Entry level racing . ...not spec Miata
10-10-2012, 03:44 PM
#31
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Some very good information and some misguided information.
FF motors do not blow up at the drop of the hat. A few hours of run time is bullsh*t. If you want to run at the very pointed edge of the field at the Sprints or the Runoffs then you probably will be refreshening the motor once a year. If you are running vintage you can go a long time between rebuilds. Parts are readily available. Vintage fields are more plentiful than SCCA regionals and nationals. If you buy a quality vintage FF and take care of it, the resale should be pretty high.
FF is a great place to learn racecraft. Mistakes are magnified in these light low HP cars. No down force puts a premium on smooth driving and understanding how the chassis works. There probably isn't a better place to learn the skills to drive quickly and smoothly.
Spec Miata and SRF are also great places to learn. Any low HP class is going to be better than jumping into something with high hp. I've watched numerous well funded guys buy Cup cars only to find out 2 to 3 years later that spending big dollars on the car doesn’t help them run with the fast guys. It's not the car.
Building a racecar is always a losing game. You'll spend two to three times what you thought you were going to spend and will need to spend more to get it to work well. That money could have been used to better effect by spending it on track time. Buy a car that is already sorted and go to the track often. Laps, Laps, Laps..
Renting can be a good idea as well. You can see what you are getting into before taking the leap.
Go to the track you plan to race most often and find out what class has the most participants. Racing isn't much fun without someone to race against.
YMMV
FF motors do not blow up at the drop of the hat. A few hours of run time is bullsh*t. If you want to run at the very pointed edge of the field at the Sprints or the Runoffs then you probably will be refreshening the motor once a year. If you are running vintage you can go a long time between rebuilds. Parts are readily available. Vintage fields are more plentiful than SCCA regionals and nationals. If you buy a quality vintage FF and take care of it, the resale should be pretty high.
FF is a great place to learn racecraft. Mistakes are magnified in these light low HP cars. No down force puts a premium on smooth driving and understanding how the chassis works. There probably isn't a better place to learn the skills to drive quickly and smoothly.
Spec Miata and SRF are also great places to learn. Any low HP class is going to be better than jumping into something with high hp. I've watched numerous well funded guys buy Cup cars only to find out 2 to 3 years later that spending big dollars on the car doesn’t help them run with the fast guys. It's not the car.
Building a racecar is always a losing game. You'll spend two to three times what you thought you were going to spend and will need to spend more to get it to work well. That money could have been used to better effect by spending it on track time. Buy a car that is already sorted and go to the track often. Laps, Laps, Laps..
Renting can be a good idea as well. You can see what you are getting into before taking the leap.
Go to the track you plan to race most often and find out what class has the most participants. Racing isn't much fun without someone to race against.
YMMV
On the car, I built my first car, don't do it, you do not know enough about it and what works and what doesn't. Buy a built car, try to find a decent one, not the cheapest, and not the most expensive, but something that was well built in the middle.
If you do these things right club racing can be the best experience. Some people do not last long at it if they have unrealistic expectations.
Start of with the belief that you suck at driving, and learn to drive before you buy every part imaginable for your ride.
10-10-2012, 03:50 PM
#32
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FF motors do not blow up at the drop of the hat. A few hours of run time is bullsh*t. If you want to run at the very pointed edge of the field at the Sprints or the Runoffs then you probably will be refreshening the motor once a year. If you are running vintage you can go a long time between rebuilds. Parts are readily available. Vintage fields are more plentiful than SCCA regionals and nationals. If you buy a quality vintage FF and take care of it, the resale should be pretty high.
Better than vintage Formula F is the F1600 series. If you want some serious racing with 40+ other cars at great events, www.f1600series.com.
10-10-2012, 06:42 PM
#35
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Until you bounce a flywheel off the track and crack a crank. Kent's are not super stout motors. Most people rebuilt every year or less, vintage or not. There is a reason people are switching cars over to Honda powerplants.
Better than vintage Formula F is the F1600 series. If you want some serious racing with 40+ other cars at great events, www.f1600series.com.
Better than vintage Formula F is the F1600 series. If you want some serious racing with 40+ other cars at great events, www.f1600series.com.
The Fit is sweet. If I hadn't just bought the SRF when it was annoucned I would likely be in a DB1-Fit right now.
10-11-2012, 12:23 AM
#37
Yes. That is me with the DB6.
Flywheel strikes are a bad thing. Had one in my old Crossle. It can be prevented.
Every car has its problems. The FF is not particularly better or worse.
SCCA open wheel competition is not a bang'em form of racing. We give room and respect. Open wheeled guys understand what happens when wheels touch.
Good luck with your search.
Flywheel strikes are a bad thing. Had one in my old Crossle. It can be prevented.
