Which race car?
Discussion
I guys, I have just completed the sale of some share capital and I have some cash I want to burn doing some saloon car racing!!
I have done lots of research and attended quite a few meetings and believe that a sesion of 750mc Roadsports or CSCC is probably what I want to go for. I like the idea of endurance racing where the dash to each apex is not done leaning on your opponents door to help you get around. Stock Hatch etc is not where I want to be.
I have a budget of up to £30k, but want to spend something around £20k, ideally less than 350bhp so it is eligible for the roadsports. Note, this is total budget for the car, including any prep to convert and or bring it up to safety specs. Some options I have looked at already include:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C629733
https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/56838/po...
https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/59012/e4...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
I have also considered converting one of these, but am not sure what kind of budget it would be to put in a cage, cut off and extinguisher.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Any others I should consider? Feel free to pitch your own car if you have it for sale here or via PM.
I have done lots of research and attended quite a few meetings and believe that a sesion of 750mc Roadsports or CSCC is probably what I want to go for. I like the idea of endurance racing where the dash to each apex is not done leaning on your opponents door to help you get around. Stock Hatch etc is not where I want to be.
I have a budget of up to £30k, but want to spend something around £20k, ideally less than 350bhp so it is eligible for the roadsports. Note, this is total budget for the car, including any prep to convert and or bring it up to safety specs. Some options I have looked at already include:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C629733
https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/56838/po...
https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/59012/e4...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
I have also considered converting one of these, but am not sure what kind of budget it would be to put in a cage, cut off and extinguisher.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
Any others I should consider? Feel free to pitch your own car if you have it for sale here or via PM.
Thurbs, I race in both CSCC and Roadsports ocassionally, feel free to PM me for any info.
I have this car for sale at the moment:
https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/5912...
Already registered for CSCC Modern Classics and eligible for a number of other series. Ideal for Roadsports Class B where it would be at the top of the class power to weight ratio. A good base car to upgrade with a lot of the expensive manhours work already completed. It is ready to pass scrutineering and race although I have only used it on a few track days.
I have 2 other race cars so this has to go!
I have this car for sale at the moment:
https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/5912...
Already registered for CSCC Modern Classics and eligible for a number of other series. Ideal for Roadsports Class B where it would be at the top of the class power to weight ratio. A good base car to upgrade with a lot of the expensive manhours work already completed. It is ready to pass scrutineering and race although I have only used it on a few track days.
I have 2 other race cars so this has to go!
Thurbs,
I'm a newcomer to racing, having had my first ever door-to-door race at the weekend. I'm definitely more of a polisher than a racer so needed to select a series that would enable both. Classic racing is where it's at.
I bought an Alfa GT Junior and absolutely love it. Its so simple that I can tinker away myself with it and it's not so fast that I scare the hell out of myself either.
I met Mr Crow (Kinkell) at the weekend and actually know his car, the RS2000, quite well as it was a very serious contender for my race car but the Alfa won on looks.
There are some very active classics/historic racing series in the UK where the drivers seem to have unrivalled respect for their cars and fellow racers.
There is also the financial aspect to consider;
Take your modern series. You buy a Radical and race it for a few seasons. The car depreciates quite a bit or at very least needs some decent money spent on rebuilds etc. The closer racing tends to cost more in bodywork and repairs so that's another consideration. Once done with that type of racing you sell the car for less than you paid (unless you can maybe get it to frequent race-winning stage) and accept the hit.
I feel the Classics are different. You buy your car and get it racing. There is generally more respect so less damage. The engine components are, in the main, less expensive and bodywork is metal or fiberglass rather than carbon etc so any damage is that bit cheaper. The main difference however is when you come to sell. If you chose wisely and hung onto the car for a reasonable length of time then there's no reason that the car may not be worth more than you paid. Early Lotus Elan's, Mk 1 Escorts, Lotus Cortina's, BMW 2002's and my humble wee Alfa have all seen a good rise in value of late because of things like the Masters series and the fact that classics are enjoying a period of investment at present.
I had a big power Subaru for years which was very quick and capable but it was ultimately too much for me and let me down mechanically as often as it worked. The Alfa has changed my life on track. I can't wait to get back out and enjoy it and I know it'll fire up whenever I need it to.
If it were my money then I'd be looking at the Elan in the Historic section of Racecarsdirect and seeing if a deal can be done. It may need a little work for you to race but not much and it'll hold value well while delivering you great handling, sound and looks coupled with some nice close but safe racing.
Enjoy whatever you choose to do.
I'm a newcomer to racing, having had my first ever door-to-door race at the weekend. I'm definitely more of a polisher than a racer so needed to select a series that would enable both. Classic racing is where it's at.
I bought an Alfa GT Junior and absolutely love it. Its so simple that I can tinker away myself with it and it's not so fast that I scare the hell out of myself either.
I met Mr Crow (Kinkell) at the weekend and actually know his car, the RS2000, quite well as it was a very serious contender for my race car but the Alfa won on looks.
There are some very active classics/historic racing series in the UK where the drivers seem to have unrivalled respect for their cars and fellow racers.
There is also the financial aspect to consider;
Take your modern series. You buy a Radical and race it for a few seasons. The car depreciates quite a bit or at very least needs some decent money spent on rebuilds etc. The closer racing tends to cost more in bodywork and repairs so that's another consideration. Once done with that type of racing you sell the car for less than you paid (unless you can maybe get it to frequent race-winning stage) and accept the hit.
