I'm in the process of buying this car. It was an ARRC winner in 1998 and seems to be a well used race car. I am getting it for 9k shipped from WI to WA

Here's the advertisement:

1998 ARRC ITA winning car. Built by Jim Leithauser.
Car maintained by King Motorsports., including New 4.73 ring & pinion with Limited Slip. Recent valve job and freshed head.
Engine: 20 over pistons.
Oil breather and catch can
DMC header and King exhaust
Cold air intake
Suspension: Shorted adjustable Koni's front anr rear
Eibach springs: 450lb frt. 650lb rear
King rear sway bar
Mugen bushings by King
Brakes: New 1991 master cylinder
1991 larger front rotors
1991 rear dics
Wildwood brake proportioning valve
Steel braided brake lines
Hawk blue brake pads and spares
New front calipers
Brake cooling ducts
Custom front spoiler
Welded cage, Kirkey seat, Momo steering wheel.
4 Panasport ltw wheels 14x7, 4 Borbet wheels for rain 14x6
4 Revolution wheels for spares
4 Hooser Dirt Stockers for rain
4 or more Hoosers for dry (used- good for practice)
Could also convert to F Production.
Spare Transmission and 2 spare heads.
also, various spare control arms, A arms, brake parts and pads, brake rotors, etc.
Car is Fast and dependable. Never bent.

Here's the picutres






Let me know what you all think about this deal.

I can't wait to go racing!

 

I knew and crewed for the car when Jim had it. It was the overkill mobile that he built when he worked for SCCA. When he sold it, it sold for the most money that an ITA DCRX had ever sold for and I am sure that Jim lost money on it just becasue he invested big money and effort in it.

I have seen off and on that the car was offered for sale. Depending on the price and current condition, there is no question that the car was well built.

 

It's nice that someone like Lee can verify the build of the car first-hand. I can say just from looking at the parts list that it would cost a bundle to build and for the quoted price it's a smokin' deal. I would assume that it went together well if it has a win or two under it's belt. Good luck!

 

I have also seen the car, and I believe those pics are from Road America as well. Those things are a blast to drive.

 

Looks to be a good deal, especially when you figure in shipping. Go for it. Group 2 needs another CRX

 

I'm looking through the O4' GCR right now and I think this car has some illegal things on it.

It's a 1988 si but it has 91 front brakes and 91 rear disks...

I have to keep reading... the GCR is bigger than most bibles!

 

That's coming to the NW? Oh, that's just great...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rice_classic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
It's a 1988 si but it has 91 front brakes and 91 rear disks...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's legal because the 88-91 CRX Si's are listed on the same line in the GCR.

 

That's great news for the brakes.

As for this season... I may only get to race half of the races or less. My goal for this season is to get my 3 or 4 novice races out of the way so I can get my area license so that I can co-drive Jisu009's car in the 8 hour enduro at portland in october, that is, of course, if he is still considering my as his co-driver!!...

After this season I will then look at saving my pennies and searching for sponsors... I'm hoping the bar I work for will put their name on the side of my car along with a few bucks in my pocket..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rice_classic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's a 1988 si but it has 91 front brakes and 91 rear disks...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe that legal under the update/backdate rule.

Is this the car that Endicott drove at the ARRC a fews years back? I'm going by memory (which is dangerous), but I'm pretty sure Endicott drove this car to victory over a bunch of big time drivers, including Fowler and (believe it or not) David Hobbs.
But I could be getting my years and drivers mixed up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I believe that legal under the update/backdate rule.

Is this the car that Endicott drove at the ARRC a fews years back? I'm going by memory (which is dangerous), but I'm pretty sure Endicott drove this car to victory over a bunch of big time drivers, including Fowler and (believe it or not) David Hobbs.
But I could be getting my years and drivers mixed up.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not sure.. I know it won it's division in ARRC in 1998 but I'm buying it from a fellow named patrick jeffords and I forgot who drove it before him...

