Conover Motor Sports build, 1990 ITA Civic EX Sedan

[Xian]

Figured that some of you over here hadn't seen/heard about the new car build that Conover Motor Sports http://www.raceconover.com is doing for me. CMS was also instrumental in the build of Kirk Knestis' ITB VW Golf... anyone who has seen that car understands the level of prep they deliver.

The car is being built for ITA as the chassis is spec'd at the same weight at the 88-91 Civic/CRX Si.

Before gutting/cage/etc but with a test fit of the suspension and race wheels/tires



Out comes all the interior, glass, engine, tranny, and most of the body panels





Test fit of the race seat and mounts

[Xian]

Custom cage courtesy of Chris Schimmel with Competition Cages http://www.competitioncages.com/





It'll have a Speedway style rear bar... here Chris is welding in the custom mounts



Dry-break fitting for the 22 Gallon Enduro style fuel cell

[Xian]

Wiring will be inspected re-installed per IT Rules



The engine bay, wheel wells, and underside of the car are all being cleaned up





The chassis will be painted with a white epoxy base paint on a rotisserie ("body in white"). The body panels will then go on and the exterior painted Laguna Blue. The car is currently at with the painter. Feel free to check the build site here for updates: http://www.raceconover.com/buildcivic.htm

Christian

[JeffYoung]

That's gonna be a NICE race car. Down to the tub and build it back up.

[Ron Earp]

Christian, that is going to be one heck of a nice car. Chris Schimmel at Competition Cages does great cage work. I'm looking forward to the day when I get to do a car the way yours is getting done now - ground up.

Now when you put it back together be sure to get the motor pointed the right way and connect it to the right set of wheels!

R

[Xian]

Thanks!

After racing a pre-built car (Richy Gonalez's old CRX) for a couple of seasons, I realized that there were some things that I wanted to do "differently" on the cage... after juggling figures on freshening the entire car and changing some of the cage design, it turned out to not be not much more expensive to sell the existing car as a roller and build new.

Ron, I'll see if I can get the rear end mini-tubbed and turn the engine 90*... that's IT legal right?

Christian

PS
If either of you guys get interested in running the longer 13-24hr enduro's, let me know... going to have some rental seats available next year...

[iambhooper]

by the looks of the car, it wouild appear to be 3 extra seats at that!

looks interesting, i can't wait tosee it on the track.

hoop

[Knestis]

The BEST part is when the newly painted tub comes back from the body shop. It's like opening a Revell model kit, taking out the big pieces, and laying out all the little ones that get stuck on.

K

[JeffYoung]

Intorturation! Sorry, had to say it.

For a wheel driven handicapped car, I have to say, that thing is way cool. Christian, I would be interested in running an enduro in that thing with you. Keep us posted on the build. If you end up under weight, maybe a wet bar in the back?

[Ron Earp]

Christian

PS
If either of you guys get interested in running the longer 13-24hr enduro's, let me know... going to have some rental seats available next year...

Heck yeah, I'd love to give that car a go with you. It looks cool. We have been running the 13 hour for a few years, this could be a change of pace.

My ex-girlfriend, whom I called "The Northern Aggressor", had one of those in light blue. Was pretty neat to drive. I especially liked it in the snow to go get beer in when my Mustang wouldn't move an inch.

Why not add a second seat back there, or two? Carry around the extra drivers in the car? The drivers just rotate, they never get to exit the car for the duration of the race.

[Xian]

Too funny Kirk! The sad thing is that I can actually imagine it looking exactly like a Revell model...

Hoop, with any luck I'll be at the SIC Test Day next month. No plans to run the SIC... just using the Friday before as a shake down run for the new car.

Jeff & Ron, I'll let you guys know when I get to the point of putting stuff together for next season. We could also sort something out for a test/acclimation day to get both of you up to speed in a FWD chassis. Trust me, it'll be easy.

[Xian]

Just got some more pics of today's progress!

Some final cleaning before the primer goes on...




Epoxy primer coat:

[Ron Earp]

I'm gonna have to stop in over there and have a look sometime. I grew up in Burlington, my folks live there now, and I know where the shop is from the address but I've never visited. Looks great!!!

Should meet up with you at the SIC test day. I'm planning to be there and I bet Jeff will as well.

[Xian]

Give Cameron a call and tell him I helped crew for you and Jeff at Daytona. I'm sure he'll show you around the project cars at the shop.

I'll be paddocked with the rest of the CMS guys for the SIC weekend. Feel free to track us down or if you can get paddocked nearby, I'll be happy to help out some during the weekend.

[IPRESS]

That looks like it will be a super build. I just bought a donor to retub mine this winter. Derek at Saferacer and I are planning on including improvements we have seen on other cars. I have looked at cars while at SP and RAtlanta that were pretty well done. Those Conover cars always look professional prepped.

[trobbins]

Wow , great looking car so far . I can't wait to see it finished .
I raced that gen Civic Standard hatch in ITC , it was a blast to drive .
Do you have any ideas for suspension ? Spring rates , etc .
I've always wanted to build one of these like yours .
Good luck and keep up the good work .

[bonespec]

With the bigger EX brakes, this might be a BIG plus for an enduro car!

[lateapex911]

Christian, you know what I think... Awesome!. there's a little BTCC in that car, isn't there?

[JLawton]

Just got some more pics of today's progress!

Some final cleaning before the primer goes on...




Epoxy primer coat:

If that top picture ain't a "Hey Ya'll, watch this" moment, i don't know WHAT is!!

[Xian]

That looks like it will be a super build. I just bought a donor to retub mine this winter. Derek at Saferacer and I are planning on including improvements we have seen on other cars. I have looked at cars while at SP and RAtlanta that were pretty well done. Those Conover cars always look professional prepped.

Good luck with the build! A large part of the reason I chose CMS for the build of the new car was the fact that all the other cars they've produced have been top-notch. They know exactly what needs to be done to make the car right the first time out of the shop.

Wow , great looking car so far . I can't wait to see it finished .
I raced that gen Civic Standard hatch in ITC , it was a blast to drive .
Do you have any ideas for suspension ? Spring rates , etc .
I've always wanted to build one of these like yours .
Good luck and keep up the good work .

One of my old co-drivers used to run a Civic Standard in ITC and loved it too. Great car for the class! Yep, shocks, springs, bar have all been sorted out:

Koni revalved single adjustable's at the 4 corners. Lee Grimes with Koni helped with some of the valving and shock tuning info. GREAT guy and company to work with!

Simple Ground Control coilover set up. Upping the spring rates from my "old" ITA CRX... will now be running 700F, 1000R.

Rear bar will be a custom Speedway type bar. Rate will be roughly equivalent to a 3/4" solid bar but it will have significantly more adjustment options.

With the bigger EX brakes, this might be a BIG plus for an enduro car!

Hey Bone! Yep. That was a big reason why I picked this chassis. I don't think that it will necessarily be any faster than a Civic hatch or CRX Si on any single lap of the race but it will be more consistent over the course of the race. Being able to go down deep into 10A at Road Atlanta on lap 19 of a 20 lap race when your competitor is nursing somewhat frazzled brakes isn't going to hurt things!

Christian, you know what I think... Awesome!. there's a little BTCC in that car, isn't there?

Maybe a little bit...

If that top picture ain't a "Hey Ya'll, watch this" moment, i don't know WHAT is!!

Kinda my same thought on it... at least it's not me under the car with a power washer!

Good news is that the top-coat of paint should be completed Friday or over the weekend at the latest!