Admit it,we all have dreams of ripping around a track in our beloved crx's.This months feature owner does just that! Residing in the great state of Florida, our featured crx owner spends his spare time racing F-production in the central Florida region's Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Improved Touring-A (ITA). Tucker Alfred owns this sweet looking grabber orange 91 Si track racer, but that's not how his story started. Back in '02, Tucker was ripping it up with another CRX racecar in the same SCCA class. His pride and joy then, was a 1991 TGP(Tahitian Green Pearl) Si. He raced that car in the ITA class until 07' when an unfortunate track accident took his car from him. Tucker told us: "I was racing with The Central Florida Region SCCA in my 91 si in ITA 2002-06 when a driver spun in front of me destroying both our cars."

Tucker picked up his current racer in '05, but it sat without purpose until the accident. After finding himself without race car, he didn't hesitate a moment and did what every self respecting racer would do. He picked up a wrench, and started building a new one!
First he stripped the old ITA car, and then got to work on the new shell. Starting with removing all the systems, he sent the stripped shell to Advanced Race Works for the chassis prep and cage installation. This included all glass removal and replacing it with shatter proof materials.
Having the car back home it was prepped for paint. Having a friend who teaches auto body and repair can come in handy. Especially one who is willing to help and even lend you his paint booth. Tucker had his new color on the car. Two days later, it was back home where the suspension and brakes were top priority.

In the suspension catagory Tucker decided to replace all bushings with spherical bearings to eliminate any suspension slop. The camber and toe adjustments were updated with SPC units. Ball joint upper front control arms and camber control in the back. As per SCCA rules, the complete brake system was rebuilt with stock parts as well as with braided lines, ATC Super Blue fluid and Hawk DTC-60 pads.
Tucker also drastically altered the electrical system to remove any unnecessary wiring and set the system up for a trick breaker system. Yes sir, no pesky fuses for this puppy!
The rest of the cockpit was adorned with a full compliment of Autometer gauges to keep Tucker aware of his car's vital stats at all times. He installed Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, Water Temp, Volts and a steering shaft mounted 5" tachometer. While the breaker system controls Ignition, Computer ,Fuel Pump, Brake lights and the Electric Field on Alternator.
The Field connection allows Tucker to start a race without alternator drag and run off the cars battery. After some time he can energize the alternator and begin to recharge the battery.
Covering the bases in the safety department this car also has an AFF fire suppression system, a 12 gallon fuel cell and full lexan windows throughout. He can view all his work from the Cobra Monaco throne, strapped in with his SafeQuip belts.

Tuckers last plan is to replace the ITA legal head. To do this he will recruit the help of a Hondata s300 system and distributor that will allow him to run a very aggresive cam and spring package. For this the radiator is being updated with a C/R radiator to help with cooling issues created by the engines higher compression. The fenders are an ongoing construction project and have been made by a friend who created molds with flares for his 89 civic.
The car is classed in the SCCA F-Production class and can be seen driving Sebring International Raceway and Daytona International Speedway on a monthly schedule.

Tucker's conversion took a whopping 8 months to complete but the results made it very much worth the wait. The conversion didn't come to be on just hopes and dreams though. Some solid dedication was needed to get her back on the black snake. To get the car finished in a reasonable time frame Tucker had to wait until his 2 year old son was off to bed. Only then did he have the time to work on the "project." Tucker says: "After I put my son to bed at 8, I would work till 11pm or 12am every day for 8 months straight!" We can only hope our wives would be as patient.
An estimate of $9K for the conversion, and another $1200 for the custom cage would round the final tally just over the $10K mark. Road racing is definitely NOT cheap as we can see, but it is very rewarding. And lets face it isn't that why we make those cool "vroom,vroom" noises when we sit in a real race car?