It was fun babysitting that car and waking up the neighbors on the next street over.
Photography by David S. Wallens
There it was, sitting on grid just a few spaces away from us: Chris Brake and the Bradley-bodied, Ford Panther-chassised creation that took top honors at last year’s $2000 Challenge.
[Merging a free, vintage kit car body with an unlikely donor to create a $2000 Challenge champion]
It’s a treat to see in the flesh. Or fiberglass. Whatever.
We saw the pairing at this weekend’s Martin Sports Car Club autocross at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.
Weather for the day: hotter than Venus.
Fortunately, participants can use the convention center’s bathrooms. It might be a bit of a walk, but you’re rewarded with cold, comfortable air conditioning–and a cute puppy who was also enjoying the a/c.
Did we outpace the overall winner and fastest car at last year’s Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge? Technically, yes, by half a second–but we know that he had some trouble that day.
If all was going well, we figure he’d ourtun us by half a minute on a 40-second course. It’s just that fast. Plus it sounds much cooler.
This fall’s Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack welcomes cars of all budgets, and we’re already entered the Garage Rescue? Come join us to see how it fares, and watch the video to see our community doing cool stuff.
It was fun babysitting that car and waking up the neighbors on the next street over.
I thought quite a number of parts were taken off the "Bradley" at the end of the Challenge last year. How close is the current incarnation to what had been?
In reply to KyAllroad :
"Quite a number" is a bit of a stretch. I kept the n2o setup and the drag slicks.
CB has done some minor work to make the cooling system better, but otherwise the car is currently in the same configuration as it competed at Challenge '21
In reply to gumby :
Yeah but the N20 bottle was structural.. right?
Good to see the Champ out doin it's thing.
In reply to nocones :
It was way, way cool to see it at this weekend's autocross. We kinda parked at opposite ends of the paddock, so I didn't see it until I was heading to grid–when I was like, Did I just see what I think I saw...?
Sadly, since we were in the same group, I didn't get to see it run. (This site places the paddock between grid and the course.)
And I plan to have the Miata at the $2000 Challenge–maybe even on fresh tires.
Can't wait to see "regular" cars mix it up with some of the Challenge builds.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
So you would be outpaced by half of a minute on a 40 second course? Is that them doing it in 10 seconds or you doing it in 70?
In reply to alfadriver :
Yes.
gumby said:In reply to KyAllroad :
"Quite a number" is a bit of a stretch. I kept the n2o setup and the drag slicks.
CB has done some minor work to make the cooling system better, but otherwise the car is currently in the same configuration as it competed at Challenge '21
Oh no there was more than that. Its completely a different car not even the same shape. /sarcasm
Displaying 1-10 of 10 commentsView all comments on the GRM forums
You'll need to log in to post.
