Porsche 968 - childhood dream of becoming a racing driver

[matfinch]

Despite my love of all things cars and racing, for whatever reason I have never managed to get into racing myself. I've done a bit of karting, and in recent years done a few track days with my Boxster, but haven't done any proper competitive track racing.

So after a long time talking about, thinking about it, reading about it, I am determined that 2012 will be the year when I finally start racing. At the age of 28 I'm unlikely to make it into Formula 1. I am probably 20 years too late. But hopefully I can do a few amateur races and finally achieve a childhood dream of becoming a racing driver.

What will I be racing?
My recent purchase the purple Porsche 968. Perfectly balanced, with a 3.0 litre engine and 6-speed box. It will be stripped modified and customised into a racing machine in the next 2 months!







I'll post a some updates on here on my progress, but if you want to read more of my waffle than you can see my blog

http://matracing.blogspot.com/

--ALSO PUBLISHED ON PETROLHEAD NIRVANA--

[matfinch]

I've started working stripping the car of all the bits we don't need.

I'd love to think I can do lots of the work myself, but the reality is that my mechanical ability is limited to changing a wheel, checking the oil and topping up the washer water. So I am going to be using the expert services from RPM Porsche Specialists in Cheddington to carry out most of the work on the car.

But there is one thing that I can do myself and thats unscrewing and unbolting stuff.

So here is where I have got to so far:


Removing the boot lining and trim was easy


As was the back seats


black and purple... mmmmm


And then the door panels, front seats and rest of the carpet removed.


There is the pile of stuff I removed. That's a reasonable amount of weight.

So now I have a nice collection of interior parts for sale on ebay!

As always, more photos on the blog http://matracing.blogspot.com/

[matfinch]

spyderman8 said:

Have you decided which series you're going to race in yet?

And was there a particular reason why you didn't buy an already prepared race car?

Planning to enter the Deutsche Marque series, part of the classic sports club. That gives me just over 1 month to get the car ready. http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/deutschemarq...

The reason I didn't buy a ready prep'd car is that part of the enjoyment for me is to build the car up from scratch, knowing every part that's going into it. Plus I am good friends with the guys at RPM Porsche Specialists at Cheddington, so they are carrying out some of the work!

[matfinch]

thanks guys - yes a month is going to be challenging, but parts have been ordered and will start to be fitted next week. so there is a chance! even if I don't make the first race, that will be fine, just to get some track time this year would be great.

yes, RPM have moved into their new premises and they are fantastic! 5 times the size of what they use to have. And that is where the 968 is currently living.

ahhh the joys of removing the carpet - yes, I have experienced that already. not fun

[matfinch]

After stripping out most of the interior, I've put various parts on ebay to see if I can make a bit of money (to pay for all the new parts).

I wasn't quite sure whether the rather unusual purple and black seats would sell, but there has been a bit of a bidding frenzy on ebay and they finally sold for £370.



The guy has already been to collect them, and says they are going straight to the re-trimmers (so clearly the black and purple wasn't for him) before going into a VW conversion. Well its nice to see them going to a good home, and the money is a great help towards the cost of the roll-cage!

More info on my blog as always: Mat Racing

More updates soon

[matfinch]

Nurburgsingh said:

I've just had a spin through your blog...

Just one thing... You said that you were having your sunroof welded in when you have the cage fitted... Just checking that you meant "glued in" right? The sunroof panel won't take too kindly to welding.

And yes carpets are a killer but it can be cleaned....

Wow that is a great job cleaning up the interior paint. What did you use to get all the glue off?

[matfinch]

boy said:

Nurburgsingh said:

I've just had a spin through your blog...

Just one thing... You said that you were having your sunroof welded in when you have the cage fitted... Just checking that you meant "glued in" right? The sunroof panel won't take too kindly to welding.

I assume he means it will have a plate welded in. Brave move on a roof panel. I'm decent with a welder but wouldn't fancy doing that without the roof needing a lot of filer afterwards.

Plan is to get a plate welded in. Guy has done it before on 944 and 968 and it looks the business, and removes all that heavy gubbings in the electric panel roof of the 968. I'll upload some pics once its done

[matfinch]

Had a quick run up to RPM Porsche Specialists this morning to collect a few of the bits that have been sold on ebay. Great to see 25+ Porsches lined up in their carpark. The guys at RPM have now ordered the roll cage to go into the 968. Its coming from Custom Cages who are specialists in this sort of thing.

Fitting the cage is one of the biggest jobs to get the car ready for track, and it includes taking out the dashboard. There are very strict MSA rules on the structure of the cage and the welding has to be approved, so I am leaving this job to the professionals.

Here is what the cage looks like:

I've ordered the standard (cheaper) CDS cage which comes in at 46kg.

[matfinch]

Ive been browsing through the hundreds of racing seats available, and there is a vast range of choices. They seem to range from around £150 to £5,000!

I need to get the latest FIA regulation, and must take a 6-point harness, but apart from that I think I can choose almost anything.

The guys are RPM Porsche recommend Corbeau, as they have fitted this into their racing boxster.

Something like this for around £400
Corbeau

or do I push the boat out for a Reccaro
Reccaro

or go for something cheaper like a Sparco knowing that I will probably upgrade in a year or 2 anyway:
Sparco

Comments please!

