Good morning,
I wanted to make a brief introduction and see if I could get some advice. My name is Trevor and I'll be graduating from MIT this June with an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. I'm well versed in kinematics, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and advanced materials. I would love to apply my knowledge to a new hobby and I thought racing might be the perfect project. Instead of doing the usual traveling after college, I decided to take on a summer challenge. I want to find a car, compete, and make a name for myself in the racing world! I wanted to open up a discussion to see who can come up with the best car and modifications to start. My project budget needs to stay under $100k. Thanks for reading this and I look forward to meeting you all!
Trevor
what type of racing? also, might need more than a summer to make a name for yourself in the racing world unless you do something really catastrophic.
also, welcome!
and yes, T definitely equals r cross f
Haha that is hilarious! Thanks! I am brand new to racing so I am open to suggestions for classes/types.
well, drag racing is a lot different from autocrossing is a lot different from tractor pulling is a lot different from unlimited hydroplane is a lot different from MotoGP is a lot different from ChampCar.
so, close your eyes and see "racing".
now open your eyes and tell us what you saw. ;-)
Ok, sounds like we have the first challenge! Today, I will take this list of racing subcategories to research/discuss in class:
1. Drag Racing
2. Autocrossing
3. Tractor Pulling
4. Unlimited Hydroplane
5. MotoGP
6. ChampCar
Well, here's a pitch...
SCCA's Formula 600 class is a budget minded class that actively needs new manufacturers due to age based retirement of existing key figures. Your design work could springboard into a business enterprise manufacturing cars for the class that is the apex of inexpensive speed in SCCA roadracing and is attainable to the hobbyist budget.
A simplified explanation, a F600 is a formula car which utilizes either a 600cc motorcycle engine, or a 593cc snowmobile engine. The chassis is tube or RHS steel with a composite body overlaying. As a budget control the class requires a solid rear axle without differential function and additionally uses an elastomeric suspension (which eliminates cost of dampers). While at its heart the vehicle is simple, your allocated budget is likely more than enough to develop and campaign a vehicle while developing a production plan which could grow into a business enterprise.
With the ever increasing complexity of road vehicles and the move towards electrification, the future likely holds a move towards purpose built vehicles for the hobbiest racer. This class represents an attainable and affordable entry point that with adequite support and marketing could generate a thriving business.
More information can be found https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_600
The rulebook for the class is located here https://www.scca.com/downloads/66880-april-updated (page 260 for class details)
Additionally, there is an active facebook community that would welcome and assist such an endeavor https://www.facebook.com/groups/360619197459057/
Even if design and build is not your target, at your budget, you can nationally campaign in this class. Existing frontrunning vehicles have been sold for less than $20k
Welcome to the hobby!
Besides encouraging you to check out our $2000 Challenge and the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge, here are a few items to help steer you in the right direction:
I'd suggest the Texas-Mile or any other 1 mile races.
$100k?
You seem well positioned to answer the #1 question of racing...
Q: How do you make a small fortune racing?
A: Start with a large fortune.
Welcome
Another hobby good for your ME background...sailboat racing.
Race a small boat you own to keep it cheap or crew aboard someone else's larger boat to keep it even cheaper.
There's no money to be made but it can be a life long endeavor.
Sample photo for inspiration..
In reply to TequalsRxF :
Here are the classes' findings:
Among the options provided, Autocrossing would be the best subcategory of racing for a beginner with a budget of $100k.
Autocrossing involves racing against the clock on a course typically marked out with traffic cones in a parking lot or other open space. It is relatively affordable and accessible, making it a great entry point for beginners. It does not require expensive modifications to the vehicle, and the focus is more on driving skill than on the performance of the car.
With a budget of $100k, a beginner could purchase a competitive autocross car or modify an existing one to meet the required safety and performance standards. Additionally, autocross events are typically held in local areas, which reduces travel and accommodation expenses.
In contrast, some of the other options listed may be more expensive, require a greater investment in equipment and safety, and involve more travel expenses. For instance, Drag racing may require a higher investment in the vehicle, safety equipment, and maintenance. Unlimited Hydroplane racing and MotoGP are extremely specialized and require a significant investment in equipment and training, while ChampCar racing involves endurance racing and may require a team and associated expenses.
