frenchyd said:The cost of building the race car is best dealt with out of sight of SWMBO I’ll never tell her how much i sell pieces off the car for. Nor will she ever see any receipts for parts etc.
Caught myself laughing at this. Oops...
frenchyd said:The cost of building the race car is best dealt with out of sight of SWMBO I’ll never tell her how much i sell pieces off the car for. Nor will she ever see any receipts for parts etc.
Caught myself laughing at this. Oops...
Frenchyd if you shop carefully you can have professionally done safety equipment. Way back when on the Datsun I bought the ubquitous Autopower cage kit. The roll bar bolted in so that was easy, on the front half of the cage I notched all of the tubes and then my friend who actually welds properly (he's been my fabricator for 30 years) welded up everything.
You can buy a good helmet for less than $300 if you buy close outs. Same thing for suits, I bought a discontinued Sparco 3 layer suit for $300 a two years ago. I just had to buy new gloves and found a good double layer pair for $80.
The head and neck restraint is a tough one to get done cheaply nut I wouldn't have a problem buying a used HANS device. I paid $700 for mine brand new but I think they now have an adjustable model for around $500.
I also just bought a new 6 point harness for my Formula 500 for $130.
As others have pointed out if you shop carefully you can save yourself a ton of cash. Your ability to weld will save a ton of cash as well.
If I had to by all my drivers gear now I could probably manage it for $1300. As for the car I could that for another $1500 with the cage being the majority of that. So if I was doing everything from scratch I'd need $2800 besides the car itself. As I can still find a legal and safe race car for 4-5K I'd likely not build a car. Do note I didn't say competitive race car. I priced out assembling a Spec Miata about 5 years ago and they can be done cheap if you're not going to worry about having a competitive motor. At that time it came out to $4500. Again this will not be a competitive car, I can assemble a motor that will be 85-90% of a pro built motor but that still means the car will be 10-15 horsepower down on anyone with a pro built motor.
If one just goes out to have fun racing is cheap, if your ego intervenes kiss the budget goodbye. I am semi guilty of this of late, I started making the top 10 overall at vintage events so I put another $2500 in the car which got me to 5th overall, getting into the top 3 will require about 4-5k more...........my cheapness won out over my ego so I've not spent the extra cash to make the top 3.
In reply to Tom1200 : I think what Ill be shooting for is SCCA’s racing experience events. Other than compliance with personal gear it sounds like s rollcage built to 2007 specs and no requirement for a fuel cell. In addition the chief inspector can waive non compliance for one event!!!!
All they ask is you don’t get overly aggressive If you do the chief instructor can sit you down. Or if you cause an accident a 13 month suspension.
Your car doesn’t have to comply with any set of rules so a trans Am Spec JaguarXJS with twin turbo chargers sounds like it’ll work nicely.
Or for the cost of a high-quality cage, you can buy a new LO206 kart.
chada75 said:Or for the cost of a high-quality cage, you can buy a new LO206 kart.
If he's physically not interested or capable of doing a 1hr stint in the cheaper endurance racing series I doubt he is at a point where he wants to do karting just due to the G's and lack of suspension.
In reply to chada75 :
Yes I know there are cheaper ways to go racing. Although with my fat butt and age kart racing would guarantee I’d be dead last.
It’s not about just wanting to race. I’ve been there done that and have the trophy’s. It’s about racing in a way I enjoy in a car I like. Let’s just say I love the sound of a V12 at full song.
Jaynen said:chada75 said:Or for the cost of a high-quality cage, you can buy a new LO206 kart.
If he's physically not interested or capable of doing a 1hr stint in the cheaper endurance racing series I doubt he is at a point where he wants to do karting just due to the G's and lack of suspension.
Yeh at 70 and my weight kart racing would look and be ludicrous.
Frenchy, It ain't like the 'Ol day's and I am Still trying to Figure out how to make this deal Pay For Itself. The last Time I raced Serious Out of my own Pocket, I had to finish 10th or better just to get Back the next week Next, Year I won the Championship Race ! If Short Track asphalt races can Pay Out Thousands Every week why don't Road Race Venues ? The cars cost as much at the higher levels and the Attendance is similar, ? NASCAR Crowds are way off so they are going Some where, Why not a weekly Road Race for UHHH (cash)
This is just my Idea as I like the Idea of earning a Reward for Doing well.and I don;t have as much Disposable Income as Others
frenchyd said:In reply to chada75 :
Yes I know there are cheaper ways to go racing. Although with my fat butt and age kart racing would guarantee I’d be dead last.
