Opinions on First Car

I recently asked someone who owned an IT-B Fiero he said that it was not very competitive. But as I look at IT-A it looks to me like the only disadvantage compared to CRXs and Miatas is weight. (Which I do realize is VERY important!) But it looks to me like it would do good considering it is mid-engine. I was also considering the fact that it is mostly plastic and would be cheaper to fix in the case of a wreck. I was also planning on autocrossing it as I build it. How competitive would the V-6 Fiero be in E-Stock/C-Street Prepared etc., and on in to SOLO I and some day IT-A? I realize that the object of IT is not to promise you a win in your class but with a good driver could a IT-A Fiero win?

Thank you very much
Forgive the questions im new to IT!!!

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Eric W. Chance
2000 Mazda Miata C-Stock
1964 1/2 Mustang (For Sale)
 
As it stands now, I doubt it.

Anytime you are on the same size tires as the other guy, you need to have a serious advantage in one area if you are deficit in another.

So, the question becomes, does the Fiero have enough power to outrun a 240SX? Wt. on the 240 is 2580, power is about 150 at the wheels. Crank is about 175 or so?

The Fiero weighs 2780, so you would want about 163 at the wheels, PLUS the amount needed to make up for the deficit in cornering speed and braking.

I think the CRX, the 240SX and the Integra are the class of the class with the new additions, the Sentra SER, the NX2000, the Neons, and the existing close but not quite Miatas nipping at the big dogs heels.

Thats SEVEN cars that are tough deals to get around.

So the question reverts to, "Can it win races??" And the answer is sure...depends on the field...

OK, that said, build the heck out of it, and see what happens! I love diversity, and who knows....the class might reward the effort.

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Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]
 
FWIW, I can give you some data to peruse, admittedly at only one track. Last year, I took my street Fiero ('88 V6) to Hallett a few times for COMMA High Speed Touring events. With the following mods, I ended up running high 1:33's:

7" Kosei wheels
Used 205/50-15 R3S04 Hoosiers
Single adjustable Koni's (ca 1990)
Chopped stock springs
Decambered -3 deg fr -2.5 deg rr
Muffler removed
2980 lbs w/driver... repeat, 2980!

So, with a Fiero that was essentially stock, at 200 lbs over min weight, on used Hoosiers, we ran 3 seconds from the ITA lap record (Bob Stretch, 240SX 1:30.7). BTW, this is a 60k mile car that I've owned since new, so I know exactly what *is* stock and what isn't. For instance, the engine has never had the valve covers off. All emissions equipment was intact, including the converter. We were on stock suspension bushings, stock brake pads, nearly stock springs, etc, etc. Admittedly, I did NOT run the air conditioner.
smile.gif


So yes, ...at Hallett... I'm of the opinion that a decently prepared and driven '88 V6 Fiero could do pretty well in ITA. And a bit of extrapolation tells me the ITB Fiero (again, an '88) could also be competitive there. The ITB lap record is a little over 2 seconds slower than ITA (Chris Albin, VW 1:32.9). The ITB Fiero would have significantly less power than the ITA car (stock numbers are 98hp vs 135hp, IIRC), but the car is also 230 lbs lighter.

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Gary Learned
Volvo 142E
 
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