I feel the Classics are different. You buy your car and get it racing. There is generally more respect so less damage. The engine components are, in the main, less expensive and bodywork is metal or fiberglass rather than carbon etc so any damage is that bit cheaper. The main difference however is when you come to sell. If you chose wisely and hung onto the car for a reasonable length of time then there's no reason that the car may not be worth more than you paid. Early Lotus Elan's, Mk 1 Escorts, Lotus Cortina's, BMW 2002's and my humble wee Alfa have all seen a good rise in value of late because of things like the Masters series and the fact that classics are enjoying a period of investment at present.
I had a big power Subaru for years which was very quick and capable but it was ultimately too much for me and let me down mechanically as often as it worked. The Alfa has changed my life on track. I can't wait to get back out and enjoy it and I know it'll fire up whenever I need it to.
If it were my money then I'd be looking at the Elan in the Historic section of Racecarsdirect and seeing if a deal can be done. It may need a little work for you to race but not much and it'll hold value well while delivering you great handling, sound and looks coupled with some nice close but safe racing.
Enjoy whatever you choose to do.
Thurbs said:
Thanks guys.
Lots to concider... I am erring on the side of classics to be honest, but parts supply is a worry + they tend to be more expensive.
They are more expensive but as has been pointed out, don't tend to depreciate.Lots to concider... I am erring on the side of classics to be honest, but parts supply is a worry + they tend to be more expensive.
The trick is to get a classic that has lots around, with good spares supply remaining and a good network of specialists. MGB, Lotus Élan, Ford Escort or Capri or Porsche 911 would be my suggestions, but anything that's FIA compliant adds £££££s.
If you do want to go down the classic route, read the regs very carefully and make sure the car you are buying complies.
I am just putting my Porsche 968 race car up for sale, won a dozen trophies in it through Modern Classics/Porsche Club and inaugural Dunlop Porsche Cup overall winner in 2014 and it has more to give than my talent so should easily be a regular class winner. Contact me if interested, it has a great spares package too and is race ready.
For your budget and thoughts, have a look at MGB's, either V8's or 4 pots. MGCC has some info as does the BCV8 championship and Thorougbred Sports cars. Have raced in both, great bunch of guys and lots of fun. For a lot less than 20k you could get a very competitive b class car and for around 20k a very competitive c class car.., D class would need nearer the 30k mark.
An often overlooked series but all classes race with A class which is standard or FIA class (in equipe I think) but my understanding is that those are on a par with C class if not D class monies ...
An often overlooked series but all classes race with A class which is standard or FIA class (in equipe I think) but my understanding is that those are on a par with C class if not D class monies ...
Personally I would go FIA MGB for your budget - a really good car is about £25k/£30k, parts are readily available and they go very well - they tend to be easy to sell on if you want to run a quicker/more expensive car later and you are eligible for the following:
Spa 6 hours
Eifelrennen (Ring)
Old Timer GP (Ring)
Gold Cup (most years)
Silverstone classic (some years)
Equipe GT (forgotten correct name)
The thing about longer FIA races is that tend to be at big events which allows second/third drivers to contribute financially and personally I would settle for racing for hours round the Ring or Spa to any number of 20/30 min races in the UK.
Decisions, decisions...
Spa 6 hours
Eifelrennen (Ring)
Old Timer GP (Ring)
Gold Cup (most years)
Silverstone classic (some years)
Equipe GT (forgotten correct name)
The thing about longer FIA races is that tend to be at big events which allows second/third drivers to contribute financially and personally I would settle for racing for hours round the Ring or Spa to any number of 20/30 min races in the UK.
Decisions, decisions...
This might work... http://uk.radicalsportscars.com/sr1cup/sr1cup.aspx
If you look at the racing ladder, it shows...
The SR1 Cup which is an all in price for the SR1 plus events and races for the absolute racing novice
The Sprint championship which is mostly for the core car the SR3. A few of the older PR6s compete plus the SR1 (now on slicks). 3 races on a saturday (eeek).
The Enduro is 2 x 40 mins for a pair of driver or single drivers. Often a pro-am mix.
The Euro masters mainly for the V8 SR8s plus the new Spyder, but with a class for SR3s as well.
Quite a range which includes self-run guys all the way to good teams. It's not budget (as in low-cost) racing, but it's cost effective for amazing cars, super racing and performance that mere mortals should only be able to dream of.
Bert
If you look at the racing ladder, it shows...
The SR1 Cup which is an all in price for the SR1 plus events and races for the absolute racing novice
The Sprint championship which is mostly for the core car the SR3. A few of the older PR6s compete plus the SR1 (now on slicks). 3 races on a saturday (eeek).
The Enduro is 2 x 40 mins for a pair of driver or single drivers. Often a pro-am mix.
The Euro masters mainly for the V8 SR8s plus the new Spyder, but with a class for SR3s as well.
Quite a range which includes self-run guys all the way to good teams. It's not budget (as in low-cost) racing, but it's cost effective for amazing cars, super racing and performance that mere mortals should only be able to dream of.
Bert
How about an Ariel Atom Cup race car, and come into the Atom challenge series.
Seriously good value for money with realistic running cost's.
https://www.atomchallenge.co.uk/
The car has, 245bhp, ohlin adjustable suspension, Alcon 4 pots all round and we run to controlled tyre's.
Laps way above it cost grade!
If your interested, please do inbox me! Cars available and arrive and drive available.
Seriously good value for money with realistic running cost's.
https://www.atomchallenge.co.uk/
The car has, 245bhp, ohlin adjustable suspension, Alcon 4 pots all round and we run to controlled tyre's.
Laps way above it cost grade!
If your interested, please do inbox me! Cars available and arrive and drive available.
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