Racing my datsun 210 in ITC

[raceweasel]

I am wanting to eventually race in a scca race and am wondering what class to aim for with my 1980 datsun 210 for next year. My plan is to leave the engine mainly stock and gut the car, put in roll cage, fully upgrade the suspension/brakes and run dot tires. I was thinking the class I would run in would be ITC. In ITC there are a lot of datsun 510 guys that race in that class. My car's engine (A14 1400cc pushrod motor) maybe a little bit less in hp than a 510's L16. Though could i compensate by taking more weight off to compete? Is that legal? Also what other cars race in ITC so i have an idea of what i am going up against. I also think this class would be perfect for my situation as i do not have tons of money to invest in a fully built engine yet. This class seems to be a momentum class which is also something i like. Anyways are there other ITC guys in here that race datsuns and know about the 210's and could give me their opinion on the car i have and being in an ITC class? What do you people think?

[JeffYoung]

Welcome!

First step is to get a copy of the SCCA's General Competition Regulations, or GCR. The "ITCS" section lists out the cars in each class (ITR, ITS, ITA, ITB, and ITC). You'll need to see if the 210 is listed (you can find the GCR online at www.scca.com).

If listed, the car will have a spec'ed weight you will need to meet with driver and fuel. It also has very specific rules for what you can do the car, and if something is not listed, you can't do it. That's a very key component of your ruleset.

Don't start taking the car apart until you have read the rules several times through! It will guide you in your build and at the same time give you ideas for things you CAN do to the car.

Good luck, and e-mail me at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Jeff

[joeg]

210(s) are legal for ITC

Weight is 2080. Seems that that may be a bit on the heavy side.

Cheers

[RacerBill]

I am wanting to eventually race in a scca race and am wondering what class to aim for with my 1980 datsun 210 for next year. My plan is to leave the engine mainly stock and gut the car, put in roll cage, fully upgrade the suspension/brakes and run dot tires. I was thinking the class I would run in would be ITC. In ITC there are a lot of datsun 510 guys that race in that class. My car's engine (A14 1400cc pushrod motor) maybe a little bit less in hp than a 510's L16. Though could i compensate by taking more weight off to compete? Is that legal? Also what other cars race in ITC so i have an idea of what i am going up against. I also think this class would be perfect for my situation as i do not have tons of money to invest in a fully built engine yet. This class seems to be a momentum class which is also something i like. Anyways are there other ITC guys in here that race datsuns and know about the 210's and could give me their opinion on the car i have and being in an ITC class? What do you people think?

Welcome to the insanity! FYI, most posters include their names and location in their profile and signature (minor point).

B210, that is a nice looking car. Best of luck! ITC is a real active class in the Great Lakes Division.

With that said, in the next few days, you will be bombarded with advice to buy your first race car already prepared, instead of building. If at all possible, heed their advice. I built instead of buy and it took much longer than planned and after four years, I am still making improvements.

The best $15 you'll spend will be to buy Dave Gran's book 'Go Ahead and Take The Wheel'. Then arrange to go to some races as crew. I never appreciated this advice until I visited Road Atlanta and Road America for the first time this year. Now, when I go there to race, I will know my way around and can concentrate on racing, and not figuring things out. Do track tours in your street car if you have the oportunity - gives you a chance to see the track out of a windshield without the pressure of being in a race car.

Set realistic goals, and build up gradually. And have a good attitude. Racing is great fun, but there will be setbacks, and trials. Attitude will get you through them, and you will have a great time.

Good luck.

[Knestis]

What Bill said, with the exception that I'd recommend staying far, FAR away from "build up gradually."

If you are in a position where you can only afford to put a small amount of $$ into the car at a time, open a savings account and put the money there instead. THEN, when you've got the $$ together, buy an already-built car. I guarantee you will be on the track sooner, and if something happens that derails your plan, you'll still have the dough rather than a garage full of parts worth pennies to the dollars that you spent buying them.

I've got about $400 worth of parts on my race car that I bought from people liquidating parts - meaning that I spent a lot less than half that value to take the bits off those guys' hands.

K

[lateapex911]

What Bill said, with the exception that I'd recommend staying far, FAR away from "build up gradually."

If you are in a position where you can only afford to put a small amount of $$ into the car at a time, open a savings account and put the money there instead. THEN, when you've got the $$ together, buy an already-built car. I guarantee you will be on the track YEARS sooner, for THOUSANDS less, and if something happens that derails your plan, you'll still have the dough rather than a garage full of parts worth pennies to the dollars that you spent buying them.

K

Kirk speaks the truth.

A couple more points: The car in your driveway that is "Free" SEEMS like it would be the biggest nut financially, but that is far far from the reality. And, the car that is listed in ITC might or might not be a competitive car. Even though you'll say, "That's OK, I just want to get on the track and have fun at first", that car will be worth half of what a competitive car will be when you inevitably wish you were in a car that could win. Yet, you've poured twice the cost of a competitive car into it. .25 cents on the dollar...if you're lucky.

OK, had to say that! Build away if you like, and have fun!

[RacerBill]

Kirk, Jake and Jeff are all very knowledgeable. Heed their advice! I probably should have been more specific when I said 'build up gradually'. I was not referring to the car, but to your goals racing. As a wise sage once said 'In order to finish first, first you have to finish!' He also said 'It's easy to make a small fortune racing, all you need to do is start with a large one!'

Have fun!

[tom_sprecher]

You could do like I did and buy a used race car, total it after 7 hours on the track, then build another one with the remains. You get to experience both ways.