 

Yes, for the 1998 ARRC Jim Leithauser put Bob Endicott in the seat and he won a good race beating strong runners. I was there hanging out and it was the first time that I had met Endicott. Although he is a much improved driver now (Runoffs repeatedly in SSB and T2), Jim was still a journeyman driver back then and the car was built to the 9s so Jim got bob to be the hot shoe. Plus he got to drink more beer. Really the main reason was that he was working for SCCA still and SCCA employees are not allowed to race for a championship. It doesn't say they can't be listed as the car owner.

I didn't see anything that said and approxomate price on the car, let me know if I missed it as I am interested to see what it asking price is (not interested myself, just wondering). Last time I talked to Jim, he said the buyer was not using it much and not using it well in some non-SCCA races. Basically he thought it was too good a car not to be used but the guy's money was green. That silver with the blue and white flag scheme is just as Jim owned it.

If you buy the car, I can put you in contact with Jim if you want some background on the car. He did all kinds of things on it. Jim was the first (and only) driver I new who ran two cameras in his car during racing, one out the front and one out the rear. Talk about overkill. Jim was the first person whom we started regularly shortening Koni front shocks when revalving them, now it is the norm pretty much on a CRX or other low Honda.

The brakes are legit becasue all of the cars were on teh same spec line. The front '90 brakes are marginally bigger and the rear disk swap is legal but several (myslef included) will debate the true performance increase vs. effort.

 

I'm almost 100% positive there is a picture of that car from the 1998 ARRC leading Hobbs, Fowler, and Dishaw (I think) through turn 5. It was on the cover of the Atlanta Region newsletter.

I've seen that car up close, but honestly don't remember details of it. I do know that in the early days of ITA CRX Si dominance that car was running with the best efforts and drivers from OPM and King.
As long as it hasn't been neglected or bent, it should be a very nice car.

 

Yes.. the car was purchased by me about 30 minutes ago! I should see it and all its extra parts show up at my door in 2-3 weeks. final price shippped to my door was 9k$.

I still have yet to get my suit, hans, gloves, and shoes.

Bulldog: I believe you just gave 5 kuhmo victoracers to my roomate, Jeremy Selg. Jeremy's car is coming along nicely and I expect to (metaphorically) swap paint with him.

If you could put me in touch with Jim Leithauser that would be great! I would love to discuss the workings of this car with its original builder/owner.

Why I am so excited about the rear disks being legal isn't because of added performance (or not) but because rear disks are easier to maintain. IMHO. I HATE working on drums.

I think the only thing I might change on the car is the fuel management because I believe the 2004 season rules will allow the use of Hondata.

I might make it to a race in June but earlier than that might be a real stretch.

BTW... The car comes with 3 sets of wheels.
1 set panasports 14x7
1 set Borbets 14x6 (rain use)
1 set revolutions 14x7 (one of them is broken so I only have 3)

Due to this I am obviously in the market for one set of 14x7 wheels or ONE 14x7 Revolution wheel.


Modified by rice_classic at 6:15 PM 4/12/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rice_classic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why I am so excited about the rear disks being legal isn't because of added performance (or not) but because rear disks are easier to maintain. IMHO. I HATE working on drums.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Drums are a PITA. All of the SRX-7 guys swap to discs for maintenance reasons.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think the only thing I might change on the car is the fuel management because I believe the 2004 season rules will allow the use of Hondata.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sort of. I *think* the ECU has to be housed in the stock casing, so you would need to remove the dongle--connector-thingy from the Hondata system. I'm pretty sure people have done this already.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW... The car comes with 3 sets of wheels.
1 set panasports 14x7
1 set Borbets 14x6 (rain use)
1 set revolutions 14x7 (one of them is broken so I only have 3)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not a bad selection of wheels.

Looks like a pretty good deal, especially given the shipping.

 

Generic "I can't wait to do that when I get out of prison" post!

Looks like a sweet car.

