SCCA Runoffs, Are there any 914's currently competitive in the SCCA? |
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SCCA Runoffs, Are there any 914's currently competitive in the SCCA? |
Craigers17 |
Nov 21 2019, 07:02 PM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 733 Joined: 5-August 17 From: Rome, GA Member No.: 21,317 Region Association: South East States |
Several years back, I used to watch the SCCA Runoffs, many times at Mid-Ohio, on the SPEED channel. It was always cool to see a few 914's running in, I THINK, the E Prod and F Prod classes.
I just happened to look on their website today and didn't see any 914's in the results. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I might have missed one, but I thought I would find them in either E, F, or H. Anyone here know if there are any 914's still running competitively in the SCCA, and, if so, what class? |
GregAmy |
Nov 22 2019, 08:59 AM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,291 Joined: 22-February 13 From: Middletown CT Member No.: 15,565 Region Association: North East States |
Nope, I didn't see any 914s at VIR.
EProd has turned into a big-engine class. You can see from the results that it takes some muscle to win there (Prather's lap record was in a BMW Z3). My 245whp Honda Civic Si is on the edge of possibility, but even then I was a mid-pack car this year. I personally don't think that a 2L full-prep 914 has a chance in that field, certainly not without a SHAT-ton of developement (and by that, I mean tens of thousands of dollars "investment"). However, that said, this year's EP champion, Kip van Steeburg (also champ at Daytona), bought Len Hoffman's old FProd car and it has a /6 drivetrain in it. That, I think, would be a decent EProd weapon. Kip has the $$$ to fully develop that car and I expect to see him campaigning that in EP in 2020 (I actually hoped we'd see it in 2019). FProd is a Miata class. Full Stop. Sure, there are other options (Acura Integra, for example, or an old Little British Car) but the Limited-Prep Miata is just such an easy and well-developed package that it's hard to beat. Chris is still convinced that a 914 can be competitive in FP, and I agree with him to some extent, but the $$$$ involved in fully developing a Prep Level 1 ("full prep") 914 is a big hurdle. Between Len, Chris, and others, it's all been done, but plan on opening the wallet to make it happen. Then there's H Prod. "Wait, the 914 is in H Prod?" you may ask. Yup. Who has noticed that the 1.8L is currently classified in HP in Prep Level 2 ("Limited Prep")? I just did this year. That car is, basically, an Improved Touring A car with 10.5:1 compression, .450 cams, slicks, and fuel injection developed around the stock throttle body (SDS? Megasquirt?) That's an attractive package, something I've been mulling over, given I have to build a replacement engine anyway (I broke the crankshaft on the 2L engine). I do have concerns with racing one without a dry sump (not allowed in Limited Prep), especially when we get to talking about grip levels of slick tires. Of course, the hardest thing for 914s in SCCA racing is that they are very welcome in historics circles; I think I counted 4 other 914s at the Labor Day Historics (we had more last year). Go out, have fun driving, don't worry about trophies, no chance to get hit by a Miata. PCA is also starting to be more wlecome to them as well (not that they rejected them before, but PCA racing lately has been all about the more-modern cars). And that's roughly about where we stand... |
bkrantz |
Nov 24 2019, 09:58 PM
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#3
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,756 Joined: 3-August 19 From: SW Colorado Member No.: 23,343 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
Then there's H Prod. "Wait, the 914 is in H Prod?" you may ask. Yup. Who has noticed that the 1.8L is currently classified in HP in Prep Level 2 ("Limited Prep")? I just did this year. That car is, basically, an Improved Touring A car with 10.5:1 compression, .450 cams, slicks, and fuel injection developed around the stock throttle body (SDS? Megasquirt?) That's an attractive package, something I've been mulling over, given I have to build a replacement engine anyway (I broke the crankshaft on the 2L engine). I do have concerns with racing one without a dry sump (not allowed in Limited Prep), especially when we get to talking about grip levels of slick tires. I raced a 914 2.0 in ITA in the 90s. Fun but out-powered, especially by RX-7 rotary power. I spent lots of time on suspension set up and got closer, but no better than mid pack. And oddly enough, that car came to an end due to a spinning Miata. |
GregAmy |
Nov 25 2019, 07:53 AM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,291 Joined: 22-February 13 From: Middletown CT Member No.: 15,565 Region Association: North East States |
I raced a 914 2.0 in ITA in the 90s. Fun but out-powered, especially by RX-7 rotary power. I spent lots of time on suspension set up and got closer, but no better than mid pack. And oddly enough, that car came to an end due to a spinning Miata. Did you know they moved the 914 to ITB? RX-7s stayed in ITA (and as a result they regionally formed the "Spec RX-7" or IT7 classes). ITA became dominated by higher-horspepower cars like the Acura Integra and the Nissan NX2000; I built an NX2000 and won the ARRC in 2006 in it; that car had 152 wheel ponies. Today, ITA is dominated by the 1.8L Miatas. Anyway, my 914 chassis was in ex-ITA car, cage built by Chris Foley. The car popped the engine from oil starvation at Watkins Glen circa '02 and sat for more than a decade. I got it from that guy and decided to turn it into a historics racer. Had Chris build an engine, added dry sump and Dellortos, and off we went. It has Chris' 1.8L FProd engine in it right now (thanks for the loaner, Chris!) and I'm dithering on what to do about it. And it's not that odd or ironic to get hit by a Miata. Those are fantastic cars, very capable chassis (I've owned and raced several). They allow any driver to quickly approach 90% or more capability with average talent. The problem is that it take a lot of talent to tickle that last 5%. As you approach 95% of the car's capability you're going pretty darned quickly, and if you go just a touch too much then things go pear-shaped just as quickly. The really talented guys, the ones always at the front, are the ones that know how to tickle that edge. The average drivers are the ones that don't recognize the edge is coming up and overdrive the car, usually meeting another car in the process... It has been 30 years since the first Miatas hit the road. They're now vintage-eligible. But not too many older-car owners are happy with the prospect of driving with other Miatas on the track. For now, Miatas typically get their own group... |
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