Track Car Dashboard
Discussion
I've posted this in the French section but it's a quiet part of the forum so replies are few and far between.
Can anyone suggest a sensible 'dash' solution for the below problem?
It's a track car, but needs to work on the road. And (maybe) a few Hill Climb events (so MSA friendly?) Doesn't have to look pretty, only need's to function.
I'm new to this so ideas and parts suppliers are thin on the ground for me!
Can anyone suggest a sensible 'dash' solution for the below problem?
It's a track car, but needs to work on the road. And (maybe) a few Hill Climb events (so MSA friendly?) Doesn't have to look pretty, only need's to function.
I'm new to this so ideas and parts suppliers are thin on the ground for me!
Ah, good question! I should have said...
I can, but it's quite heavy and if there's a better (lighter) way of making the car work, I'd favour that.
At the moment my best solution (save hacking the existing dash and mashing it back in - I'm not great with these things) is to cable tie absolutely everything. Which kind of makes me sad after browsing Google images and seeing all kinds of professional looking carbon fibre solutions!
I can, but it's quite heavy and if there's a better (lighter) way of making the car work, I'd favour that.
At the moment my best solution (save hacking the existing dash and mashing it back in - I'm not great with these things) is to cable tie absolutely everything. Which kind of makes me sad after browsing Google images and seeing all kinds of professional looking carbon fibre solutions!
rallycross said:
Put the dash back in with cut outs to where the cage is in the way.
Dash or no dash - the weight loss will make as near as no noticeable difference to a track car, will be far better with a functioning dash back in there.
I dont know why people strip bare track cars?
There is no timing allowed on track, you are not racing, wrecking the inside of a car to save a few KG that's never going to make the slightest bit of difference to your track day enjoyment seems like a pointless exercise and ruins the car.
I appreciate the input but I'm not sure I would agree... the weight saving may be negligible but, for me, the stripped back look and feel is all part of the fun! True Im not racing it, but I'd like to (finances permitting) and I'd like it to be as close to that purpose as possible. Both practically and financially!Dash or no dash - the weight loss will make as near as no noticeable difference to a track car, will be far better with a functioning dash back in there.
I dont know why people strip bare track cars?
There is no timing allowed on track, you are not racing, wrecking the inside of a car to save a few KG that's never going to make the slightest bit of difference to your track day enjoyment seems like a pointless exercise and ruins the car.
Dash or no, it's never going to be 'nice' again. But that's OK! : )
GC8 said:
Boring_Chris said:
rallycross said:
Put the dash back in with cut outs to where the cage is in the way.
Dash or no dash - the weight loss will make as near as no noticeable difference to a track car, will be far better with a functioning dash back in there.
I dont know why people strip bare track cars?
There is no timing allowed on track, you are not racing, wrecking the inside of a car to save a few KG that's never going to make the slightest bit of difference to your track day enjoyment seems like a pointless exercise and ruins the car.
I appreciate the input but I'm not sure I would agree... the weight saving may be negligible but, for me, the stripped back look and feel is all part of the fun! True Im not racing it, but I'd like to (finances permitting) and I'd like it to be as close to that purpose as possible. Both practically and financially!Dash or no dash - the weight loss will make as near as no noticeable difference to a track car, will be far better with a functioning dash back in there.
I dont know why people strip bare track cars?
There is no timing allowed on track, you are not racing, wrecking the inside of a car to save a few KG that's never going to make the slightest bit of difference to your track day enjoyment seems like a pointless exercise and ruins the car.
Dash or no, it's never going to be 'nice' again. But that's OK! : )
Real racing cars don't do this. Real racing cars keep power steering and air conditioning too, because both make you faster, not slower. I'm aware of the arguments used, but they usually fall somewhere between misguided and complete b
ks. You need real 'racecar' prep here, not 'because racecar' prep. I've just looked at a larger version of the picture and you don't have a hope of passing scrutineering - even if its Stevie Wonder. You need to either replace the door cards or fit thin aluminium sheet to protect yourself from the sharp edges. You need to refit the dashboard to protect your legs from all of the nasty sharp edges that you have exposed and you need to ensure that you can get in and out of the car quickly, because whilst it could be the angle of the photograph causing it, it looks as though the door bars are far too high.
