Building e30 to IT spec for DSP autox?

[JGood]

I heard you can interchange IT prepared cars into there respective Street Prepared classes. I know nothing about IT - I couldn't even find anything on SCCA's website. But I do know a local guy has a neon in DSP - and it's fully gutted. This has to be an advantage for e30's... But as I understand it you can't mix the rules - it's one or the other.

Where can I find specs for IT preparation?

I'm assuming there is some stuff that can't be done in IT then you can do in DSP, otherwise Alex and the rest of the fast guys would be 200lbs lighter by now.

[Charlie]

http://www.scca.com/documents/Club%20Rules/ImprovedTouring.pdf

You'll need a full cage, safety system and I think there's a minimum weight.

-Charlie

[JGood]

My bubble has been burst.

[325is///M-tech]

The minimum weight for ITS for a e30 is 2750 lbs. You must retain all glass in the car say the front door glass. Suspension is the same as spec E30 with the addition of coilover shocks and springs. ITS cars also can run Hosiers on either 14 or 15 inch wheels.

[JGood]

Damn, I'd be much worse off with an ITS car in DSP. My car weights 2640, as it sits, legally in DSP. The addition of weight up top (cage), reduction of weight down low (carpet, sound deadening) is not what I'm looking to do...

[Jean]

Just move up to SM instead ;)

[JGood]

Just move up to SM instead ;)

lol, my under prepared DSP car would do EXCELLENT in SM!

Actually, minus one Honda CRX built to full SM specs, I think I would end up second in SM, because regionally, there is no SM cars in my area. Nah, I'll just keep my 1st place DSP streak goin :D

[Jean]

Lucky! I am in a sea of high powered SM cars here ;)

[joshh]

The trade offs kind of suck imo. I feel a straight up DSP car is going to be better set up to win. My opinion of course. If an IT car was the way to go, I think you'd see them more often.

[JGood]

The trade offs kind of suck imo. I feel a straight up DSP car is going to be better set up to win. My opinion of course. If an IT car was the way to go, I think you'd see them more often.

A fully built DSP car is also mucho money, so I was hoping I could go the IT route with my current mods, which would let me strip my interior, and therefor be faster without spending a lot. Buuut, ya gotta have a cage, which kills the price thing. I'm not caging my autox/hpde car, haha.

[joshh]

A fully built DSP car is also mucho money, so I was hoping I could go the IT route with my current mods, which would let me strip my interior, and therefor be faster without spending a lot. Buuut, ya gotta have a cage, which kills the price thing. I'm not caging my autox/hpde car, haha.

Very true. I was shocked at what some of these guys spend on their cars.

[DSP74]

biggest expense for a DSP car is going to be the wheels, and the bodywork to make them fit. Otherwise it isn't any more expensive than just modding the car for fun. Most of what is done to a S/P car is something that is done to a car that the average guy wrenches on.....

What is a DSP e30? A fun car that handles GREAT and looks bad ass with huge tires. But you know what. With a maxed S/P engine I can't see putting down more than about 155hp to the rear wheels.....Fun but it could be even more fun.......FWIW that doesn't address the issue of whether or not the car is even competitive in DSP.

A SM E30 is a car that only has to be 2300lbs with a 2.5l or 2340 with a 2.7l. Consider this. DSP and ESP are VERY close to exactly the same speed. There isn't a decent ESP car around that doesn't put close to or over 300hp to the wheels and well more torque than that. Fully prepped ESP 4th gen f-body should weigh around 3300lbs, and fully prepped DSP E30 should be around 2600 maybe a little less.

Remember they are already equal in speed on course. Now double the HP (at least with turbocharging) of the E30 and drop another 300lbs off the car too, and you'll see how a SM E30 should be just as competitive with any other SM car..............

[DSP74]

now in the past 7 years or so spending has gotten out of control at the highest level. I will admit.
A really good S/P car used to have header exhaust, cai, the biggest tires and wheels that fit the body, and some shocks/springs and swaybars.
Now we are seeing expensive bodywork, huge wheels, built engines, stand alone ECU's etc.

[joshh]

A fully built E30 in DSP in my opinion is competitive. I'd also argue that the 275 35 15 is better for the E30 than the 285 30 18 as well...although I don't have any figures to show for it.

[DSP74]

I don't think it is.
I think that for now the surface at KMP tends to reward lighter smaller cars or cars with alot of traction (AWD) because of the lack of grip vs seasoned concrete.

Some folks seem to think that the current top E30 is much stronger power wise than other E30's. Maybe others just need to build a MAX S/P engine. I have heard from a VERY reputable source that the current DSP champ car isn't a maxed out S/P car by any means. I'm guessing Mike Shields doesn't ever visit this site.

Completely maxed to the limit of the rules, (which is what the cars should be for comparitive purposes) the E36 is DEFINATELY the better car.....

Now in SM the cars are much, much more equalized. And FWIW everyone talks about crappy rear suspension on the E30's but most shortcoming are fixable and/or nonexistant with the spring rates, and ride height used on a S/P or SM car.