Blog: http://matracing.blogspot.com/

[matfinch]

Thanks for all the comments. I've ordered a Corbeau, which will be going in next week!

[matfinch]

Just popped in to RPM to see how the car is coming along and the last of the interior is out and the welding of the cage has begun! The pictures of the bare interior are quite shocking but it's necessary to fit in the cage. Even the dashboard has to come out!









Its now gone off to the welders to have the cage installed! More updates soon

[matfinch]

I gave the fabricator a visit this morning to see how he was getting on welding in the roll cage and the sunroof in the 968 hoping to see a great step forward! Sadly the progress is a bit slow. So I told him to get a hurry on and I would be back next Saturday to check on progress.

In the meantime here are a few more pics of the car, sitting in the fabricator workshop, now looking a bit dusty and a bit sorry for itself, with a un-constructed roll cage in the boot!





More photos on the blog as usual http://matracing.blogspot.co.uk/

[matfinch]

drmark said:

If you are interested I have a 2009 Corbeau Revolution with Corbeau aluminium mounting brackets that I took out of my EMC prepared 968 race car. Google for images - current range starts at 500 pounds without brackets. Has done season only (10 races) and been sat in my office since. Your for 100 pounds but you pay and arrange carriage. I can email me you photos if you PM me.
Cheers
Mark

Ahhh so frustrating! I ordered my seat just 1-week ago! But thank you for the offer. Most appreciated

[matfinch]

Its taken a bit longer than I had expected, but the roll-cage is finally installed into the 968. Its a custom-cages FIA race approved designed for the 968.

The windscreen had to come out during the installation and needs replacing. The sunroof was also welded in and kick-plate installed in the drivers footwell. Next job is installing the racing seat and harness that has now arrived.











More photos on the blog as always! http://matracing.blogspot.co.uk/

[matfinch]

Some interesting comments - thanks for the feedback. I certainly don't want to rock-up at my first race and not be allowed to race.

Here are a few more photos







The cage is a 968 cage from custom cages and is MSA fully compliant for circuit racing, which now includes the extra A-post reinforcement - hence why it looks rather the complex. Here is a diagram from custom cages



I've tried getting in and out and its not too bad - certainly not quite as easy as the race boxster, but its not bad. I think the angle of the photographs is making it a bit harder than it is, and the doors open very wide.

If you look at photo 4 above, you can see that the cross bar is lower than the window line - so its 1/3 way up the door opening. Not that high.

The welder has done many MSA compliant cages before, so I trust he knows what he is doing. However, guess there is no harm in checking. Anyone have any tips on who/how i could get it checked? I'm a complete novice!

[matfinch]

Hey guys - thanks for all the advice and comments, but please don't criticise RPM - I am doing this project myself, just using their premises for storage and ordering parts. So if there is any criticism, please direct at me!

Interior will be tidying up shortly - I have heard that dry ice is a good way to remove all the glue and gunk! Anyone had any experience of it?

Mat

[matfinch]

legaleagleboy said:

So when is your first race? I was wondering which way you are going with the suspension? Brakes/pads? ARB's?

Edited by legaleagleboy on Monday 4th June 08:01

Hoping to do some 'practice' races later in the year, and then a full season next year. Not sure about the suspension and brakes yet - all fairly expensive bits! I'm thinking about KW kit for suspension, but do you have any other suggestions?

[matfinch]

GC8 said:

Wise words from Steve. Unfortunately Matt, youve don some of this the wrong way around. You build your car to the regs, and never build a car and then try to find a championship for it, because even if youre allowed in youll still probably be at a disadvantage.

GC8 and Steve- Very wise words! Yes I have already selected the championship I plan to enter. It will be the Classic Sports Car Club "Deutsche Marque" series. I had hoping to do a couple of races this year, but thats looking less likely now.

I have spoken with them and got all the regs from them before I started any work on the car. So all the modifications and parts will meet their regs

http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/deutschemarq...

Yes, I in hindsight I really should have had the car dipped before fitting the cage! The glue in the 968 is a killer, as I found when removing the carpet! Sadly wasn't able to ebay that particular part.

Thanks for the advice as always guys! Think we can certainly say this is going to be a big learning curve for me, but fun all the same :-)

[matfinch]

legaleagleboy said:

FYI a full strip to enable the shell to be dipped would take approx. 100 hrs including cleaning bits and labelling etc, then about 200hrs to build it back up for racing. So labour alone is at least £10k if you have to pay for it !! add to that the actual cost of dipping, cage install & jig, painting, some new suspension + brakes + seat + harness + extinguisher etc .......... no change out of £16k anyway you look at it. (not even touched the engine or gearbox in that price!!)

Welcome to the slippery slope of racing prep........

Matt, your way will be cheaper and you can get to the grid sooner -- go for it.

Thanks for the words of encouragement - I am trying to do this on a sensible budget, so finding the most economical route without cutting too many corners! I hope not doing the dip isn't a sacrifice too far! Next on the list is suspension, wheels, tyres.....

Thanks again to everyone - All the advice and ideas are very much welcome.

[matfinch]

Pesty said:

Link not working for me.

sorry - should be http://matracing.blogspot.co.uk/

Try that!