Building a Racer to beat a Honda CRX - Options?

[area53 at validpath.com (Jeff Toomasson)]

To trot out an old phrase - "speed costs money; how fast do you want to go?" 
Also, I guess you need to define "legal" mods - ie, does massaging the engine 
count as legal?

If so, my recommendation would be to get a hold of a Heron head and pistons. 
P&P the snot out of the head (an expert job is required here) and get some 7mm-
stem big valves (41mm in/38mm out). Lighten/knife an early 1.7 crank, 
lighten/balance the lower internals and run a Supersprint race exhaust w/ 
whatever cam you can get away with. Dual 40mm carbs are a must if allowed and 
the usual race suspension treatments still apply. If carbs aren't allowed, get 
Euro CIS to remain stealth and use the traditional methods to minimize airflow 
restrictions. You should be able to wring out 115+ hp if tuned right. A cam 
gear will help emphasize the torque band if you prefer.

The true gap-closer will be how you choose to gear it though. You could run a 
4.25 R&P for a really close box or roll w/ a 2Y or 4K.

HTH, JT
 
> After doing some nosing around, it seems the class that a mk1 (or mk2) roc
> would end up in at the local track is dominated by 90s Honda CRX's with
> the
 1.5L 16V engines.
> 
> They seem to be putting out about 108-110 HP with legal mods and weigh in
> around 2000 Lbs.  Internet lists the torque from the factory at 90 Ft-lbs
> at 4500 RPM.
> 
> The local track is short and full of corners. It is far from a high speed
> track, there is only one real straight section and it is not that long. 
> So
 a quick point and shoot style setup seems to be the way to go.
> 
> I figured a high torque car would be better than a masive HP beast.  So
> the
 question remains, can a Roc be designed to out class the 0.06 HP/Lbs
> crx?
 
> Class is limited to 1750cc, so the 1.7L from a mk1 or early mk2 works
> great.  BUT: the 75HP it comes with stock might get bumped to 80 with
> legal
 mods (still invstigating) and the curb weight for a mk1 roc is
> around 2000
 Lbs as well is it not?
> 
> That puts the roc at only 0.04 HP/Lbs, what I am hoping for is to get a
> whole lot more torque out of the engine to pull out of the corners.
 
> Just looking for ideas :)
> 
> Cory