Let me start with i have read the rules and know a little bit, getting a little confused reading all the rules and regulations.

I want to run a CRX, looking over the rules and regulations i can't figure out if that is a bad idea or not. This being all brand new to me, it gets a little confusing. The CRX i have
to run has a swap, which is where i got thrown off.

I was going to buy an FC, already setup to track, then i was offered to use this CRX at cost of maintenance, so i thought i would see what i could find out. Even if i had to make some changes on the CRX, it would leave me more money to spend on getting to events, then buying another car.

Here is some info on the car.

1991 Si
b18b1 bottom end .5 over, p2t (IIRC) pistons, stock rods - shot peened, oem crank and water pump and acl bearings.
pr3-3 ITR head with 00'ITR cams, manifold, TB, injectors ( i would like to upgrade cams, springs and retainers)
MSD Ignition
CTR pulley
OEM airbox with drop in.
koni's and g/c coilovers
ST sway bars f/r
DA Integra Brakes, front and rear with stainless goodridge lines. hawk pads
Thermal Exhaust

The interior is complete up front, rear is empty. (A-pillar back)


If i understand it right, i have to do my group1-4 before i do anything else.

What is confusing to me i guess is classing the car vs. different events. If the car is classed H1 in the honda challenge, would that apply to any events or just the honda challenge?

I don't want to end up like the first time i went to a nopi drag event. I had a stock b16 with a greddy kit and wound up in the T4 class. I ran a whopping 13.4 to her 10.2, Boy was that shameful, but i had fun.

 

HPDEs are entirely noncompetitive. You are grouped solely by experience, the car choice has nothing to do with it. The car will be fine for that. Honda Challenge is one of the competitive groups using, you guessed it, all Hondas. That's a totally different thing though, so don't worry about classing for that.

If ultimately you want to RACE rather than drive fast on track (that's wheel-to-wheel competition; HPDEs are NOT that, and require point-bys on the straights), then you can start looking at the HC rules. However, for now, just get yourself used to the track experience.

Does that answer your questions?

Edit: On a sidenote, you didn't mention what header and exhaust are on the car. Even not knowing that, the stock airbox is going to be a restriction, even moreso if you throw more aggressive cams in. Keep that in mind before buying more parts.

 

That helped alot. I think i am justing getting all the different "Types" of road racing mixed up with one another.

I was thinking HPDE was how you got to the wheel-to-wheel type racing, or even just competitive time-attacks. I would like to be able to work up to the competitive racing.

I guess what i am trying to do is drive the CRX through the HPDE process, while also building it up to be competitive in other events and for the class i needed to be in, once i am ready. I didn't want to get settled into a car i couldn't race with competitive.

Does that make sense?

I spent all day reading through the sites, I was ok until i starting reading the rules/regulations. H1,H2 Classing, Which parts you could run, then it all changed when i got to hybrid, UgH!!


The car does have a 4-1 2.5" dc sport header, test-pipe and thermal exhaust. We have an old RS Akimoto intake for it, when the K&N fell apart after 10 years, we took it off... LOL.

 

Ok, gotcha. You're off to a good start, with at least looking at the rulebook. What you want to keep in mind as you move on from here is this: H1 has all the hydrid engines, and is also the fastest and most expensive Honda Challenge class. The biggest difference among the classes is the engine. The motor you have now isn't absurdly powerful or anything, and will be fine for HPDEing. Unfortunately, for competition it'll also stick you in H1, where it will be way underpowered.

You said you're borrowing the car, so I'm guessing throwing a different motor in is not really a good proposition. You may want to consider that for the future though. H2 sounds like it'll be the next hottest thing to H1 for the coming year. That allows stock swaps (no cams, no head swapping, no K-series, etc.). If you went another step down to a stock Si motor, you'd be legal in H4 and ITA with SCCA. The CRX is a very competitive car in both classes, so you'll be fine on that front.

Whatever the case, for the next couple years you'll just be learning how to drive the car, so don't worry too much about that HC rulebook. Just don't throw too many parts at it, as you might have to get rid of them when you do start competing. A high $$$ motor is also a terrible idea for a variety of reasons. I'll make it simple and just say "don't do that"

 

Thanks!
I wouldn't really be borrowing the car, it's a family members. He has had it since 94' and it has sat since 01', grew out of the car thing, but he won't sell it. He offered for me to take it and make use of it, as long as it wins he said. LOL.


When you say stock SI motor, you mean the d16a6... I am hoping you mean b16....

*edit* I meant for the H2 class.

You confirmed what i was thinking. I would have my *** handed to me in the H1, and would have too much for H2 and the like.

 

For H2 you could use any stock B-series motor. B16, B18C, B20, B18A/B, just have to keep everything stock (stock head, cams [B16 can use ITR cams I believe, but that's the one exception], rods, pistons, crank, you name it). The minimum weight is determined by your engine choice. As an example, a car with a GSR motor makes more power than a B16 car, but also is required to be heavier.

While a B16 is legal for H2, it will limit you to that class. The D16A6 (or Z6, I don't know my D-series well enough) will allow you to swap between H4 and ITA. You could also potentially run in H2 at a significantly lower weight. Whether or not the car could legally get down to that weight is another story.

Also, don't underestimate that Si motor. I have a 160whp B20 in my hatch, and even on a straight I'm running at the same speed to slightly slower than a well-sorted H4 CRX Si. Neither will compare to the motor currently in the car, but the big difference is really only on the straights. If going fast in a straight line is your thing, go to a dragstrip

 

Thanks again, You really cleared it up for me.

Funny you talking about the a6 Si motor, it reminds me of mid 94 when i got my first CRX and got all the bolt-ons from Oscar Jackson. It was HOT **** then...haha. It was actually at a Solo SCCA event i saw my first modified honda (86' CRX) and got bit. I had just bought mine.