Oh, and re; getting in and out. It's fine. In that, I can. It's no harder than my VX220. Would it be how quickly 'I' can get out in a hurry, or 'you'... i.e. the tester?
Edited by Boring_Chris on Thursday 14th July 18:33
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I'm still stuck on this.
The original dash isnt going back in. The front bar wont allow it (the bolt in points on the bulkhead are at the same height as the bar. I'd have to cut the dash right back, which would cut into the bolts on the actually dash)
Can anyone point me in the direction of somewhere that builds custom dashboards? Doesn't have to be pretty - just functional. And maybe offers enough to see it through basic track day / hill climb scrutineers.
The original dash isnt going back in. The front bar wont allow it (the bolt in points on the bulkhead are at the same height as the bar. I'd have to cut the dash right back, which would cut into the bolts on the actually dash)
Can anyone point me in the direction of somewhere that builds custom dashboards? Doesn't have to be pretty - just functional. And maybe offers enough to see it through basic track day / hill climb scrutineers.
Edited by Boring_Chris on Thursday 8th December 11:16
Haha. That actually makes a lot of sense...
It would be nice to get a proper speedo surround in there, though. Plus, as you say, heaters and whatnot. It needs to work on the road, so de-misters are a must.
It's looking like I'll just have to get creative with whatever I can find. I just figured this would be a common problem for which there'd be professionals out there who could wave a magic wand at the damn thing! Ha.
It would be nice to get a proper speedo surround in there, though. Plus, as you say, heaters and whatnot. It needs to work on the road, so de-misters are a must.
It's looking like I'll just have to get creative with whatever I can find. I just figured this would be a common problem for which there'd be professionals out there who could wave a magic wand at the damn thing! Ha.
SHutchinson said:
Boring_Chris said:
SHutchinson said:
Boring_Chris said:
SHutchinson said:
Finished it yet?
HAVE I SH!TE!Is it driveable? In the new year you should throw the bits in it and drive over mine one weekend, see if we can work out a plan. I've got cardboard and sheet metal to knock up something to cover the doors with, that seems like a quick win.
jesfirth said:
chris,
for sprints, depending on which class you are in, door cards are not required - just make sure there are no sharp edges. its not on the scruntineers list to review for sprints/hillclimbs unless you are in a road going class in which case you have to have something.
I too took the dash out of my griff to reduce weight. my solution was really simple - I used the dash as a mold, covered it in cling film then laid over it 2 layers of fibreglass, let it dry and lifted it off. Had to do it in 2 parts because of the curves split horizontally top and bottom and bonded them together, sprayed it matt black and then bolted it into the car. the new dash weighs 1.2kg all up and is the same shape as the original - only not so pretty. Never had a problem with scrutineers or MOT's and I have done about 30 sprints in it like that.
Thanks for that. I've just YouTube'd some videos on fibreglass moulds and it certainly looks doable. for sprints, depending on which class you are in, door cards are not required - just make sure there are no sharp edges. its not on the scruntineers list to review for sprints/hillclimbs unless you are in a road going class in which case you have to have something.
I too took the dash out of my griff to reduce weight. my solution was really simple - I used the dash as a mold, covered it in cling film then laid over it 2 layers of fibreglass, let it dry and lifted it off. Had to do it in 2 parts because of the curves split horizontally top and bottom and bonded them together, sprayed it matt black and then bolted it into the car. the new dash weighs 1.2kg all up and is the same shape as the original - only not so pretty. Never had a problem with scrutineers or MOT's and I have done about 30 sprints in it like that.
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