The IT2 Initiative announces the IT2 Challenge Contingency Sponsorship for the 2003 ARRC Runoffs, to be held November 7-9 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.

The IT2 Initiative is a grassroots movement to reclassify currently uncompetitive four cylinder front-wheel-drive cars out of SCCA's Improved Touring Sports class, one that is dominated by higher horsepower, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedans and GT sports cars. The IT2 Challenge furthers this movement by offering a minimum $650 cash purse to the top three placing IT2-eligible vehicles entered in the ITS class at the ARRC Runoffs.

To be eligible for the contingency prizes, competitors must compete in the Runoffs in the ITS class while driving a vehicle eligible for IT2, registered with the IT2 Initiative program, and running with the required IT2 sponsorship decals. Competitors must prepare their vehicles to meet current SCCA ITS regulations.

The IT2 Initiative welcomes any and all eligible competitors to race with us during this event. Details and entry information will be available on the program's web site at http://www.it2.evaluand.com

For more information and updates, visit the forum at http://pub12.ezboard.com/bit2f...sport

 

In response to an email, Hondas that are eligible include...

Acura Integra RS 94-97
Honda Civic EX Coupe 92-95
Honda Civic Si 92-95

K

 

Thanks to another donation from an individual IT2 supporter, the IT2 driver who improves his or her position the most over the duration of the ARRC ITS race will earn a "Hard Charger" cash bonus.

Targeted sponsorships of this type are greatly appreciated and supporters of the 2003 ARRC IT2 Challenge will be recognized on the IT2 web site.

Kirk

 

Somebody make sure Lyonel Kent sees this.

 

Absolutely! I would love to see him take home some $$ for his troubles. I understand that Matt Downing will likely bring his similar EX to the ARRC...

K

 

Just got word that the manufacturers of the Isaac head and neck restraint system - http://www.isaacdirect.com/html/product.html - will award a free system to the IT2 "polesitter" at the ARRC. Retail prices start at $700+ so this is a nice trophy for a class that only exists on a web site...

K

 

What if I put an "IT2" on the side of my ITC car...?

 

Sorry - stickers would clearly be an update/backdate violation.

 

Are all IT2 cars eligible for this, or are only ITS cars eligible?

At the ARRC I can't see how anything outside of the ITS run group could compete for this, but since I see a C car being interested, just thought I'd ask.

 

Back off punky.
I asked first.

 

No! Extra contingency is just more icing on the cake for everyone. But I don't know about em C cars though....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But I don't know about em C cars though....</TD></TR></TABLE>

That makes 2 of us.
I actually scared myself a few times this weekend. Pretty cool.

Kirk - I forwarded this info to the email addy I have for Matthew Brown. He has done a couple of ECHC races in an H4 3g Integra RS. I *think* he holds an SCCA license.

 

I belive Lyonel's scca lisence has expired.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Kirk - I forwarded this info to the email addy I have for Matthew Brown. He has done a couple of ECHC races in an H4 3g Integra RS. I *think* he holds an SCCA license.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, saw Matt (if its the guy I am thinking of w/ the red(?) ITS Integra that has the P1 decal that looks like its made out of an OPM decal at the bottom of the door(s)?) at a couple races this year at Road Atlanta.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are all IT2 cars eligible for this, or are only ITS cars eligible?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was kind of wondering how long it would be before someone asked this question. We talked about the philosophical question of whether to include the "purist" IT2-eligible cars - those that really meet the original conceptual guidelines - or include those that fit in performance but not in spirit.

Part of the question got answered when we were denied a waiver of sorts that would have let cars run in the ITS group that weren't actually listed in ITS - the CRX (not a "real" IT2 car) and the G2 Integra (unfortunately out of the picture because it IS) being the obvious exclusions. At that point, we committed to allowing only "real" IT2 cars, with real back seats and FWD, to be eligible for ARRC awards.

I am frankly not sure which way it would have fallen, if say ITA and ITS were running in one group. I confess that I am conflicted on this point, thinking on the one hand that it would be beneficial to the cause to have more cars out there with IT2 stickers. On the other hand, the response wasn't, um...entirely positive when we suggested in the request to have the Comp Board consider IT2 that the CRX be included.

K

 

PS - I just got a note from Gregg Baker at Isaac. They are springing for their Intermediate model (with uprated hardware tricks) - retail is actually [b]$895[/i].

K

 

I see what you mean by “real” IT2 cars, but as you say the main problem is not being able to combine S and A (and C for Scott) in the same group.

However, on Sunday they are combined for the enduro... Anything planned for Sunday with IT2? (Hey, I gota try now before the “real” fast and developed IT2 cars start coming out.)

 

From the outset the conversations were centered on the sprint races, since they are kind of the "feature" but there isn't anything from someone starting an "ARRC IT2 Enduro Cage Brawl" or something. Extend the option to the pseudo-IT2 cars (aka CRXen), have all interested entrants put $20 in the kitty, and winner takes all...

