ECR and V8 cars

[Cobrar05]

This is a subject that I've been on for a couple of years now and I would like to bring it up again.

I race a Mustang. I enjoy enduros more than sprint races and would compete in ECR, if I were allowed. I'm not.

The rules do allow that non-ECR classed cars may enter ECR events on a region by region bases. That does allow me to race enduros where the fields are the largest. VIR and Road Atlanta. NC region and Atlanta region approve it. The rest of SEDiv does not or has not.

I'd simply say this. Where the fields are the largest and the speeds the greatest my former Grand Am GS Mustangs and others of similar class have never had an issue with the rest of the field. Where the fields are the smallest and the speed differential not as great, we are not permitted to compete.

That seems backwards to me. We are allowed to race where car counts are strong and not allowed to race where they are not so strong.

I would like to ask for support from this IT forum to allow ITO cars into the ECR next season on a provisional basis. With the economy and car counts down, this is a good time to try it.

Thank you.

[quadzjr]

I would support it, but I have no "pull". to make it happen.

[Knestis]

I think it's reasonable to do that but like Steven - maybe MORE SO than Steven - my opinion isn't worth much.

K

[lateapex911]

I think it's reasonable to do that but like Steven - maybe MORE SO than Steven - my opinion isn't worth much.

K

Kirk, no worries, mate, this isn't the CRB you're talking about, your opinion is equally unvaluable as anyones~!

Regarding the subject, seems like common sense to me, but I'M a Yankee, so MY opinion IS worth less than anyone from the area affected!

[Hotshoe]

I'M a Yankee, so MY opinion IS worth less than anyone from the area affected!

Worse yet, I'm a damn Yankee because I moved down here. So my opinion isn't worth diddly-squat ...........

[TomL]

FWIW, the Nashville ECR does allow ITO cars and last time I checked, there were only 8 or 9 cars entered. Butch Kummer says it's a good track for big thumping cars, so you might want to look into it. Registration deadline is next Tuesday.

[Z3_GoCar]

Worse yet, I'm a damn Yankee because I moved down here. So my opinion isn't worth diddly-squat ...........

I think you're called a "carpet bagger"

[Terry Hanushek]

Rob

I race a Mustang. I enjoy enduros more than sprint races and would compete in ECR, if I were allowed. I'm not.

As an alternative to waiting for ECR acceptance, you may want to consider a more substantial endurance race like The Devil in the Dark 12 Hour Endurance race at NJMP on 19 June. Your Grand Am Mustang is eligible under our ITE rules which allow cars from most professional series which run (ran) on DOT tires. You could get a season worth of ECR on a single weekend.

And if your are concerned how you might be treated 'up North', remember that NJMP is south of the Mason Dixon line.

Just sayin'

Terry

[Ron Earp]

Rob, so your car is in ITO in NCR, not ITE?

What sort of times do you turn at VIR?

[Cobrar05]

Thanks for the responses.

1. I am aware of the Nashville event. That is Atlanta region if I remember correctly. They allow V8 cars.
Unfortunately there is a NASA 3 hour enduro at Road Atlanta on that Friday that I am committed to.

2. I can't come close to affording to run a 12 hour race. I can race an ECR without having to pay a full crew, plus the tires, fuel and brakes expended in a 12 hour race.
Those races are for rich people which I am not.

3. ITO is a points paying SARRC class. ITE isn't. I have not run this car at VIR as yet.
With professional drivers in Grand Am they run 2:05-06. My car without the professional, no expenses spared developement and set up and with an average amatuer driver in the seat, I am not sure. I would probably run 2:14-2:13. Tony Ave might run a 2:06-07 in it as its sits.

Cliff Brown and Joe Lee Middlebrooks ran 1:36 in cool weather at Road Atlanta and I ran 1:39's. I am a lot better at Road Atlanta than at VIR. Where I have never had a lap faster than 2:20 in my previous Mustang.

[Ron Earp]

Cliff Brown and Joe Lee Middlebrooks ran 1:36 in cool weather at Road Atlanta and I ran 1:39's. I am a lot better at Road Atlanta than at VIR. Where I have never had a lap faster than 2:20 in my previous Mustang.

Based on that data it would seem that you guys are only a bit faster, and maybe a bit slower at some tracks, than ITS cars. So there shouldn't be any big problems racing the car where ITS/ITR is allowed.

At RA ITS is running from a low (Huffmaster I think) of around 1:37 to 1:41 or so. At VIR ITS cars run typical laps of 2:17-2:19 at the pointy end.

On the other hand, Chris brought his ITR Mustang V6 to VIR and ran a 2:20 there at around 3000 lbs. Chris is a relatively new racer and had never run VIR before. So, it might indeed be that your car would be outside the ITS/ITR envelope of performance at many tracks.

[Andy Bettencourt]

So, it might indeed be that your car would be outside the ITS/ITR envelope of performance at many tracks.

Nothing personal, but it's not about THIS car with THIS driver, it's about letting ITO cars in. You add the class, you add anything that is legal. Some research on ITO track records is in order I would think.

<--- No ITO up here. ITE covers all.

[Ron Earp]

Nothing personal, but it's not about THIS car with THIS driver, it's about letting ITO cars in. You add the class, you add anything that is legal. .

True that.

I've just never been clear on ITO vs ITE etc. I know ITE is regional and defined locally. I've got an ITE car here in NCR, and I think that it might not be an ITE car down in Atlanta but ITO, not sure.