During my time on the ITAC, I was involved in the SIR testing, and implementation. Watching a car run with different SIRs on a dyno was painful. I told Dowie I was at best on the fence, and not impressed with the data we had as being conclusive. I reported same essentially within committee. The ITA didn't recommend the SIR.
I also reached out to BMW big dogs. They hated the SIR, and some that I spoke with were seriously pissed with the club at the change. They'd done their homework, in their eyes, and were now being singled out and punished. They said FU, and took their balls and money and moved on to other greener pastures. Others who spoke up and were winning races were doing so with junkyard motors. They went BMWCCA racing, also pissed at the comp adjustment.
So, I think the SIR "helped" make people tip their decision scales. certainly it caused a few to flat quit the club in disgust. I remember thinking at the time that we'd lose a bunch, but that number would be less than the number of OTHER ITS guys that would quit if nothing was dome about the E36. The wound was open and bleeding because of E36 clusterfuck classing before the SIR....The initial classing, the subsequent lowering then raising of the weight was bungled to begin with, and the SIR was the straw that broke the camels back. The SIR was considered in my mind, an amputation, one that the CRB felt was the best option.
Up in the NE, the Maynards persevered with the SIR, and had fits. Dowie, and others helped, and gradually they got better, ultimately becoming competitive. Keep in mid the tracks they mostly ran were Lime Rock and NHMS.
Glenn, the top edge for the ITS car is 180. Have you seen Huffmaster run an ITS 7 at road Atlanta? If not, you'll be a changed man.