to play with, and wondered if it would be worth bothering with in IT (If not, we'll just use if for track days and probably the 24hrs of Lemons).

[dickita15]

and probably the 24hrs of Lemons).

[JeffYoung]

I think it has a shot if you have truckloads of money. A few have raced in ITS, and there is one in the back of Sportscar (I think, maybe GRM0 if the last few months that claims 220 hp (not sure if wheel or crank).

The Mitchells here in the SEDiv raced one in ITS for a while and then moved it to Prod because it wasn't competitive against the uber-BMWs, but then again not much was. They also have bought an Alfa Milano Verde (with the 3.0, not the 2.5 that is in the GTV6) that actually won a SARRC race at Charlotte a few years back.

I'd see if I could get a hold of them. Also talk to Apex Vintage in Raleigh, NC, as they did some prep work on track day Milanos and just know Alfas pretty well. The guys in the shop are still knowledgeable, but check with Pete Krause (now a driver coach, google him) as well.

Good luck. Cool car. Takes balls (and money) to run in ITS though.

[Daryl]

Not sure where you are posting from....

If in California/Arizona area the AROSC has a decent program with TT and Race groups. All Alfa models are assigned a base point value and then are given additional points for various mods. Your cars' points total determines class.

Santos garage is active with AROSC as well as VARA, VARA even has a Porsche-Alfa-Datsun challenge race.

[TroyM857]

I own one (well actually it's for sale). It's a fun track day car, but I can't see it being competitive in ITS. Replacement body panels are very hard to find also. Before you do anything with it, make sure you replace the timing belt and tensioner unless you have documentation that it's been done recently. It's the Alfa V6's achille's heel.

[Spinnetti]

Thanks for the feedback guys....

I'm not afraid of running in ITS after more than a decade in IT/A, and will probably build a 325 for that at some point anyway (fully prepped). If the Alfa would fit, I thought I'd try it, but looks like we'll put in a new timing belt, gut it good and just make it a trackday fun car... Hopefully if we lemons it we can keep it straight. I've run two lemons already and was competitive (without hitting anybody), so not too worried about hurting it.

[d15b7]

hi!

there are typically two Alfas that run with EMRA here in the northeast; one is a GTV6, and the other is a Milano 3.0. i've got to say, they sound incredible at full song!!!!! i personally really like the look of the GTV6; its RWD, and has a 2.5 V6, overhead cams and 5 speed tranny; i'd think with some $ and development it could do well.... the downside would be finding parts at a reasonable price....

good luck!
todd

[GKR_17]

The Milano Verde looks good, but I doubt any of the other Alfa's stand a chance. None have been run through the new process as is obvious since the Milano 2.5 and Verde are the same weight.

[Z3_GoCar]

Me and a bud just bought one to play with, and wondered if it would be worth bothering with in IT (If not, we'll just use if for track days and probably the 24hrs of Lemons).

Please take this advice in the spirit it's given,

Only thing worse than a Brit-bucket-o-bolts is a fix-it-again-tony-special. Next thing, you'll be asking to have Magnum's Ferrari 308 classed in ITR

I seem to remember a Bimmer article where the author tried to justify buying one of these off of e-bay, only to realize what a torn up piece it was after the purchase (sounds like a good way to find spare parts actually).

A little more seriously, I wish you luck because it'll be unique what ever you do

[Spinnetti]

Please take this advice in the spirit it's given,

Only thing worse than a Brit-bucket-o-bolts is a fix-it-again-tony-special. Next thing, you'll be asking to have Magnum's Ferrari 308 classed in ITR

I seem to remember a Bimmer article where the author tried to justify buying one of these off of e-bay, only to realize what a torn up piece it was after the purchase (sounds like a good way to find spare parts actually).

A little more seriously, I wish you luck because it'll be unique what ever you do

LOL... no worries... a friend talked me into it. I race a Toyota, and have replaced about 4 parts since 1992, so I know an Alfa will generally be a nightmare... thats why I wondered.... For the money we'll have in it, it will still be a fun track day car. I don't like putting hours on my good race parts just for track days, so this should fit the bill

[lateapex911]

it will fill the bill if you don't like putting hours on your track day car as well!

[Prowlerflyer88]

While I agree with the comments of running an ITS Alfa being more expensive than some cars, I don't necessarily agree with the unreliability and non-competitive statements. I was active in Playboy/Escort/Firehawk for quite a number of years and there were several oddball (Alfa included) cars that were quite quick and competitive, but lacked commercial/manufacture support.
Alfa motors can have quite a bit of power drawn out, but like most low volume specialty cars it's not cheap. Arguably, in the US the Milano Verde has the better competition record, but this is largely due to Alfa advertising money timing and the 3.0L motor. Suspension wise there nearly identical, with minor upgrades in the Milano. The cars have very dynamic suspensions and can be tuned for a lot of grip (not to mention large wheel wells). The only real weakness with the GTV6/Milano is marginal rear brakes (if cooled well, work fine), heat from the inboard calipers can melt the half shaft seals on the transaxle and vague shift linkage. Even the older 4 cylinder can be competitive in ITB if properly prepped (due to gracious weight break in rules).

[Spinnetti]

While I agree with the comments of running an ITS Alfa being more expensive than some cars, I don't necessarily agree with the unreliability and non-competitive statements. I was active in Playboy/Escort/Firehawk for quite a number of years and there were several oddball (Alfa included) cars that were quite quick and competitive, but lacked commercial/manufacture support.
Alfa motors can have quite a bit of power drawn out, but like most low volume specialty cars it's not cheap. Arguably, in the US the Milano Verde has the better competition record, but this is largely due to Alfa advertising money timing and the 3.0L motor. Suspension wise there nearly identical, with minor upgrades in the Milano. The cars have very dynamic suspensions and can be tuned for a lot of grip (not to mention large wheel wells). The only real weakness with the GTV6/Milano is marginal rear brakes (if cooled well, work fine), heat from the inboard calipers can melt the half shaft seals on the transaxle and vague shift linkage. Even the older 4 cylinder can be competitive in ITB if properly prepped (due to gracious weight break in rules).

Thanks for the info. I guess we will find out over the next couple years. My buddy wants to go whole hog with it, so this year we will do the basics (safety stuff, brakes and basic maintenance), then really go through the suspension the next year, and maybe a pro motor build the next year. By then he ought to be ready to use all that performance

[Mike Mackaman]

A few years ago there was one in the south east that I thought had reliability issues due to its' fast one day and slow the next nature. Found out it was codriven by a normal guy and a fast pro driver from Charlotte who used to raced in the trans am series. Driving me crazy because I can't remember his name. With him in the car it was a rocket ship.

Mike

[JeffYoung]

Silver Milano? That was Tim somebody, can't remember his last name. The car that won the race at Charlotte one year?

Mitchells own that car now.

[racingralph]

jeff , that would be bulter , tim bulter . john baucom was the driver at that race in charlotte. tim drove the car very well , not sure if he won a race in the car. that was john ( won 3 diff classes at one runoff ) baucom. i think the car can be a good car for its . it was hard on brakes with tim . ralph

[racingralph]

and yes ,john is a transam racer.