Porsche 968 - childhood dream of becoming a racing driver
Discussion
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--
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--
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/
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/
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...And was there a particular reason why you didn't buy an already prepared race car?
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!
That car looked too good to strip for racing. In case you didn't know the colour's called Amaranth - great for a race car.
That series looks good - I've not watched a race but did enter the CSCC's Future Classics Hallowe'en meeting in 2010 (and got pole
), their Deutsche Marque series started the year afterwards. There was a nice relaxed atmosphere and the variety of vehicles and longer races mean it's not as frantic as other series, a great way to start out.
I think getting it ready in a month will be a challenge so good luck with it. And if you want an experienced driver to share the races with just get in touch.
That series looks good - I've not watched a race but did enter the CSCC's Future Classics Hallowe'en meeting in 2010 (and got pole
), their Deutsche Marque series started the year afterwards. There was a nice relaxed atmosphere and the variety of vehicles and longer races mean it's not as frantic as other series, a great way to start out. I think getting it ready in a month will be a challenge so good luck with it. And if you want an experienced driver to share the races with just get in touch.
matfinch said:
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/deutschemarque.htm
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!
Yes, I know Darren, Ollie and Mark - in fact I've rented their Boxster a couple of times and its been raced in the same series. Haven't seen their new premises yet.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!
Hi Matthew. Great colour for a race car. Classic and Sports Car Club are a good bunch. You'll be amazed at how much weight ends up going back in. Cage, seat, harness, extinguisher etc. I don't think you'll do it in a month, in fact no chance. You need to sit down and decide to what standard you are going to build the car too and start ordering parts pronto. But seriously good luck with the project. I've built and been involved in a few Porsche race cars and it is not that straight forward. Go in with your eyes open. Then enjoy.
Edited by graemel on Sunday 26th February 09:20
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
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
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
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
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....
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....
graemel said:
Hi Matthew. Great colour for a race car. Classic and Sports Car Club are a good bunch. You'll be amazed at how much weight ends up going back in. Cage, seat, harness, extinguisher etc. I don't think you'll do it in a month, in fact no chance. You need to sit down and decide to what standard you are going to build the car too and start ordering parts pronto. But seriously good luck with the project. I've built and been involved in a few Porsche race cars and it is not that straight forward. Go in with your eyes open. Then enjoy.
Graeme has wise words and he right it's heart breaking buying all the sexy light weight bits only to replace it with a bloody great lump of steel tubes!Edited by graemel on Sunday 26th February 09:20
Good luck but I'd think it'll be back end of this season before you are out in it in anger.
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?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....
OP you will have an absolute nightmare getting the glue out of the 968 shell. I changed the carpets over in mine, the central bit that goes over the tunnel on its own took me 2 hours of strenuous tugging to get off (oh err missus). My arms ached for days after that weekend, never again. Would much rather start from an acid dipped clean shell, there are just so many odds and ends you also find/fix/replace or just never refit doing things this way. You will only end up doing a bare shell job eventually anyway I reckon, either with this car or by selling it and buying one that has been built ground up. My S2 race car body shell is the same colour as that 968 above with the same cage as they both came from EMC. Back in my parents garage there is 2 crates full of such odds and ends left over from the build.
The other thing to consider is the weight. My S2 is a full 200 Kg lighter than stock even with all the safety stuff, its actually a bit heavy at 1130 Kg as I know of 968 race cars down at that level. Lightest S2 race car I know of is down at 1050 Kg.
Its one hell of a drug racing, I gave up on the dream in my early 20's as I didn't earn enough. Fast forward a decade and I wound up building a track car and straight away decided to go racing rekindling that dream. If you see my maritime blue S2 come and say hi.
The other thing to consider is the weight. My S2 is a full 200 Kg lighter than stock even with all the safety stuff, its actually a bit heavy at 1130 Kg as I know of 968 race cars down at that level. Lightest S2 race car I know of is down at 1050 Kg.
Its one hell of a drug racing, I gave up on the dream in my early 20's as I didn't earn enough. Fast forward a decade and I wound up building a track car and straight away decided to go racing rekindling that dream. If you see my maritime blue S2 come and say hi.
NJH said:
The other thing to consider is the weight. My S2 is a full 200 Kg lighter than stock even with all the safety stuff, its actually a bit heavy at 1130 Kg as I know of 968 race cars down at that level. Lightest S2 race car I know of is down at 1050 Kg.
My s2 weighs 1050kg. Still plenty of weight to come out, but the weight to come out now will need to be replaced with lighter bits so will cost a bit. I've seen s2's at 975kg. Not sure what you'll get a 968 to. Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff