What are the most competitive cars in ITS and ITA SCCA racing?
 

I cant seem to find a list of the winners in their respective classes with the car mentioned. I know the 1st gen Rex's do quite well, but I'm interested in knowing which cars are the best of the best in their class. I want to get into some racing next year and I'm tossing around a few different cars, namely 1st gen Rex(obvious reasons), 1st gen MR2(cuz i love how mid-engine cars handle), and 240z(cuz they are soooo sexy :)). The car must be RWD and must be reasonable from a cost perspective. Money is of course rather limited, but I've found it wise through prior experience to buy a fully race ready car and go from there, rather than slowely piecing together a race car and hoping you get it right to specs. I'm just wondering which of those cars offers the best bang for the buck. Thanks to anyone that can help :)

Out of those three cars the 240Z is probably the most competitive in it's class. The ITS class is dominated by the BMW 325. In ITA you basically have to run a CRX to have any hope of running up front. The 1st Gen RX-7 is badly outclassed by the CRXs. The saving grace of the RX-7 is Spec 7 and IT7. I haven't actually seen an MR2 on the track. If they were going to be a dominant car there would be several that were developed and running.

IMO go Spec Miata. Huge fields, very reliable cars, cheap to get started. The downfall is the price of being competitive continues to climb as the top cars are tweaked more and more.

Mr2 is a backmarker in ITB; if you want competitive, forget it.

ITS: e36 BMW

ITA CRX; Neon and Sentra Se-r next year, if they get reclassed. Rumor has it they will....


M.

In SCCA Central Division, there is a group of us that run ITA RX7's. We informally ran our own ITA RX7 series for a year, and then tried to get IT7 established as a formal class. Unfortunately, the numbers did not support it, so we will likely go back to the bunch of us running an informal series of our own.

Regarding the competitiveness of ITS and ITA cars, I concur with the above comments. However, if money (both purchase and operating costs) is a concern, you are better off with an ITA RX7. The cars are damn near indestructible, cheap to buy and own, and fun to drive. I surmise from your post you will be new to SCCA racing, in which means you want to maximize your track time and minimize your expenditures. I can think of no better car than the ITA RX7.

The Neon did get moved from ITS to ITA with weight being the only difference (IIRC). My customer's both shit themselves when they found out the guy they've been running with would be moving into their class with just a little weight. Until we did some work on their car, then they said, "Ahh, no problem" :cool:

Would be nice if SCCA did competetion adjustments in IT to bring the 1st gen's performance up to speed with cars 5-10 years newer with fuel injection. I've read peoples requests in Sportscar? magazine and they got shot down quickly every time.

I agree with all above. You may find the IT forum useful.

http://www.improvedtouring.com/chat2/

some good threads in the general section regarding topic.

edit:I hate to say it but the f-ing Miata's are taking over almost all of the closed wheel SCCA categories. I hate them damm things.

I'll mostly be running on Waterford Hills if all goes according to plan, so I'm assuming the CRX's will have even more of an advantage due to their light weight around a tight course. I dont like how FWD cars handle, so I refuse to buy one to race. Miatas... well, to be perfectly honest I dont like convertables, and the Miata has always seemed a bit feminine to me. I guess a nice 240z or RX-7 would make a good starter car for my rookie season :) The RX-7 is better from a cost perspective, but I love the styling of the 240z and its rack and pinion steering is far superior to the RX-7 wondersteer system. I cant expect to be number one with a rather low budget and limited experience, but I'd like to start with a good base. Thanks for all the help with your responses.

Let me just say. "we'll see...."


I wonder how spec neon will go in NASA? The boys in SoCal seem to be building the class....

M.

Oh boy... just what we need. Another SPEC class. Thought we had enough especially with NASA.

Actually, the Neon rules are the best Spec-class rules I've ever seen. I've got a buddy that says he's interested in bankrolling one or two so we can be the first in Texas. My neighbors happen to have a massive stack of Neon chassis and some good running cars, so..... ;)

In a perfect world, all classes would be spec.... :p: :D

I like spec classes, they cause you to think and engineer the car, and drive around problems, not spendyourway past them.
That said, I'm ready for some ITA or E-prod...


M.

When did the official word come down on that??? They just met on it within the past 2 or 3 weeks.

I'm assuming a while ago since at our Division meeting in July they decided to let the one Neon guy in out Div run ITA starting next month since our season doesn't run from January on... I'm ASSuming since they're accelerating the move here that it's official, but after 15 years I'm still not too clear on the clusterfuck known as SCCA. ;)

:D Sounds like someone in your division jumped before the gun was even loaded!

There are several members of the ITAC (maybe even the Comp Board) that post over on improvedtouring.com and it's "mum's the word" from them.

Like you, I would say that the Neon (as well as the SE-R) in A is almost a sure thing. There is going to be a pretty good shake up in IT land in '05. If I was in the market for a new racecar I'd be doing a huge amount of research right now if I wanted to be competitive and wouldn't make a move until the Fastrack came out online. Then I'd buy quick before it was mailed out in SportsCar and everyone found out that their misclassed ITS car was now a top dog in ITA.

I don't have the budget to be competitive in IT, but I do have fun in IT7 even though it's been a crappy year with the new car.

NA FC RX-7's are very very competitive in ITS. Our shop runs an E30 325.

I just watched one with a new(er) driver pretty easily beat out a '94ish BMW ITS car (325 I believe).

In the Washington DC region, which is supposedly one of the most competetive in the country (so I'm told)... ITA has been dominated by the CRX, however the last few years, it's been a mix of the CRX and the nissan 240sx. ITS = e36 325, end of story. First gens are not very competetive in ITA, however, first and 2nd gens are the most competetive in E Production.

What about SCCA SOLO II (autocross) ?
 

I'm thinking about a gen.III RX-7 with R1 suspension mods for SCCA SOLO II autocross (Superstock).

Will it be competitive with a Corvette, or should I try an E36 M3 instead ?

BTW: I'd like to take the car to SOLO I events as well.

TIA,
:-) neil

FWIW - Lots of discussion on the IT forum regarding the FB possibley being reclassed to ITB. It would give the first gen new life in the scca. I put my vote in. I'm in favor of the move. Go to 13x6 wheels and add some #.

Man, no kidding Re: adding new life, especially to ITB. Too bad there will be massive opposition by most of the folks around here since they all run laptimes in the 3:00 range at TWS 2.9 (I'm only partially kidding about the laptimes...)

I might have to put building one higher on the priority list if that happens! :D

Yep, if it happens, my spare chassis is going ITB...


M.

If your gonna be running WHRRI in a 1st gen, you need to talk to George Harkless. He's GEO46 over at Mazspeed and is now a SOM. Great guy, lotsa knoweledge and former 1st gen IT racer.

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier instead of moving the 1st gen to ITB and get new wheels and add weight, to keep them in ITA and allow bigger chokes in the carb, mechanical secondaries, and remove weight?

A lot of the cars are down to about as light as they can go. Unless they allow us to use lexan. The 1st gen pulls down the straights no problem, it's in the twisties that the CRX & others eat us up.

I understand your point. Buying new wheels gets expensive. Most of us would just use stock wheels I assume.