ITB Manta's first outing in 16 years

[IT Manta]

Here is a picture of my Manta on track for the first time in since the PCRRC in 1990. I had a good weekend with no mechanical issues, lot's of chassis adjustments and really poor gearing for Pacific Raceways. The car basically ran out of gear (4.22's) 1/3rd of the way down the front straight. But the car finished 2nd in ITB (out of only three cars ). Next race is Sept. 10/11 at PIR and is being futher sorted to make up for all those years that IT has changed.

[slartybarfast]

Looking good.. what type of lap time did you get ?

[IT Manta]

My best lap was a 1.54. The ITB lap record is 1.47. I lost major time down the front straight, and even the ITA cars did not pull on me in the turns or under braking. More development and perhaps a different rear gear for that track and I will be right in the hunt.

[deaner]

Nice Car, It is so much fun racing ITB. With a little sorting the car out. You'll just improve on that time. Trust me, it takes time and effort to dial in an race car. The corners are the Manta's strong point. I love ITB class too. I use to race an ITB manta in the San Diego Region. I use to live in Vancouver. And had a chance to take my then Manta on PIR. What a blast. Good luck to you in the future.

[IT Manta]

PIR is ten minutes from my house and that is where I race most of the time. The first outing for the Manta was also my first time at PR so the learning curve was double trouble. I finallly had the track figured out the last few laps of the race . Real fun track though. I started racing years ago at Sears Point and Laguna Seca so it was nice to visit a track with elevation change again.

[PBR Allstar]

Hey IT,
I don't know how long ago you were up in the San Francisco Regieon, but in the 80's and ealry 90's do you remember a White Manta that was run in ITB I think the owners name was Peter Gray?? I think he won the regieon a time or two. anyhow, I wound up with the car and hung onto it for a few years but never put it together. seeing your car I'm kicking myself for getting rid of it. There is also a Black ITB Manta out at sears point currently that ran around the same time, it's owned by Dodge Reidey of Reidey's Racing Engines. I see that car every day on my way to work, sitting outside, rotting..... Anyway, you're car looks awesome.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by PBR Allstar Hey IT, I don't know how long ago you were up in the San Francisco Regieon, but in the 80's and ealry 90's do you remember a White Manta that was run in ITB I think the owners name was Peter Gray??

I remember him! As I recall he had about $25K sunk into developing his Manta (back in the early '90's), and from phone conversations with him, it was truly sorted out. A lot of engine dyno time on it, and a lot of chassis/suspension refinement. We used to bounce ideas off each other. Smart guy.

Bob

[IT Manta]

Sure enough, I was good friends with those guys. David Ray originally owned the white/red one, and Peter Gray won the region in it a few years later. The car Dodge has belonged to Pete Musser. Ben Penn and I helped build both those cars and crewed for them until I built my own. Ben used to race a yellow Ascona in ITB and then RS.

[PBR Allstar]

I could tell that a lot of R&D went into the Peter Gray car, although when I had possesion of the car it was after it went through several hands, the car had been torn apart, (the engine was just a rusty block and crank) and most things were missing, (glass, dash, door panels, all the trim, lights, shocks, most of the driveline with the exception of the rear axle, it had mismatch wheels etc.) I did get a box of ecu's and other FI stuff that looked like it had been reworked at one time or another, they all had track names and rpm ranges written on them, unfortunately the milk crate that they were in looked like it had sat outside in the mud for a couple of winters. I really wish at the time I had the means to get the car going, but finances, family and a place to store the car were holding me back so I passed it on to a guy Named Gino that worked at Huffaker Engineering at the time,, I think the car is in storage in Middletown California now.
The Dodge Reidey car I see everyday at sears point, I work in a shop out there (stasis engineering) and Dodge's shop is at the track also. The car is parked in the tenant trailer parking area just kind of going to waste (windows down uncovered in the rain,,,, you get the idea), I've been meaning to talk to him about it, but I want to have some cash in hand before I do. I've always liked the idea of having an ITB manta that was still licesned.

[ConreroGT]

Originally Posted by IT Manta Next race is Sept. 10/11 at PIR and is being futher sorted to make up for all those years that IT has changed.

Beautiful looking Manta. I'll be sure to make it down there in September and root for ya...

