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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Going racing. (what car)

May 6, 2011 3:18 p.m. Bench Racer (BowtieBandit) Reader

Wanting to look into doing some FWD compact dirt racing next year or so. Rules are posted Here..

I wanna look into something with a stick so I can keep it in a certain gear, and possibly something with some more midrange torque. So I'm thinking Altima, Stanza? I like Honda for their parts availability, and general ease of maintainence, but they lack (generally) are lighter on the torque side (which is key in ovals.)

It needs to be tough, so something like an olds cutlass ciera would be okay, but I don't wanna be tough, and slow.

K cars are a possibility, but how are their power without turbos?

SE-R sentra's are okay, but they lack an awesome parts availability, atleast my 01 sentra does.

Auto transmissions are not out of the question, I just... like three pedals better.
May 6, 2011 3:20 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Escort or Neon.
May 6, 2011 3:21 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Escort or Neon.

Or Protege for that matter.
May 6, 2011 3:21 p.m. EricM Dork

Dodge neon!!! Wooot!

what do I win?
May 6, 2011 3:48 p.m. Cole_Trickle New Reader

GM J-bodies (Cavalier, Sunfire) dominate the local short track around here. Might look into those too.
May 6, 2011 3:52 p.m. imirk Reader

Something with a 180-190 hp quad-4?, focus?, deathscort?
May 6, 2011 5:13 p.m. corytate Reader

maxima 3.5
May 6, 2011 5:29 p.m. Duke SuperDork

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Neon.

...with a 2.4 swap. Boatloads of torque (for a FWD econo car).
May 6, 2011 6:06 p.m. Bench Racer (BowtieBandit) Reader

Engine must be stock to the car, so no all-in-the-family swaps. Also must be a four cylinder.

I also wouldn't buy a 3.5 maxima (too new) to beat the E36 M3 out of it on a dirt track.
May 6, 2011 6:08 p.m. imirk Reader

'95 sunfire!
May 6, 2011 6:33 p.m. EricM Dork

'round here, the Quad4 is king for the local dirt track. So much so that any car that came with one is getting hard to find. Luckily the class here requires an automatic, so the 5spd quad4s are still available.

I still like the neon though.
May 6, 2011 9:36 p.m. corytate Reader

bp escort, protege, 626 lx is pretty decent bc you probably wouldn't be able to find a 626 gt or 323 gtx, old suzuki, accent, rio, focus, something with an ecotec will be halfway decent and cheap
May 6, 2011 10:53 p.m. White_and_Nerdy Reader

I gotta say it - Saturn! Twin cams have a lot more torque than a Civic, they're cheap and easy to fix, and those polymer dent resistant body panels will still look good after a few "love taps."

Though if you want a rusty 91 SE-R you could buy mine... The VLSD would give you a big advantage in the dirt, at least until track officials catch on and ban it along with the CRX...
May 10, 2011 8:53 a.m. NewEdgePerf New Reader

Cavalier with 2.2 EcoTec seem to be the fastest thing around here where the rules allow 150 max stock hp. Parts are plentiful, the cars appear to take the weekly beatings on dirt tracks reasonably well.

Tony D
May 10, 2011 9:08 a.m. alfadriver SuperDork

Of the cars that are in the top 5 of the racing you like, which ones do you like the best? It will take a lot less time sorting if you copy somone else over developing a car totally on your own.....
May 10, 2011 10:31 a.m. Vigo Dork

To answer one of your questions, the non-turbo 2.5 tbi k-cars have great torque. As in, from idle with the clutch out in 1st gear they will spin the tires if you floor it.

The downside is they have a narrow powerband (i shift them WOT at 4800 if stock) and getting them to make more than 120 hp will take a decent amount of work. Thye make 100hp but ive had them up to 115 with basic mods and no tuning (the last one i had felt like it gained a crapload of power from taking the thermostat out if that tells you how badly it needed tuning).

The other cars will make more hp (at peak, not sure what rpm range we're talking) and have stiffer suspensions to start with.
May 10, 2011 5:48 p.m. ncjay Reader

Hondas are usually a great choice. Tons of aftermarket parts. Preludes and Accords rule the local track, but it's a high rpm, 1/2 mile, high banked, asphalt track that doesn't see much rpm range when you get it right. Dirt will be a touch different. I would be looking for the largest displacement engine I could find that's still legal.
May 10, 2011 5:49 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

one you can afford to ball up.
May 10, 2011 9:26 p.m. mmosbey New Reader

Plymouth Laser? Chrysler Sebring? Dodge Avenger? If they're banning the Mitsubishi Eclipse, and Eagle Talon, then it must be pretty competitive.

Then again, you'll only get to run once.
May 10, 2011 9:40 p.m. fasted58 Reader

GTI w/ a Quaife. I sold one to a guy yrs. ago for his dirt circle track car n he swore by it.
May 10, 2011 10:09 p.m. donalson SuperDork

around here that classing is the "stinger class"... basically the entry level dirt race class must be 14y/o or older (no license required)...

I know if you watch the classifieds on the local raceway i've seen prepped cars (cage and all) including a tow dolly for $1000... perfect way to get into roundy round circle jerking...

(a quick look and it looks like a saturn coupe is the consistent winner around here)

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