I'm looking to start into HC racing as I've finally graduated college and have a job that can pay for my little hobby.

I've been after a good chassis for a while now and have narrowed down my choices to a pair of cars, both hatches, one an EJ and the other an EK.

The EG's a 94 si ex-autocross car, STS. It's not fully modded up to rules but it's close on the suspension and engine sides. Also it has a set of of 15x7 slipstreams on it with ST215's as well as a set of OE steelies with tires.

On the other side is a 2000 EK, It's closer to stock than the EG tho it was a aborted attempt at building a JDM CTR so it's got the JDM B16 w/LSD ,a rear disc conversion and OE CTR suspension the interior is in pieces but it's got an autopower 6pt cage in it.

Both cars are in good condition with the EK being very very clean. If I could call the EK a CTR and run it with the ITR's(H2) I'd be very happy to finish it off, however it doesn't seem to be in the rules. The EG is almost an exact fit for H4, all I need is a cage, steering wheel and some grunt work to get the interior into shape.

I don't want to shell out the extra cash to make the EK fast in H1, so it would likely go back to H4. I figure by selling the JDM B16, rear discs, and the suspension I can buy a pair of D16's and the bits to goto H4 and have a some cash left over to get a better cage than the autopower.

So any thoughts on which might be quicker? Parts availability? Aero? How close to min wieght can those chassis be taken without breaking the bank?

I've got plenty of racing experience, from American Iron to Spec Miata, to F125 Karts, autocross in whatever I could beg my way into, promo work for mazda etc... But damn it'll be nice to actually OWN my own race car even if it isn't too fast

 

If you want to run H4.... and build the car, the EG Si is the better choice, IMO.

Although you could always just buy Karl's car and save a lot of time/$$/busted knuckles.

 

I did think alot about buying a car that was built already but I need the car to be streetable until june and then make the trek from here(Chicago) back to Socal when I relocate for work. :\ It's gotta survive a chicago winter and I don't want to bring the daily driver out from socal just for 8 months.

Also I've got access to a full on engineering shop/metal working bay thanks to FSAE hookups where I can spend the off season getting the car close. Then take it home, pull the windows, stock belts and finish up the wiring etc. Making it thoroughy not street legal in CA and using the Dakota to pull it around on the trailer.

In short, I've got one too many compramises I need to make to just get a built car. Still I have access to enough materials and time so the cost differential won't be so great as to be prohibitive.

 

if you're going to race HC in Socal.
build the EG for H4. There should be alot of cars in H4 next year.

It'll be better to learn in an H4 car as well.


Good luck. Hope to see you out there next year.

 

Ill be adding another H4 car to the ranks next year

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MarkosMotorsports &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ill be adding another H4 car to the ranks next year</TD></TR></TABLE>

nice, I know another person that will be joining as well.

 

next year the NorCal H4 should be up to 13-15 H4 cars, combined that with what a possible 15-20 SoCal cars. Plus 5 cars for PacNW, and 5 from AZ thats damn near a 40 car H4 feild, can you say WOW, I can

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MarkosMotorsports &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ill be adding another H4 car to the ranks next year</TD></TR></TABLE>
You said that last year...

 

well I went the SCCA License route.. so took a little longer to go race you all

 

Welcome Markos, Looking forward racing with you, and everyone in H4.

 

The EG seems to be a good ITA/H4 car although with some time, I would think the EK would make a nice ITB car although it is not currently classed.

If the EG is a midwestern car and has been driven in the winter, watch the rust. If there is no rust, do not run this car in the winter- buy a beater instead!!!

 

what!?!?! you guys dont want anymore crxs on the left coast? H4 = Spec CRX for you guys.

 

watch out for those H4 Integras...more to come.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HapaHaole &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">watch out for those H4 Integras...more to come.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HapaHaole &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">watch out for those H4 Integras...more to come.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, with the success of the DA both in Northern and Southern California, you would think that some new racers might consider this chassis. The DC chassis should be about the same as the DA in terms of competitiveness. We'll see.

 

The EG was a race day only car, so it saw lots of garage only time. I took a couple hours this weekend to go down and check it over for rust and it's clean save for a small spot on the drivers front fender on the edge of the wheel opening. Luckily I don't think that the car is going to be doing much rolling under it's own power until spring anyways. I can take the bus to work like I do now till spring.

I did think seriously about a DA but I couldn't find any descent cars that hadn't either been incompetently modded, abused, or were rusting. I'd be eager to work on one actually if I could find a clean stock example. If I found a GSR, how is the B17 for racing or is it just too much of a hassle?

One bit I'm actually a bit wary of is plugging a sunroof hole. Any tricks to it, or just trim up the hole in the roof and weld in a patch of sorts?

 

The GSR would be fine for racing, but it'd put you in H3 pretty much all by yourself in SoCal. Those B17s are pretty rare/valuable, so you could just swap that out for an LS motor and be H4 legal since the chassis are the same.

The sunroof plug isn't a big job. Don't let it worry you. You wouldn't be disappointed racing in H4. It's an awesome class that's growing every year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MarkosMotorsports &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ill be adding another H4 car to the ranks next year</TD></TR></TABLE>

i'll be thinking about it too.