Should PH take part in Britcar?
Should PH take part in Britcar?
Author
Discussion

SpeedyGonzales

Original Poster:

7,211 posts

228 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Evening all,

This conversation started the Top Gear thread so i thought i would continue here as it would be more appropriate.

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

If we all put in some money each we could take part in Britcar say, in a few years time?

Now obvoiusly we are going to have a few problems on deciding what car to take and why, we are definitely not taking a BMW 330D and adding splitters and a large spoiler.






Firstly, lets decide on the car scratchchin

Kind Regards

Big Chris


Edited by SpeedyGonzales on Monday 10th December 21:09


Edited by SpeedyGonzales on Monday 10th December 21:13

75_Steve

7,489 posts

224 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Mercedes W126 560SEL.

Probably the worst idea for a race car in the world, but we'd be comfy and quick-ish wafting around in one of them for 24 hours.

Paint it NATO green, stick some PH logos on it, run it on matt black steelies and we'd have no problems forcing our way through the field.


flattotheboards

6,688 posts

230 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
its a decent idea, if loads of people were willing to put money ini would be happy to as well.

malross

62 posts

243 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Surely the biggest question is who gets to drive?! biggrin

Baggsy first shot!

Anyway, if we can come up with a decent proposal (and enough contributors), I'd be interested.

Mal.

Jderh

6,225 posts

231 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Sounds like a cool idea. How about a barge bargain of some description??? Maybe a BMW 740, Jaguar XJR or the classic Volvo V70R?? Sure, you'd have to refuel every 5 minutes, but think of the waftiness.


sadako

7,080 posts

262 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Mk2 MR2 running a supercharged v6 camry engine through an MR2 turbo gearbox. Quick, comfy, reliable, race modifications easily available off the shelf although engine tuning is not so much, however that particular engine is very unstressed and people are currently experimenting with it. I think for the purposes of this race it is worth the extra 200kg to use a mk2 chassis as opposed to a mk1 for the longer wheelbase which should make it a bit less skittish, as well as being better for the driver's comfort with more room in the cabin for the cage.

The Hypno-Toad

13,158 posts

229 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Transfered across from the Top Gear thread;

Its got to be a MX-5

1.) Donor car would be cheap.

2.) Parts would be cheap.

3.) Converting it to racing spec. would be cheap and relatively easy without getting into stupid costs to be competitive. (compared to an Elise for instance.)

4.) Because its a PH legend!

I'm no race preparer but I'm guessing you make sure the engines okay, maybe exhaust and airfilter it, don't muck about with heads but maybe dry sump it, bigger cooling fan, better radiator. The thing would be not huge power it would be staying out of the pits and lapping reliably and consistently. The biggest brakes you can find, plus the grippest tyres. Adjustable dampers, do the springs and anti roll bars, strut brace front and rear, bigger fuel tank (maybe just extend the existing one.), cage & extingushers, racing seat and harnesses, maybe a bit of data logging (not all singing and dancing.) and rip the crap out of it to get rid of as much weight as possible.
not that I've already thought about doing this or anything...

The only drawback would be if you did have a smash as the only panels you could really do properly in the pits would be bonnet, lights, boot and bumpers.Then all you would need would be 5 of PHs finest to drive and about, I don't know maybe 30 to help out?

To pay for it, work out the budget, get Autocar to stump up a bit and then get all PHs to pay maybe £100 to get their names on the car a la Red Bull this year.

I reckon we could do this.smile

bigburd

2,670 posts

224 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Toyota hilux - lowered accordingly and turn the whole back into a fuel tank!

MKIV Golf with a 3.0 diesel out of A4/A6 and a big fuel tank...

A4 Avant 2.5TDI?

Graham

16,378 posts

308 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
bargain basement your looking at a 20k budget to run plus the car !!! And dont underestimate how hard it is to get a car to run for 1 hour full chat on a track never mind 24hr..

Im def up for it though I'm already looking at how to finance a drive for next year, my budget for the last one evaporated when my throttle jammed at Cadwell, and the resultant trip through the tyre wall yikes



As for what car, well for me it has to be front engine/ rearwheel drive... mm how about a sag

lord summerisle

8,168 posts

249 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Graham said:
bargain basement your looking at a 20k budget to run plus the car !!! And dont underestimate how hard it is to get a car to run for 1 hour full chat on a track never mind 24hr..

Im def up for it though I'm already looking at how to finance a drive for next year, my budget for the last one evaporated when my throttle jammed at Cadwell, and the resultant trip through the tyre wall yikes



As for what car, well for me it has to be front engine/ rearwheel drive... mm how about a sag
would they let a Sag in? and would you trust the s6.. or go with a a modified sag body on the tuscan chassis like some of you guys are using in the challenge?

mmm-five

12,131 posts

308 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
How about buying one of the 24hr 2CV cars - should be cheap to buy, run, and it'll probably win a class of it's own.

EDLT

15,421 posts

230 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
The Hypno-Toad said:
3.) Converting it to racing spec. would be cheap and relatively easy without getting into stupid costs to be competitive. (compared to an Elise for instance.)
You could just buy a MX-5 cup race car and some slick tyres. It'd be cheaper.

I don't know where you'd put the long range tank though.

Timberwolf

5,374 posts

242 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Sod the Britcar, I reckon we should see about organising some kind of bargain barge championship!

Classes for £0-£1k, £1k-5k, and so on. Standard engine, standard suspension, and OE wheels. (Although swapping metric for an equivalent imperial size would be allowable.)

No interior stripping allowed, barring what needs to be added cage-wise for safety.

Gentlemen, on your marks, ready, set, waft!

Also, race photos would look *really* fast, what with all the body roll and flying hubcaps...

PetrolTed

34,465 posts

327 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
How about buying one of the 24hr 2CV cars - should be cheap to buy, run, and it'll probably win a class of it's own.
I was offered one this evening funnily enough.

collateral

7,238 posts

242 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
Surely there are regs saying what cars are allowed and what isn't?

If not...se7en? yes

BCA

8,651 posts

281 months

Monday 10th December 2007
quotequote all
PetrolTed said:
mmm-five said:
How about buying one of the 24hr 2CV cars - should be cheap to buy, run, and it'll probably win a class of it's own.
I was offered one this evening funnily enough.
How much/ what are the figures for generally running one in the 24hrs?? Im guessing its better/cheaper to just buy a drive, but im intrigued...

Vixpy1

42,697 posts

288 months

Tuesday 11th December 2007
quotequote all
PetrolTed said:
mmm-five said:
How about buying one of the 24hr 2CV cars - should be cheap to buy, run, and it'll probably win a class of it's own.
I was offered one this evening funnily enough.
Did it have a broken windscreen hehe

sidekickdmr

5,202 posts

230 months

Tuesday 11th December 2007
quotequote all
id put some money in providing i could come watch it being built and race!

AngryS3Owner

15,855 posts

253 months

Tuesday 11th December 2007
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An A8 4L Diesel would be a giggle I'd imagine, however it'd probably end up costing a fair amount hehe

Pentoman

4,835 posts

287 months

Tuesday 11th December 2007
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A old shape passat 2.5 V6 TDi is probably light compared to the Audis and cheaply available