K

 

I'd be down with that. And Scott can put in just $10 since he's bringing the C car.

 

You might want me to put in the $20.
You don't know who's driving it in the Enduro yet .

 

just showing my support for the IT2 initiative... i took some pix 'cause the clouds was just too beautiful and looked great as the back drop for 'mo it2 sticker pix.




for large pix follow this:

http://www.g-speed.com/remix/it2/

 

RaceShopper.com has become the most recent addition to the IT2 Challenge contingency awards line-up, graciously offering the top three IT2 finishers in the ARRC ITS race certificates redeemable for Hawk, Performance Friction, or Ferodo racing brake pads. The first-place finisher will earn a $100.00 product certificate, while second and third will win $75 and $50 certificates, respectively. To qualify for this award, entrants must meet the general IT2 Challenge eligibility requirements at the bottom of this page and in addition, must display RaceShopper.com decals on both sides of their car.

For more information on brake pads, calipers, rotors, lines, fluid and other brake system parts for your racing car, contact Edwin Robinson at 1-800-733-8380 or visit the web site at www.RaceShopper.com.

This brings the total cash and product contigency package to $1795 in value - Kirk

Full update on contingency awards at http://www.it2.evaluand.com/arrcnews.php3

 

Please be aware that the 2003 IT2 Challenge is in no way officially associated with the American Road Race of Champions™ (the ARRC™). IT2 is not a recognized racing class at this event, the IT2 Initiative is not among the official event sponsors, and the IT2 concept is not endorsed by ARRC™ or Atlanta Region SCCA® officials, the region, or the Sports Car Club of America®.

It has been suggested that members of the racing public may have been led to believe otherwise by information posted at the IT2 site or on the various club racing bulletin board forums. If this is the case, organizers of the IT2 Initiative and the IT2 Challenge apologize and assure all interested parties that it was not our intent to mislead anyone.

It has also been suggested that the IT2 Initiative should be prohibited from distributing the contingency awards that have been generously donated by supporters of the IT2 Initiative and the IT2 Challenge. It is important for all interested parties to understand that IT2 organizers do not accept the imposition of any action attempting to restrain legal trade - in this case, the disbursement of promotional awards based on on-track performance - by any individual or group, absent state or federal statute providing for such. We fully intend to disburse any and all awards as planned.

However, we would like to publicly offer the companies and individuals who have committed to award money and products the opportunity to withdraw their support, recognizing the potential ill will that might be associated with with any misunderstanding arising from recent communications by IT2 organizers. While it was not our actions that acted as catalyst in the escalation of this situation from misunderstanding to conflict, we fully recognize and accept our responsibility to provide promotional value and good will appropriate to the high level of support demonstrated by our corporate and personal sponsors.

Finally, although the timing is unfortunate, the IT2 Initiative is very pleased to introduce Lockwood Raceworks as the title sponsor for the 2003 IT2 Challenge. Improved Touring and Legend car preparation experts since 1991 and entrants of the Precis Vodka Formula Mazda driven by Grant Lockwood, Lockwood Raceworks offers professional car preparation, used racing car sales, and a growing online catalogue of racing parts and supplies. Additional information about Lockwood Raceworks and their participation in the 2003 IT2 Challenge will be made available shortly.

American Road Race of Champions™ and ARRC™ are trademarks of the Atlanta Region SCCA® and event organizers. Any uses of these marks here or in any other communication by IT2 principals are for identification purposes only and must not be construed as suggesting any formal affiliation between the trademark owners and the IT2 Initiative Lockwood Raceworks IT2 Challenge. IT2 is not an official sponsor of this event.

 

huh? people are getting mad because you are trying to get support for a new race class.

I fully understood what was stated here, you run in your respective IT class, and run IT2 stickers to be eligible. Its just like any other contigency sponser.

Good luck with the program Kirk, I would like to run some scca races, hopefully in a competitive class.

 

The organizers thought that we wanted to be seen as "official sponsors" of the event and I guess that we should have anticipated the concern and been more clear that the IT2 Challenge is not an official class at the ARRC™. I am however confident that all of our sponsors and entrants understood that this was the case.

We were first asked to submit the required forms and fee to register as an event sponsor but decided that just didn't make sense - given our goals, the very limited number of people eligible for awards, and the fact that we don't have one sponsor - we have five, one of which (the title sponsor, Lockwood Raceworks) would not be announced in time to meet the ARRC™ program publishing deadline (one benefit afforded to event sponsors).

We were subsequently told that, "It would not be fair nor consistent if we allowed anyone other than an official sponsor to offer contingency awards to our entrants" and that we were infringing on organizers' use of the ARRC™ brand. We just want to make it very clear that we are sorry for any perceived misuse of their trademark but do intend to follow through with our commitments to entrants of IT2-type cars.

K