What to do with an ITA MR2: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 1, 2012 10:40 a.m. dean1484 SuperDork

I am going to pull the two DBR ITA MR2's out of storage and get them track ready. Both are going to need the motors refreshed and the backup car will need some work to the cadge to bring it up to current SCCA spec's.

However after doing a bunch of research I have come to the conclusion that they are not competitive in SCCA any more. They are a mid pack car at best. Yes we can still run IT and I guess we just want track time racing it is an option. However the competitive side of me does not like this option. So I was looking for other places to race it in.

There is always autocross but after road racing this is kind of a let down. Still fun but not my first choice. What about raleigh cross? I was watching some video of that on Youtube the other night and that looks like it could be a whole lot of fun. I could step it up to EP or FP but that requires serious $$$$ that I really am not ready to sink into this car and again it really is a stretch to think it is competitive in these classes.

Any ideas? Is there a place in NASA for these cars? I have not looked at there ruel set but I thought that they used a HP versus weight formula. I also have to look at what EMRA is doing. It has been a while since I have looked at there rules and they seem to be a bit more aligned towards the older cars (or at least they use to be).

Any Ideas?
Jan. 1, 2012 10:44 a.m. MG Bryan HalfDork

dean1484 wrote:

What about raleigh cross?

Probably a no go unless you live in North Carolina.
Jan. 1, 2012 10:54 a.m. dean1484 SuperDork

Freaking google auto correct gets me every time
Jan. 1, 2012 11:06 a.m. nymalo New Reader

In reply to dean1484: I would look into Ice racing. Your car would be very competitive as it sits, you would only need to put on studs and maybe lighter springs.

Autocross style http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/EventDescription/2010/ice-racing.aspx

Wheel to wheel road racing on frozen lake. www.icerace.com
Jan. 1, 2012 11:39 a.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

What is your situation? Can you afford to buy a class leading competitive car? Do you have the talent to put it there? If so, buy what you need to win.

On the other hand, if you can get these cars cheap, and freshen an engine, and be on the track for a couple grand, where you will improve your skill set without breaking the bank, start here.

The great thing about IT racing where I am, is I always seem to have somebody to race. May be a class up, but so what...
Jan. 1, 2012 11:52 a.m. Kendall_Jones HalfDork

Chat up the smarty guys over on improvedtouring.com They may have some ideas on development or you may be able to get it bumped to itb.

Kj
Jan. 1, 2012 12:34 p.m. dean1484 SuperDork

Streetwise Guy wrote:

What is your situation? Can you afford to buy a class leading competitive car? Do you have the talent to put it there? If so, buy what you need to win.

On the other hand, if you can get these cars cheap, and freshen an engine, and be on the track for a couple grand, where you will improve your skill set without breaking the bank, start here.

The great thing about IT racing where I am, is I always seem to have somebody to race. May be a class up, but so what...

I hate the idea of just spending $$$ to win but I do understand it. The current situation with Miatas in SCCA is a whole topic for another thread. I am not sure that the current formula that makes the miata the go to car can last, or should be allowed to last. With out competition things get boring. Anyway like I said this is another thread.

The simple answer, like this will surprise anyone here, is to go get a Miata. Most, if no all my friends that race have done just that. The old adage of "if you can't beat them join them" really is true. They are just such a great car. So well sorted, a much more modern suspension and enough motor to really scoot. It really is a great package!!!!

But I don't want a miata. I really like the MR2 and we have two cars plus a boat load of spares for them. The reality is that I should forget about being competitive and just go have fun. IT is just so hard to do as everything we have done in racing has always been with the concept that we actually had a chance to win what ever we entered. Now not so much.
Jan. 1, 2012 1:13 p.m. steamcorners Reader

I assume you are talking about 1st gen MR2s. If so, they have been reclassed into ITB. Just need new stickers, and 6 inch wide. They seem to have some potential there...
Jan. 1, 2012 1:38 p.m. amg_rx7 HalfDork

Just race it. Researching race results on the interwebs isn't exactly determinant of YOUR results in the car. The IT classes are very much determined by talent as much as competitiveness of the car on paper.

Heck, I was running in the back of the pack in ITA in my SM a few months ago and the guy in front of me won ITC.
Jan. 1, 2012 2:41 p.m. dean1484 SuperDork

That is a good point I forgot about the reclassification. Well we will see I am just excited to be getting it out and running again!!!!
Jan. 1, 2012 3:22 p.m. jimbbski Reader

dean1484 wrote:

I am going to pull the two DBR ITA MR2's out of storage and get them track ready. Both are going to need the motors refreshed and the backup car will need some work to the cadge to bring it up to current SCCA spec's.

However after doing a bunch of research I have come to the conclusion that they are not competitive in SCCA any more. They are a mid pack car at best. Yes we can still run IT and I guess we just want track time racing it is an option. However the competitive side of me does not like this option. So I was looking for other places to race it in.
Any Ideas?

SCCA has moved the MR2 to ITB with a change in weight. It has to carry ballast depending on how light the cars were built but it is now a competitive car in that class. My buddy won ITBthis year with MCSCC in his 1985 ITB MR2.
Jan. 1, 2012 5:28 p.m. dean1484 SuperDork

jimbbski wrote:

dean1484 wrote:

I am going to pull the two DBR ITA MR2's out of storage and get them track ready. Both are going to need the motors refreshed and the backup car will need some work to the cadge to bring it up to current SCCA spec's.

However after doing a bunch of research I have come to the conclusion that they are not competitive in SCCA any more. They are a mid pack car at best. Yes we can still run IT and I guess we just want track time racing it is an option. However the competitive side of me does not like this option. So I was looking for other places to race it in.
Any Ideas?

SCCA has moved the MR2 to ITB with a change in weight. It has to carry ballast depending on how light the cars were built but it is now a competitive car in that class. My buddy won ITB this year with MCSCC in his 1985 ITB MR2.

May be there is hope for the old girl after all!!! I am now really excited to get this up and running!!! I don't remember the weight at the moment. I know it was over the limit of the ITA spec due to upgrades to the cadge.

This is excellent news!!!!!
Jan. 2, 2012 9:27 a.m. theenico New Reader
There is a "unicorn" MR2 built to the limit of the IT rules floating around the south somewhere. I originally built it in 2004 for a gentleman in Little Rock. He then sold it, in 2006, to a guy in Memphis I believe. It's an 85 that began it's life as a TRD built Showroom Stock car. It had never been registered or driven on the street.

Here the specs:
- Full 8 point 1.5 x .095 DOM cage.
- Aluminum fuel cell with submerged/sumped EFI pump mounted in the front trunk area.
- Full spherical bearing suspension bushing conversion.
- Custom front and rear camber plates.
- Custom strut housings built around the old GC Advanced Design double adjustable strut inserts.
- Engine built to the letter of the rules.
- Transaxle with TRD LSD.
Do to health issues, the original owner was only able to run it a handfull of times before selling it. I lost track of it after he sold it to the guy in Memphis. I'm still bummed that I never got see whether or not it could be competitive. It was still in ITA at the time, but the ITAC was in the middle of getting cars moved around and we were fairly confident that it would get bumped down to ITB with a lower weight.
Jan. 2, 2012 9:56 a.m. jstein77 Dork

dean1484 wrote: ...due to upgrades to the cadge.

Cage has no "d" in it.

Sorry, the grammar police in me came out again.

As you were.
Jan. 2, 2012 10:07 a.m. dean1484 SuperDork

Just me typing to fast. I do suck at spelling. Dyslexia is a bitch. People can corect me all they want and it does not help. It is like herpies it never goes away. You just have good days and bad days.