hughp3

Thought I would post here for starters. While I love the RS, running costs + track insurance is a bit much. I am interested in a radical but the open cockpit and the much greater weights of GT DE cars is disconcerting. I had 996 Cup, while tank safe the operating costs can or eventually will be high. Radical runnngs cost look much better but Is is safe in folks opinions?

jdistefa

Rhetorical question I assume.

hughp3

Yeah I agree safe is a recursive question. I am getting mixed opinions about running DE in it or running only with like cars.

Coochas

I have run my 1150 pound Formula Mazda with a variety of sports cars in open track DE format for years. You need to be more vigilant in not assuming someone else you're approaching has seen you. Ironically, the only time I have ever had a problem was with a Radical who was a douchebag. Fortunately I only lost a wing plate and he had a ton more damage.

If you are surrounded by appropriately advanced level drivers everything will be fine. And by advanced I don't mean the fastest but rather the most situationally aware, competent and courteous drivers.

38D

Can't comment on the safety aspect, but driving a radical at a DE would be just horrid IMO. I find my Viper ACR really too fast for the typical instructor group DEs, and that car is waaaay slower than a radical. You'll either end up just waiting around a ton, or stunt your learning as the car will be so much faster than everything else.

gbuff

+1--ran with a couple at Mosport last week (and also a Wolf) and they seem to appear out of nowhere. Completely different experience than a "normal" car--you'll learn all about downforce, as will your neck

Gary

hughp3

Thanks for the comments guys. My decision is more about yearly costs than anything else. I run Chin red group typically at Road Atlanta. Seeing a trend toward More Cup cars and various race prep’d stuff. Do not want to go to a slower car as my buddies are running viper acr’s on hossiers (corrected from slicks)

Dr.Bill

Some of the GT4 Clubsports are now popping up for sale. Lower running costs than a cup & safer than an open car.

bpu699

Track prepped 944 turbo or even a 944 with a v8 would be a hoot, and fast. Keep seeing them come up for 10-15k...

Coochas

My understanding with something like an SR3 was that you want to have the engine and tranny rebuilt at the end of each season. I believe this is about 15k of work.

I believe the main running cost is simply tires as it is on my formula car.

I have toyed with the idea of replacing my FM with an SR3RS but I am still getting way too much fun out of my car and I continue to find new ways to drive it faster!

hughp3

Dr bill, club sport route is a good one. It’s still a Porsche so entry point still high but engine life way better than Cup, trans should be bullet proof and full cage. For some reason I am enamored with a radical but safety is stopping me. maybe fever that will go away overnight. I found an published list of replacement parts out of California for SR3 could not believe how inexpensive most was. The site looks legit But i had better check out as it sounded too good, $7k for new crate motor, around $2k for rebuild. If true that’s hard to pass up.

fatbillybob

mismatched bumper heights should keep you away. There was this doctor now dead. Shiny new SR3 hit his head on the rear bumper of a crapcan as he speared under it. That was like 5-10 years ago backeast somewhere.

al@cpt

Consider a Norma M20FC:


https://norma-auto-concept.com/race-cars/m20/?lang=en

ProCoach

Now, that is a great car! Automotive power plants are better/cheaper.

On the Radical, is speak to Danyel Delgado at Wisko Racing at VIR. He’s very good and a great resource.

924RACR

Hey, if you're gonna buy a racecar, why not just race it???

Having run a number of years in P2 - I've found most everyone seems to be very cognizant of how expensive the cars are to repair, and seems to drive very considerately (yes, while racing). Having not-the-fastest-car in the group seems to help that, too... stay away from the A Sedan mentality, gotta have a V8 if I'm gonna race...

Just an evil thought...