A few opening statements:
1) Guess how many IT engines we have built in the last 10 years or so ???
Answer: None, zero, zip, nada.
Why?? -- just cost I guess. Since I have never been involved/raced the IT class, and there are many other engine builders out there, nobody ordered one.
2) I never particularly cared for some of the IT rules: way back when headliners were REQUIRED, passenger seats, OEM wiring looms, full dashboards, heaters, etc -- always seemed like a lot of junk to carry around, and kept the cars from looking more like "race cars".
3) There always seemed to be too many "nit-picking" things being protested. My personal philosophy has always been - If it's not a real performance advantage, and it's not "approved" in the rules, then discuss it with the other guy, and ask him to justify or change it. Things like a fender corner out a 1/4" too far -- just change it before the next race, don't disqualify the guy!
4) I have always been irritated (with many different racing organizations) that limited "longevity increasing" things that did not cost much. -- All racers are tight on $$, and a few $$ extra spent initially that can make something stay together longer really should be ok'd.
I "returned" to road racing (after 11 years out of it) essentially in January of this year with a Pro7 car out here in CalClub. (I think it is a more "cost effective" class than ITA) -- no passenger seats, no wiring looms, etc.+ it's ALL 79-85 RX7's with "same" bars, springs, shocks, wheels, tires, ignitions, manifolds, internal engine parts, etc.
Obviously we did the engine for my car - new seals, rotor housings, etc and spent a lot of time on the dyno to see what a "stock" engine wanted. (we have to use a stock cast iron exhaust manifold). It seems to have worked, as I've won a few races, set a few lap records, and am currently in the points lead.
(We also, in between sessions, swap on a 48IDA Weber and rear slicks and run E/Prodution also. -- won a few of those, and am also in the (regional only) E/P points lead).
We have built a few Pro7 engines, and dynoed a few others. Other than the first double weekend, Mazdatrix engines/or dyno have won all the Pro7 races, and have taken all 3 podium places often.
ALL those Pro7 engines we have been involved with have been completely legal when they left here (I can not vouch for any engines except my own after they leave here).
Now for the direct answers:
Carbon apex seals have been legal for many years. The OEM steel ones tend to "float" above about 8k, and leave "chatter" marks on the rotor housings, which eventually will be a problem. -- When the Pro7 group was talking about carbon seals, I told them NO!! It will just lead to higher revs, more dyno time, more engine failures -- all = higher cost.
I "wrote" that IT engine description way back in about 1990, and really never looked at it again. It was a "OK, if somebody wanted one, what would we want to do". We do NOT side cut the rotors on Pro7 engines, and we will not be cutting them on IT engines-- we decided it is a waste of $$ as they really just won't be at a high enough rpm, for long enough, to warrant the cost. --- nothing to do with "legality" -- I'll let you guys go there.
"Special housing selection" consists FIRST and FOREMOST of NOT using any side housings that even REMOTELY look like they have been TOUCHED with any kind of grinder!! -- When you are looking through a few hundred used housings, you have to be VERY careful that they are untouched! Other than that, there is very little difference in the "core shift" of the RX7 side housings. (The old "3B" RX3 ones had major differences). We just try not to use any really "sharp edged" ones, but it is REALLY rare to find "REALLY" great ones. In fact, the last set we selected for a Pro7 engine, upon closer examination, had been "lightly massaged", so we had to reject them. (I am NOT kidding!!!, they went into a rebuild for a street engine just so we would not keep "picking" them out)
We will NOT build a "racing" engine without NEW rotor housings!! -- we buy straight from MAZDA, RX7 (79-85) rotor housings, do not touch them, and put them in the engine.
Now for the real question -- "hardened" gears. Absolutely no performance advantage. The engine "may" last longer. The later 13B engines (does NOT apply to ITA 12A) came with them, so they are legal in ITS). They cost a little more.
Are they legal?? By the exact rules, probably not. If a customer did not want them, no problem. -- But please remember what I said way back up there -- NOBODY will win a race BECAUSE he made the engine last longer with hardened gears (Yes, I know, he MIGHT win that last one because the engine MIGHT have blown the race before).
Just a question - is the "IT" group THAT worried about something THAT minor????? There are SO MANY ways to CHEAT that give a real performance advantage, and are hard to find, do YOU really care to be the one to tear down somebody, and disqualify him, because he wanted to have it last longer???? Like I said, just a question of mine, reflecting my PERSONAL opinion on some of the rules.
Anyway -- hash it out among yourselves. I will change the wording on the IT engine description to make it fit the rules -- that should lead to a real flood of engine orders???
For what it is worth, I was recently brought an engine for dynoing, that upon closer inspection was not legal (mild porting). I refused to dyno it, and marked it so I could identify it if it showed up in a car. I told the customer that if I was aware that engine was in a car I was racing against, I would "speak" to the tech people to be sure it was pulled. -- just thought I would let you all know.
Dave, Owner @ Mazdatrix