[IT Manta]

Originally Posted by PBR Allstar I could tell that a lot of R&D went into the Peter Gray car, although when I had possesion of the car it was after it went through several hands, the car had been torn apart, (the engine was just a rusty block and crank) and most things were missing, (glass, dash, door panels, all the trim, lights, shocks, most of the driveline with the exception of the rear axle, it had mismatch wheels etc.) I did get a box of ecu's and other FI stuff that looked like it had been reworked at one time or another, they all had track names and rpm ranges written on them, unfortunately the milk crate that they were in looked like it had sat outside in the mud for a couple of winters. I really wish at the time I had the means to get the car going, but finances, family and a place to store the car were holding me back so I passed it on to a guy Named Gino that worked at Huffaker Engineering at the time,, I think the car is in storage in Middletown California now. The Dodge Reidey car I see everyday at sears point, I work in a shop out there (stasis engineering) and Dodge's shop is at the track also. The car is parked in the tenant trailer parking area just kind of going to waste (windows down uncovered in the rain,,,, you get the idea), I've been meaning to talk to him about it, but I want to have some cash in hand before I do. I've always liked the idea of having an ITB manta that was still licesned.

Funny and small world. you work with Sean, and I know him from portland/matrix... The last time I saw your old car was on Ebay. it was just a shell and in real poor shape. It was a shame to see.

[IT Manta]

Originally Posted by ConreroGT Beautiful looking Manta. I'll be sure to make it down there in September and root for ya...

I hope you make it down Kyle.

[RallyBob]

Pete, I forgot to comment earlier, but that car is absolutely beautiful. Definitely one of the best looking cars ever put on a racetrack.

Bob

[IT Manta]

Thanks Bob, all my cars are done to the best of my ability.

[RallyBob]

Cool. We need more pics though! Especially action shots, partial frontal views on the track look particularly good on a Manta.

[IT Manta]

I will post more pictures when I get a chance to process them. I also have in-car...

[IT Manta]

Here are a few more pictures .

[ConreroGT]

Woah! That's Pacific raceways in Washington! You gotta warn me....I live 15 minutes from there!! Weird that the photo of the cars were taken in almost the same identical spot!

[cherokee]

Very nice car, it looks like there is going to be more Opels running now then there has been in the past couple of years. Seems like guys that have been out for a while are getting back into it.

[PBR Allstar]

Originally Posted by IT Manta Funny and small world. you work with Sean, and I know him from portland/matrix... The last time I saw your old car was on Ebay. it was just a shell and in real poor shape. It was a shame to see.

Yeah, that was pretty much the shape the car came to me in, with a bunch of misc. parts that had been owned by the weather. So yeah, I work with Shaun, he's a good guy, very sharp. He's acctually the technical engineer for our world challenge touring car racing team, speaking of which they won this weekend at Road America with Chip Herr at the wheel.

[IT Manta]

I saw the race and always root for you guys. Good job. Ask Dodge what he plans to do with Pete's old car.

[Ernie Bello]

Hi guys- I am in SE Florida- West Palm Beach. I race a 78 Kadett GT/E I imported in '85. I race Vintage with HSR and CHRA. I could use some of you guys out here! I am the only Opel out there. Always being asked "...what the hell is that thing? It is pretty fast...very competitive, etc. Some years are better than others...'Class Champion in '03 & '04; '05 was a disaster- only finished and won one race; '06 was better- but only raced twice and won both of those at Roebling Road (GA) with HSR and Daytona (FL) with CHRA. As you know, being the only Opel at the track means you have no source for spares other than whatever you brought!! But it sure is rewarding when people come around to your pits and ask you all about the Opel! Regards! Ernie Bello

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Ernie Bello But it sure is rewarding when people come around to your pits and ask you all about the Opel! Regards! Ernie Bello

Hello ugly....

It's about time you visited these forums a bit more!

Bob

[Ernie Bello]

Hello Butt Ugly- man, you are like the shadows- always there! Did you find my pulley yet? Ernie

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Ernie Bello Hello Butt Ugly- man, you are like the shadows- always there! Did you find my pulley yet? Ernie

Nope, no more pulleys. Just the broken one off my 1.7 litre engine. All my other cast pulleys are A/C ones.

Bob