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Nov. 22, 2009 3:03 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

Looking through the new issue online and in the loo, I noticed quite a few race cars that were built from brand-spanking new cars. (new Mustang rally car, track Miatas and Porsches, the Kpax Volvos...) Perhaps I am just too practical or cheap, but this never makes sense to me. Unless you are a manufacturer who needs to advertise a new product, why do that to a perfectly good new car? If you are stripping everything out, seam welding, adding a cage, etc etc etc than even an old car should come out practically new right? Is this just something rich people do, or are there other good reasons to do it?

Maybe it is too much Challenge and Lemons coverage, but I couldn't help thinking that the somewhere behind 3R racing is a pile of brand-new Volvo brakes, calipers, seats, transmissions, etc. just waiting for a Challenge car.
Nov. 22, 2009 3:58 p.m. Monkeywrench Reader

I'm the opposite, and am getting kind of sick of the all the lemons coverage everywhere (the challenge is different as it's a bit more innovative with performance as a goal). There is nothing inspiring or really all that interesting about $500 cars with goofy graphics and a roll bar.
Nov. 22, 2009 4:07 p.m. Carson Dork

I've read that sponsors are more likely to support a more modern car than, say, something that's 10 years old.

That's all I got. I'm sure there are very good reasons though.
Nov. 22, 2009 4:51 p.m. carguy123 Dork

They usually get a "body in white" from the manufacturer which is just a shell so there's no pile of stock part sitting behind the garage.
Nov. 22, 2009 5:36 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

Combine sponsors needs and body in white and you have the truth
Nov. 22, 2009 5:39 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

Monkeywrench wrote:

I'm the opposite, and am getting kind of sick of the all the lemons coverage everywhere (the challenge is different as it's a bit more innovative with performance as a goal). There is nothing inspiring or really all that interesting about $500 cars with goofy graphics and a roll bar.

Until you get behind the wheel.
Nov. 22, 2009 5:44 p.m. confuZion3 SuperDork

Jensenman wrote:

Monkeywrench wrote:

I'm the opposite, and am getting kind of sick of the all the lemons coverage everywhere (the challenge is different as it's a bit more innovative with performance as a goal). There is nothing inspiring or really all that interesting about $500 cars with goofy graphics and a roll bar.

Until you get behind the wheel.

With a car alarm pointed at you.
Nov. 22, 2009 5:50 p.m. Monkeywrench Reader

confuZion3 wrote:

Jensenman wrote:

Monkeywrench wrote:

I'm the opposite, and am getting kind of sick of the all the lemons coverage everywhere (the challenge is different as it's a bit more innovative with performance as a goal). There is nothing inspiring or really all that interesting about $500 cars with goofy graphics and a roll bar.

Until you get behind the wheel.

With a car alarm pointed at you.

I'm not saying it's not fun, as it looks like it's a blast! Just doesn't make for good reading imo.
Nov. 22, 2009 6:25 p.m. Will Reader

I got some amazingly cheap Ford mod motor parts from Panoz. They bought 4.6 DOHC engines complete from Ford and then replaced stuff like the injectors & fuel rails so they had a ton of unused, OEM Ford parts that they'd put on ebay. So deals like the OP is talking about are out there if you know where to look.
Nov. 22, 2009 7:25 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

confuZion3 wrote:

Jensenman wrote:

Monkeywrench wrote:

I'm the opposite, and am getting kind of sick of the all the lemons coverage everywhere (the challenge is different as it's a bit more innovative with performance as a goal). There is nothing inspiring or really all that interesting about $500 cars with goofy graphics and a roll bar.

Until you get behind the wheel.

With a car alarm pointed at you.

You just HAD to bring that up, didn't you? Damn, that thing was AGGRAVATING.
Nov. 22, 2009 7:29 p.m. Keith SuperDork

I'd probably have an easier time getting Mazda to support my racing efforts if I wasn't racing a car that was 15 years old And yes, manufacturers are a good source of starter cars. Not necessarily a body in white, but if a car is damaged beyond a certain level before it is sold, it cannot be sold as a road car. Manufacturers will give these cars to racers, driving schools and (I suspect) a few magazines. We have one at FM. After an afternoon on the rack, you'd never know it had been damaged, but the car has no MSO and no title and can't be licensed as a road car.

But I can tell you that one of the track Miatas in the latest issue started off as a worn out tub with 200,000 miles on it, purchased for $100. They're not all big budget!
Nov. 22, 2009 7:29 p.m. mndsm New Reader

As far as the Mustang rally car, that's an interesting story. He actually won that car from Ford, after competing in the Mustang challenge.... basically he won it for one race after he balled up his 5.0, and then won it for the rest of the season in a stage drive off with another driver at the next race. He sure as hell didn't pay for it himself.
Nov. 22, 2009 7:33 p.m. Woody SuperDork

Will wrote:

I got some amazingly cheap Ford mod motor parts from Panoz. They bought 4.6 DOHC engines complete from Ford and then replaced stuff like the injectors & fuel rails so they had a ton of unused, OEM Ford parts that they'd put on ebay. So deals like the OP is talking about are out there if you know where to look.

Way, way back in time, like 100 years or so, Saleen did the same thing. They took new 5 liter Mustangs and replaced the suspension, wheels, tires and seats. I don't know about the rest of the stuff, but you could buy brand new factory takeoff alloys with a set of Goodyears already mounted for cheap.
Nov. 22, 2009 8:41 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

See? Interesting stuff. Let's see a story.