 

Good luck with your new toy. I'll IM contact info for Leithauser to you tomorrow as I keep it at my office. Although $9k not an inexpensive purchase for an ITA CRX since they seemed to have passed their price peak a few years ago, I think you did well as there are good spares there and this car was certainly well built and proven competitive with the best of them. I don't know exactly what they previous owner paid for it but I know he lost pretty good money on it.

Before you drop more money on the Hondata system (does Honda have a controller for the D16A6 non-VTEC?), I would suggest that you start running the car just as it is. You are obviously a new driver so seat time is you primary goal. This car's credentials and proven record is much longer than yours (no offense) so it is you in this equation and not the car that needs to get faster. The fewer things you change on the car, the less money you spend to make gains you don't need now and the less risk that something will get hurt.

Get the car and your gear and take some schools and get racing. Depending on your background, it may likely take a year or more before the car really needs more performance improvements.

Good luck, have fun, smile big, and be safe.

 

Is the cage ERW or DOM? Probably not an issue since it looks like a top notch car.

 

Congrats on your new car... I'm looking into purchasing a CRX as well. A few things that I know I'll have to double check:

- Harness (seatbelts)... have to be updated every two years now
- Fuel Test Port... seems this is also new this year.
- Seat Legality... in the most recent edition of Sports Car (SCCA publication) they announced a few seats that are no longer legal or something. (anyone else see this?)

Nope this helps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITACivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is the cage ERW or DOM? Probably not an issue since it looks like a top notch car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't have the answer to that question right now. Hell, I'm still in the process of trying to find insurance for it. I tried Parish Heacock but they only insure drivers that are 28 and up... I'm 23 so I don't know what to do.. I could always just insure in my father's name.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm almost 100% positive there is a picture of that car from the 1998 ARRC</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here's one.


I watched Bob drive that car in the sprint in '98. Bob also drove it in the ARRC enduro with panoz instructor Eric Foss and they were also running I believe something like 5th overall (1st in class) when something in the right front suspension broke. I also remember watching Endicott's entire speedy and efficient repair job that took only a few minutes - as his crew were handing him spare parts and tools - all from right across the wall on the backstraight where he had pulled off. That guy not only knows how to drive, but also knows cars inside out.

For 9K that is a deal. Even if that car has not been made faster since then, it was quick enough back then that it could still be a top finisher now 6 years later; that is if Bob would be behind the wheel to complete the '98 ARRC winning package.

Have fun with it man! Btw, what region are you from?

 

congrats, that seems like a sick deal on paper alone. buying a proven winner is definetely the smart way to go.

personally, i would change the paint scheme, in fear that someone would confuse me with the previous owner and wonder was the car was so slow.

 

Nice purchace!!!!

Let me know if you get tired of it and want to sell it That will probably be about the same time that I start making enough money to get into W2W racing (and right about the time hell freezes over)

I need to come back up to PIR and hang with you guys for inspiration a couple of times again this season

 

For those asking me what region, I am in the Northwest; seattle area. I am a member of the IRDC and will be running in IRDC races under the ICSCC umbrella.

I hope to run in H4 once the Honda Challenge makes its way up to the NW.

I won't be making any races in May, there is a "chance" that I might make one or 2 in June but I still have bugs to work out... such as:

Gear (suit/shoes/hans/gloves)
Tires
Towing (my only car is a CRX... don't know if I want to tow a crx with a crx )
Tech
Novice license (haven't filed paperwork yet... but I'm on it!)
Springs (after I get the car dialed in I can see myself wanting stiffer springs)

In someone's instant message to me they said they could provide me Jim Leithauser's phone number.. I think it would be a great honor to speak with Jim about his old race car.!

I appreciate everyone's response to my soon-to-be entrance into W2W racing and I feel as if I've been welcomed with open arms. It's been a life-long dream to race a car and as the days fall off the calender I feel as if I'm that much closer to living the dream.

 

Great, now my roomie has a kick *** race car that I get to look at while I wrench on my "soon to be kick *** race car".....