What to do with an EX-ITB 87 Ford Mustang

Run a slow car slow, is that what I am hearing?

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

I compared the Miata to the CTS-V Sport.  It took well over three times the power, in a bone stock car built from the factory to be very sporty around a racetrack, to lay down Spec Miata times.

The  car was last raced in the fall of 2022.=, at an SCCA event (per Log Book).

Any idea what might have changed in the IT-B world in that 2 year time frame?

Thanks

Run it as is and have fun. Can't be slower than my brother's showroom stock (ssc) Pinto and that was fast enough to have fun. Or mod the motor and run in gt class. The scca DC region had a class called GT-pinto that used 2.3 motors and I believed they used toned down gt3 rules  Those cars were fast. I know gt cars are highly modified tube frame cars but at least you'll have fun. The gt-pinto class were not tube-framed.

Thanks for the follow up.  Will investigate, if the CCR has any catch all classs.

Run the car as is until you need more speed or break the engine.

Then upgrade the brakes and do a V8 swap.

Food for thought

Thank you

In reply to JimS :

Wow, I remember GT Pinto. 

You could run it in STL or STU as well.  You'll have more cars in either class, for sure, than ITB or GT3.  These classes will allow you a little more freedom with upgrades as you feel you need them, without being a Grand Canyon sized jump between ITB and GT3.

With GT3, you can run the car in ITB spec, but the problem is the run group you would most likely be in.  GT3 usually runs with GT1, which is the amateur version of the SCCA Trans-Am Pro series.  800+ hp tube frame cars weighing 2700lbs come up on you very quickly when in a fully prepared GT3 car, let alone an ITB car.

racerfink said:

You could run it in STL or STU as well.  You'll have more cars in either class, for sure, than ITB or GT3.  These classes will allow you a little more freedom with upgrades as you feel you need them, without being a Grand Canyon sized jump between ITB and GT3.

With GT3, you can run the car in ITB spec, but the problem is the run group you would most likely be in.  GT3 usually runs with GT1, which is the amateur version of the SCCA Trans-Am Pro series.  800+ hp tube frame cars weighing 2700lbs come up on you very quickly when in a fully prepared GT3 car, let alone an ITB car.

Starting next year, GT-3 will be rolled into STU, taking it out of the "big-bore" group.

In reply to racerfink :

I once did a hardship lap at the end of the GT 1 - GT-3 session in an ITC Corolla and why yes Trams Am cars do come up rather fast.

Another IT-B car just popped up in the Charlotte area on FB this afternoon

Is that a sign?

RacingComputers said:

Another IT-B car just popped up in the Charlotte area on FB this afternoon

 

Is that a sign?

Voice from above:

This is your father; ITB is your destiny!

We ran SSC and SS IT back in the day.  Always thought IT- X classes were the next step up.

Might be the case

In reply to RacingComputers :

I ran a SSC Miata and would have moved it to IT when it aged out of SSC but got a D-sports Racer...........should have gone to IT with the Miata. LOL

I would say... buy  a faster car that you like for same money.

Tom1200 said:

In reply to racerfink :

I once did a hardship lap at the end of the GT 1 - GT-3 session in an ITC Corolla and why yes Trams Am cars do come up rather fast.

My first ever race on my novice license was on the Sebring club course in a very tired GT-4 '72 Corolla.  It was the season ending race, so a lot of cars showed up to try and finish high in the points, and to get some practice in before the National in five weeks.

11 GT-1 cars, and 9 ASR cars (IMSA GTO cars with big blocks) showed up.  I was the only car in GT-4.  I don't think my right hand touched the steering wheel.  If I wasn't shifting, I was giving a point-by.  

For nostalgic reasons I went to dc region website to see if IT classes still existed. What I found that GT-Pinto still exists and they have a group for bracket road racing. There are 8 classes and they use lap times from Summit Point as their criteria since it is their home track for the Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Series (MARRS). Great idea for older cars that are uncompetitive  in their regular class. 

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

Unfortunately I don't fit in the NAa and NB Miatas.  There are not a lot oc NC Miata  race prep'd  in the $5K rang in the  Charlotte Area.

In reply to RacingComputers :

5K.......sounds like stupid fun for not a lot of money.

One thing to consider is how many people you have to race with. ITB is one of the least subscribed classes in the SE division.

Looks like there have only been 3 races out of 25+ this year with more than 2 ITB entries, and a lot of races had one or none  (each column past the yellow is an individual race). You can look at the full list of entries by class for 2024 here. 

In reply to sevenracer :

I read that as 'Guaranteed podium in class'

In reply to Piguin :

Hey,  I just said to consider it!

2nd is the 1st looser.

Appreciate all the hard work and input.

Currently looking for a place to store it in the off season in the Charlotte Area.

Shop is full with RAT7201 2005 Mustang and 2 wheel drag along cart with tires, tools and cooler.

In reply to sevenracer :

I spent several seasons with no one in my class; I simply battled for spots in the overall order.

One of my best races was a three way battle with all three of us in different classes.