It’s not about just wanting to race. I’ve been there done that and have the trophy’s. It’s about racing in a way I enjoy in a car I like. Let’s just say I love the sound of a V12 at full song.
Then it's really a matter of how competitive you need to be. Take a bone stock V12 XJ coupe, gut the interior. Put safety into it. Race wheels, tires and brake pads, leave the engine stock and go have fun. I've often considered that path for my 1800ES as it would be much easier to repair the rust to "50:50" (look good from 50 feet away at 50 mph) quality than to any sort of street car standard. And I'd save a butt-load of cost on the interior... This may still happen if the stars align and I can figure out how to buy my ex's much nicer ES.
Well I guess why are you wanting to "race" versus just drive HPDE? Because if you can't even keep up with the pack you won't really be racing.
In reply to Jaynen :
A mid sized new turbo sells for $106 or $132 with a built in waste gate. So a pair would cost me $264 add the required tubing etc and I kick to power from 300 to 5-600 horsepower for about $500. ( I already have a microsquirt).
500+ horsepower in a less than 3000 pound car that handles like a big Miata? Doesn’t that sound like fun?
GTXVette said:Frenchy, It ain't like the 'Ol day's and I am Still trying to Figure out how to make this deal Pay For Itself. The last Time I raced Serious Out of my own Pocket, I had to finish 10th or better just to get Back the next week Next, Year I won the Championship Race ! If Short Track asphalt races can Pay Out Thousands Every week why don't Road Race Venues ? The cars cost as much at the higher levels and the Attendance is similar, ? NASCAR Crowds are way off so they are going Some where, Why not a weekly Road Race for UHHH (cash)
This is just my Idea as I like the Idea of earning a Reward for Doing well.and I don;t have as much Disposable Income as Others
I really understand you. In the past I’d get someone else’s car ready for the race and he’d pay my entry fee and costs.
It seems that sort of deal just isn’t available anymore and I want to race so I’m forced to pay my own way. I’ll cut costs by using racing take offs. Preferably qualifiers that sell for about $85-100 a tire and will likely last at least 4-5 events.
Instead of race gas I’ll use E85 which is sells for less than $3.00 a gallon in the drum. Then the only other real expense is oil. (That’s 14 quarts for a weekend)
In reply to frenchyd :
In the end, It's about doing want you like. Can't blame you on the V12 sounds.
I did the backwards thing and started in cars and ended up in karts due to the fact that anyone can haul an oval kart in a pickup bed and race for some good money.
In reply to chada75 :
I can see the appeal. It seems like things go in cycles. Jalopy racing as a kid. Then sprint car racing when you could still be competitive with a 4-5 year old chassis and an Offenhauser.
Followed by sports car racing until the factories ruined that and Vintage sports car racing until costs got insane.
Now I want one last run at flying down the straight with 12 cylinders screaming only to dive inside someone and take the place away. ( all on a social security budget )
Frenchy - Have you talked with these folks -> https://www.vscr.org/car-eligibility ?
Their eligibility rules look pretty lenient.
I think you should pick a club to run with and start building your car to meet their rules. Maybe you'll never get it done and maybe it won't run at the front of the pack. On the other hand I think there's a good chance that with your skill set you'll be able to get something on the track and be able to find someone who runs at your speed to race with. One things for sure. If you never start building anything you're not going to go racing.
Sounds like one of the NASA touring (Performance/Super/Super Unlimited) classes is for you. Build a car to the class limits of Wt vs HP and go get it.
They typically have 3/4 sessions a day Sat and Sun (warm up - practice - qualifying - race). I don't think any are more than 30-40 min long.
https://www.nasaproracing.com/proracing/
https://nasa-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/content/upload/882/Which-Class-To-Choose.pdf
johndej said:Sounds like one of the NASA touring (Performance/Super/Super Unlimited) classes is for you. Build a car to the Claudia I ss limits of Wt vs HP and go get it.