Overall, Autocrossing offers a fun and affordable way for beginners to get into racing, and with a budget of $100k, they can invest in a competitive vehicle and participate in local events.
In reply to TequalsRxF :
So, Street class where you do a little bit of car development and most of the technical work would be determining the best platform for a class? Modified, where design, modification, and fabrication are the key differences outside of driver performance? Or where on the spectrum between the two?
Street -> Street Touring -> Street Prepared -> Street Modified -> Prepared -> Modified?
Sounds like you need seat time ,
Figure out what you want to race , then find a school that uses that type of car,
If you like sports cars go to the best school you can find , get time behind the wheel ,
many of the great racers started with go karts when they were a kid , by the time they are your age they have 1000s of hours at the track.
Sounds like fun spending the $100k
TequalsRxF said:
In reply to TequalsRxF :
Here are the classes' findings:
Among the options provided, Autocrossing would be the best subcategory of racing for a beginner with a budget of $100k.
Autocrossing involves racing against the clock on a course typically marked out with traffic cones in a parking lot or other open space. It is relatively affordable and accessible, making it a great entry point for beginners. It does not require expensive modifications to the vehicle, and the focus is more on driving skill than on the performance of the car.
With a budget of $100k, a beginner could purchase a competitive autocross car or modify an existing one to meet the required safety and performance standards. Additionally, autocross events are typically held in local areas, which reduces travel and accommodation expenses.
In contrast, some of the other options listed may be more expensive, require a greater investment in equipment and safety, and involve more travel expenses. For instance, Drag racing may require a higher investment in the vehicle, safety equipment, and maintenance. Unlimited Hydroplane racing and MotoGP are extremely specialized and require a significant investment in equipment and training, while ChampCar racing involves endurance racing and may require a team and associated expenses.
Overall, Autocrossing offers a fun and affordable way for beginners to get into racing, and with a budget of $100k, they can invest in a competitive vehicle and participate in local events.
This answer sounds like it came directly from chatGPT! 
In reply to dyintorace :
The whole thing reads a bit odd...but we're also possibly reading something written by an engineering student so it's just so hard to be sure.
I for one am just happy to see unlimited hydroplane racing brought up in conversation! I think 100k could pay for a weekend at that level...maybe. But 100k you could easily run a whole season if apba 2.5l inboard racing and still race in a capsule boat that's capable of 100+mph.
In reply to 1SlowVW :
Sorry if it sounds weird. It's a pretty common format in college writing - say what you're going to say, say it, tell them what you said.
I understand you are trying to have a little fun with it. Most of the responses have been supportive and I appreciate those very much.
Realistically, in almost 20 years of autocrossing I havent ever spent over $10k on a single season of racing. That includes two years that I bought a car, one of which has gotten an FTD...
I mean, the car I first started out with was purchased a few years before I started autocrossing and I didnt count that.
In reply to TequalsRxF :
You need to look at Formula SAE programs and build on that.
I'm a Formula 600 / F-mod competitor. As one off cars go they offer the most bang for the buck and a really good learning platform
I'd say for the kind of budget you are talking about an modified class autocross car is the way to go. Build an A-mod as those offer the most freedom.
PS........you sound like a BOT; regardless of how you were taught the most important thing in racing is being able to communicate to the various personality types in a way they relate. Now if you are a BOT by all means continue to speak like a BOT.
Lolz.
100k is a serious amount of money!
I built my race winning champcar in my garage for 12k all in. Costs about 5k per race, but that is split amongst 3 to 4 drivers. It would take me a pretty good while to spend 100k doing champcar.
Now, WRL or AER would take more money, but a competitive car should be able to be built for 20 to 30k I would think.
You can autocross for basically $free.50. Just go drive whatever vehicle you have. To be competitive in a street tire based class would be whatever cost the car you chose costs and then probably 5k in specific bits to optimize it.
I believe this is another case where:
Miata Is Always The Answer
NOHOME
MegaDork
4/20/23 4:20 p.m.
My advice is to call and speak with someone who has spend his entire life racing and figuring how to make a living from doing so. Greg offers a path to professional racing for those that have the talent and the wherewithal to make it happen
I pick this particular service only because I have known Greg Rice for over 40 years. I have worked with him and seen his dedication to formula car racing.
