Since I can't seem to find anyone interested in purchasing my car, the full conversion to racecar may take place. The 5th gen is in ITS this year, I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this. Competitive car? Too heavy? What do you all think?

 

Me thinks it'd get eaten alive by the E36's...

 

Dum peple dont thinc lik that.

 

well, what does the ITS-Sentra driver think of Speedsource RX-7s?

 

Funny you should ask! Last night when I was cruising around the Beltway trying to put some miles on the new motor, I spotted a 2nd gen RX-7 coming up behind me FAST! It was white with some stickers, and when it got next to me, I could tell it was one of the Speed Source RX-7s ... and Sylvan Trembley was driving!! Shizzle my nizzle! I couldn't believe it! He must've noticed me, because he slowed down to match my speed and then revved! There's no mistaking the sound of an uncorked rotary! Up ahead was the exit for 395 N (the one you get as your coming on 495 from the direction of Tysons Corner) -- I know this ramp like the back of my hand. I motioned for him to get in behind me, and he did. We got to the ramp, and I downshifted to 3rd and gently pressed in 3/4 throttle (still can't go full throttle) to take the ramp. I have the shift light on the monster tach set to 4,500 rpm, and it came on in an instant. Damn! Shifted to 4th and gently pressed in 3/4 throttle. I glanced in my mirror and saw Trembley was in hot pursuit! I leaned in hard as I went to the outside lane in the ramp to avoid a bus full of handicapped kids from a church group, then went to the inside of the turn to avoid a group of pre-schoolers on their Big Wheels, then came out on the top of the ramp to merge onto 395. I looked back, and Trembley was 7 brontosaurus lengths behind.

Cliff notes: Speed Source RX-7s taste like chicken.

 

One of these days, you're ACTUALLY going to run into Galati or someone equally famous... and we're not going to believe you.

 

Probably.

 

Please be aware that street racing is neither discussed or condoned on this forum. Take it to Kill Stories.

BTW. I know those kids that hang out on the 395 ramp, you couldn't pass them on your best day.

 

Ignoring the silliness and trying to answer the poor guy's question...

The '97 Prelude SH and non-SH are listed at 2905#, which is fat - but not as fat as some (e.g., Jetta VR6). I don't know if the rumors are true about those things having 190hp but, if they are, this car might be the best of the front-drive ITS options - unless there is some major flaw somewhere.

Interesting question...

Kirk

 

lol....

but did you get your drift on headin' round the I-395 ramp?

Because if you didnt, and the speedsource stunna' did, he just might edge you out for the "win" based on style points...

 

The 97 preludes do have 190hp, and the only flaw really is the weight. I don't know much about ITS, though.
I would love to see some preludes racing. How do you like those spring rates, DBurke?


[Modified by Steppin Razor, 5:31 PM 4/17/2002]

 

The spring rates I've got are a direct result of the Koni's. I spoke to a rep at Koni and that was the highest he'd run with stock yellows.

 

Screw it dude, a prelude well preped would be good in ITS.... Remember, the 2900lbs weight is in a luxary car, yes its big, but it has a TON of sound deading in it... Just get some heavy *** springs, big tires, and kick some ***...

Edit: opps, didn't realize the 2900 lb was the race weight


[Modified by Honda318dx, 1:25 AM 4/18/2002]

 

No, yes, and you'll be bringing a plastic spork to a gun fight.

No way that car is a top running ITS car. E36s oWnZ joO.

Prep if for ECHC.


[Modified by MaddMatt, 6:57 AM 4/18/2002]

 

That's weight with driver ... if that means anything. E36 BMW 325's have a minimum weight of 2950. So similar weight and horsepower as a Prelude ... but probably close to 50-50 weight distribution and RWD.

Yup, a Prelude is probably as uncompetitive in ITS as any FWD car in the class.

 

It's definitely on the heavy side and getting real close (if it's not already there) to the maximum weight you can effectively carry around with a FWD racecar. The lighter GSRs are very competitive btw, with Scott S. in Florida having won ITS a few times down there over very healthy 20+ ITS car fields and right on SpeedSource's home turf. If the VTEC prelude is just marginally heavier than the current 2.3L 160hp non-vtec prelude by the rule book, the extra power of the vtec is all that car needs to be a dominating car. The 2.3L prelude right now is a front running car, so an extra 30 hp to start out with should really make a difference as long as the extra weight doesn't kill the car's handling and tire abuse that much. Either way I don't think it would be any slower than the 2.3L non-vtec preludes. Still, just about everyone in IT agrees that a fully built 325is is the new benchmark in ITS now that Bimmer World has figured out how to built top very fast and reliable ITS BMWs (for the right price of course ).

I would say definitely go ahead and build it for ITS ! But make sure you first plan your budget very well and stick to it because it is very easy to end up spending way more on building a racecar than you would have wanted, especially for a more expensive ITS car build ups. Good luck.