They typically have 3/4 sessions a day Sat and Sun (warm up - practice - qualifying - race). I don't think any are more than 30-40 min long.
https://www.nasaproracing.com/proracing/
https://nasa-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/content/upload/882/Which-Class-To-Choose.pdf
You southern boys get all the breaks. Meanwhile us Yankees have great race tracks but mostly SCCA. I might fit improved touring if I cheat and use a later Vin tag
Were are you looking outside of Road America, Brainerd, or Blackhawk Farms? Might be stuck with whoever runs those events.
NASA gets to Gingerman and Autobahn which are within a day's tow.
APEowner said:Frenchy - Have you talked with these folks -> https://www.vscr.org/car-eligibility ?
Their eligibility rules look pretty lenient.
I think you should pick a club to run with and start building your car to meet their rules. Maybe you'll never get it done and maybe it won't run at the front of the pack. On the other hand I think there's a good chance that with your skill set you'll be able to get something on the track and be able to find someone who runs at your speed to race with. One things for sure. If you never start building anything you're not going to go racing.
If you look at the list of founding members you’ll see my name. Those first races cost $10.00 and I raced using borrowed equipment in my MGTD
But now I can’t race it with them anymore. They’d want me to put a roll cage in it. That and a fuel cell. Something-other groups don’t require They wouldn’t allow me to race with my original wood rim wheel in the Black Jack Basically I had to make the cars conform to current SCCA rules.
johndej said:Were are you looking outside of Road America, Brainerd, or Blackhawk Farms? Might be stuck with whoever runs those events.
NASA gets to Gingerman and Autobahn which are within a day's tow.
Big cars need big tracks in order to really have fun. Elkhart Lake is my favorite 4 mile long place with those three long straights to really get that thunder boomer to barking . 150 mph + gets the Juices flowing, then with the tight 90 degree corners you get a chance to set up the rhythm guys for a proper spanking. Both VSCDA and Midwest council of sports car clubs put on events there. I’m afraid the Jaguar would be in group 9 with VSCDA and embarrassingly slower than them. The possibility exists of being lapped on my first lap. MCSCC might have a place for me. I’m waiting to hear. I did some research and MCSCC allows Lemons and Champcar cars to run with them.
A group 44 tribute car would conform to their regulations all I need to do is use DOT tires instead of the slicks I’d intended.
Brainerd is somewhat like that but at only 3 miles it doesn’t really have the same challenge that the 4 miles of Elkhart Lake. On the other hand it’s only a little over 3 hour tow. Where Elkhart Lake is at least 8 hours. VSCRI would have a spot for me I think at least the way I read things.
Short tracks like Blackhawk and Gingerman are really good for testing and a weekend filler. But not the challenge or fun of Elkhart Lake. When you add the long tow they sort of aren’t feasible.
In reply to johndej : Yeah!!!! MCSCC Runs Elkhart Lake and Blackhawk! ( plus Gingerman and others)
They also accept LeMons and Champcar which a Twin turbocharged XJS would conform to. ( (with a 100 points to spare )
Instead of the planned slicks I need to use DOT tires but they shouldn’t be that much more expensive.
Frenchyd if you are just out for a bit of fun you could get some used tires from John Berget. I did this for years. Prices were usaully 1/3 of what new tires were. Yeah the were a couple of seconds a lap slower but as my car wasn't particularly competitive then I didn't care.
Twin turbo XJS? Sure hope we see a build thread on this one!!
Tom1200 said:Frenchyd if you are just out for a bit of fun you could get some used tires from John Berget. I did this for years. Prices were usaully 1/3 of what new tires were. Yeah the were a couple of seconds a lap slower but as my car wasn't particularly competitive then I didn't care.
Thanks, I’d planned on using him except if I build it to Champcar/LeMons I think I have to use DOT tires with a 200 TW rating. I suppose MCSCC can wave that and allow me to use them.
I think that calls for a quiet conversation with the tech inspector.
Cotton said:Twin turbo XJS? Sure hope we see a build thread on this one!!
What I really need is someone to show me how to post pictures here. I keep trying but so far haven’t figured it out.
By the way, since I’ll be building it to Champcar/LeMons requirements it won’t be to my usual standards.
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