FRP 1600 AND F2000
Rice Race Prep, supporting FRP F1600 and F2000 series! It has become increasing apparent that the best development path for young developing race drivers is the Formula Race Promotions F1600 Series, By adding a testing...
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Have not spoken to Greg in a while so cant guarantee that he has not retired. There are many other such services out there that offer the same path. If I were looking to get a directed path to making a name for myself. I would consult with the people who make this happen for a living.
On another note, I am somewhat surprised at your approach. If you graduated from engineering, you will have had some education on project management principles. You cant really get a project done if you don't know where you want it to end. What you are proposing is a project to make a name in racing. You have a budget but no requirements or specifications for the final product. You do have a very aggressive timeline. Are you expecting fame and fortune by the end of the year or just a trophy for a podium finish?
With your budget, might I suggest that you shoot for placing in the top ten of an SCCA autocross field by the end of the first or second season? If you stick to street classes, you can buy yourself into a competitive car.
For pure unadulterated thrill factor, go buy a shifter cart and experience 3/4 of what an F1 driver puts up with on the track for a fraction of the cost.
In reply to Tom1200 :
There was no need to wrap useful advice inside a slight towards my way of speaking. Do you really think you are the first person to share their profound insight about how I speak? I've been hearing it my whole life. Yes, I talk weird. That's me. Until the last few posts, I was so encouraged by the responses. It felt like a community that centered around racing and welcome anybody with that passion. I'm not going to let you throw me off, but I'm not going to tolerate disrespect. I'll choose to focus on the people who are behaving like welcoming members of the community.
I want to start by saying a big thank you to everyone who took the time to read and comment on my post about selecting a race category. I was really pleased to see the majority of the comments were supportive and encouraging. Your feedback has been incredibly helpful in guiding my decision.
After careful consideration and weighing up all of the options, I have decided to pursue autocross as my intended race category. Many of you pointed out the benefits of this type of racing, including its accessibility, affordability, and the fact that it requires a combination of speed, skill, and precision.
I appreciate that some of you suggested other categories that I might want to consider, such as drag racing or circuit racing. While I understand the appeal of these types of racing, ultimately, I feel that autocross is the best fit for me, and I am excited to begin my journey in this category.
Once again, thank you all for your supportive comments and your passion for the sport. I look forward to sharing updates with you all as I progress in my racing journey.
I would greatly appreciate your input and advice on this matter. Are there any specific makes or models that you would recommend for autocross racing? Are there any particular features or attributes that I should be looking for when selecting a vehicle for this category?
I understand that everyone has their own personal preferences when it comes to racing vehicles, but I would be grateful for any insights or recommendations that you may have. I trust that your collective experience and knowledge of the sport will prove invaluable in helping me make an informed decision.
Thank you in advance for your help and guidance. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Giving the benefit of the doubt, despite the red flags, the originally stated goals and objectives are not at all consistent with the 'findings' presented in the 5 paragraph essay about autox.
Autox is not well suited to achieving much success in a 'summer challenge', with driver skill being more important than car performance. Accumulated academic knowledge will be of little benefit, and would not result in being any more competitive in the best car $100k will buy than the best car $10k will buy. While autox may be cheap and easy for beginners to get started in, that's largely irrelevant with the specified budget.
The original post points to an endeavor where car performance is more important than driver skill. Something more like the previous suggestion of the Texas Mile, or other similar events, would likely be more appropriate.
Alternatively, that accumulated academic knowledge could be used to build a competitive car for an experienced driver to pilot to (shared) glory.
A more complete set of goals and objectives, that can be better decomposed into a list of associated requirements, would provide for far better results. One of the most important lessons in real world Engineering is that until one knows how to determine the right inputs, they'll never get the right outputs... Also known as:
Garbage In = Garbage Out
Welcome to the world of motorsports.
TequalsRxF said:
In reply to Tom1200 :
There was no need to wrap useful advice inside a slight towards my way of speaking. Do you really think you are the first person to share their profound insight about how I speak? I've been hearing it my whole life. Yes, I talk weird. That's me. Until the last few posts, I was so encouraged by the responses. It felt like a community that centered around racing and welcome anybody with that passion. I'm not going to let you throw me off, but I'm not going to tolerate disrespect. I'll choose to focus on the people who are behaving like welcoming members of the community.
That wasn't a slight. And you missed his point.