Every car has its problems. The FF is not particularly better or worse.
SCCA open wheel competition is not a bang'em form of racing. We give room and respect. Open wheeled guys understand what happens when wheels touch.
Good luck with your search.
10-11-2012, 11:05 AM
#38
Rennlist Member
Hello;
I used to race motorcycles and have done a couple of few track days in my 997s.
I'm exploring the idea of a dedicated race car, not really interested in spec Miata.
I'm looking to get into a class where there are plenty of comparable cars racing (which seems to exclude Spec Boxster in the SE) and just wanted to see if anyone had any advice or guidance.
I'm a little confused with the different sanctioning bodies (SCCA), plus what PCA has to offer.
I'm in Charleston SC, so Roebling road, Barber, VIR, Road Atalanta and CMP are all in range.
Not looking to break the bank on this, maybe a 50k budget to buy, would like it to be less if possible.
thanks
I used to race motorcycles and have done a couple of few track days in my 997s.
I'm exploring the idea of a dedicated race car, not really interested in spec Miata.
I'm looking to get into a class where there are plenty of comparable cars racing (which seems to exclude Spec Boxster in the SE) and just wanted to see if anyone had any advice or guidance.
I'm a little confused with the different sanctioning bodies (SCCA), plus what PCA has to offer.
I'm in Charleston SC, so Roebling road, Barber, VIR, Road Atalanta and CMP are all in range.
Not looking to break the bank on this, maybe a 50k budget to buy, would like it to be less if possible.
thanks
check out all local SCCA events and NASA events, meet with people, you will see how it differs from PCA and then make your choice based on what atmosphere is more suitable for you. what class to run with - a spec or in a GTS3/4 is your choice, again, but what folks say about specE36 is true, there are plenty of cars available to buy and it is way cheaper than to build up and support anything Porsche based. Do not look at original buy cost – look at support costs and labor rates if you cannot work on the car yourself. Also, try out any E36 based race car with tuned down E46 motor in it - it is a lot of fun, tons of torque and it handles very well.
ps. spec miata folks are great, if you are young you may like it much more there. try it all first, hang around, then decide.
10-11-2012, 11:47 AM
#39
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Yes. That is me with the DB6.
Flywheel strikes are a bad thing. Had one in my old Crossle. It can be prevented.
Every car has its problems. The FF is not particularly better or worse.
SCCA open wheel competition is not a bang'em form of racing. We give room and respect. Open wheeled guys understand what happens when wheels touch.
Good luck with your search.
Flywheel strikes are a bad thing. Had one in my old Crossle. It can be prevented.
Every car has its problems. The FF is not particularly better or worse.
SCCA open wheel competition is not a bang'em form of racing. We give room and respect. Open wheeled guys understand what happens when wheels touch.
Good luck with your search.
10-11-2012, 12:01 PM
#40
The Penguin King
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How does one get track time with an open wheel car? Most of the events I run at will not allow open wheel cars on track with other cars, even on open track days. Seems like you would have to be a member of a track and run on member days.
10-11-2012, 12:11 PM
#41
Burning Brakes
Another alternative is to find an open wheel race shop that is based at a track. The shop may have an arrangement where they are allowed to let their customers drive on track, although you may have to pay a fee to the track.
10-11-2012, 12:15 PM
#42
Matt,
You must work for the main stream media
That video is not from SCCA nor vintage. That's from the pro F1600. The two drivers are both teenagers looking to move up the ladder and have the ends justify the means attitude. You might recognize the camera car's drivers name, Newey.
They were both spoken to in a serious way.
You can find aggressive driving anywhere.
You must work for the main stream media
That video is not from SCCA nor vintage. That's from the pro F1600. The two drivers are both teenagers looking to move up the ladder and have the ends justify the means attitude. You might recognize the camera car's drivers name, Newey.
They were both spoken to in a serious way.
You can find aggressive driving anywhere.
10-11-2012, 12:16 PM
#43
Rennlist Member
Sorry to hijack this thread for a second but if you guys in the Houston area want to see a show the LAT-AM races are at MSR Houston this weekend. Very entertaining IMHO. No costs to come and spectate this weekend.
10-11-2012, 12:37 PM
#44
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Matt,
You must work for the main stream media
That video is not from SCCA nor vintage. That's from the pro F1600. The two drivers are both teenagers looking to move up the ladder and have the ends justify the means attitude. You might recognize the camera car's drivers name, Newey.
They were both spoken to in a serious way.
You can find aggressive driving anywhere.
You must work for the main stream media
That video is not from SCCA nor vintage. That's from the pro F1600. The two drivers are both teenagers looking to move up the ladder and have the ends justify the means attitude. You might recognize the camera car's drivers name, Newey.
They were both spoken to in a serious way.
You can find aggressive driving anywhere.