Winter Refreshes; £Ouch£ Anyone Changing Due to it?
Discussion
Just thought i'd ask if anyone else is feeling the pain of the annual 'check over' of the racecar? I won my championship in 2007 but felt the mostly reliable car needed a general going over.
Within a week i was being told.
2 engine rebuilds would be £5k-£6k each dependent on parts.
new ECU and datalogger for 'assured reliability' would be between £7k and £15k dependent on final spec.
general check over £2500 plus parts required (£2k more so far)
Bodywork repairs £1500.
That's £18k plus with one engine done!!!
i could carry on with the car as is but it may go big style and cost more and blow chances of winning championship.
i'm know some will say get over it but i was interested to know if owner drivers being run by small teams had similar issues. should the cars be maintained to a higher standard during race weekends throughout the season saving on the extra winter costs and labour? For me the unexpected costs also start to make me think should i get a new car or change series but when you do that the new car is always more than you thought once you match to the spec of your current car. When looking @ a different series in feb you are under serious pressure to sort a new or used car as some series start early march.
The New MINI challenge cars are being delivered only days before their first race, making it almost impossible to run the poor thing in!!! i'd put a monkey on someone blowing an engine at the first race weekend.
Anyone making a big change from 07 into 08?
I went from MINI Challenge (125bhp Cooper) to Britsports (Norma 240bhp/500bhp per tonne) and found it took one lap to adjust to the increase in pace and downforce. Do you think you would have improved if you went back into a heavy FWD MINI? I did test the new BMW Motorsport MINI a couple of weeks ago at silverstone and was very impressed. It's very much a proper racing car now. I was 1st to test it in cold conditions and there wasn't a quicker car on the circuit inc a 996 Turbo, trying!! (very slippy in fairness). it's a far higher profile series this year running with A1GP, World Touring Cars, BTCC and a 'Ring' race against the german challenge 24hr VLN weekend. What do you think a New car @ €45k will be worth after a season? 07MY Cilo's are at £16k in racing condition, £4k in a year is nothing for a new car to lose in a season. The MINI will never be worth more than €35k after a year surely, i think it'll be €27500 max!!
Within a week i was being told.
2 engine rebuilds would be £5k-£6k each dependent on parts.
new ECU and datalogger for 'assured reliability' would be between £7k and £15k dependent on final spec.
general check over £2500 plus parts required (£2k more so far)
Bodywork repairs £1500.
That's £18k plus with one engine done!!!
i could carry on with the car as is but it may go big style and cost more and blow chances of winning championship.
i'm know some will say get over it but i was interested to know if owner drivers being run by small teams had similar issues. should the cars be maintained to a higher standard during race weekends throughout the season saving on the extra winter costs and labour? For me the unexpected costs also start to make me think should i get a new car or change series but when you do that the new car is always more than you thought once you match to the spec of your current car. When looking @ a different series in feb you are under serious pressure to sort a new or used car as some series start early march.
The New MINI challenge cars are being delivered only days before their first race, making it almost impossible to run the poor thing in!!! i'd put a monkey on someone blowing an engine at the first race weekend.
Anyone making a big change from 07 into 08?
I went from MINI Challenge (125bhp Cooper) to Britsports (Norma 240bhp/500bhp per tonne) and found it took one lap to adjust to the increase in pace and downforce. Do you think you would have improved if you went back into a heavy FWD MINI? I did test the new BMW Motorsport MINI a couple of weeks ago at silverstone and was very impressed. It's very much a proper racing car now. I was 1st to test it in cold conditions and there wasn't a quicker car on the circuit inc a 996 Turbo, trying!! (very slippy in fairness). it's a far higher profile series this year running with A1GP, World Touring Cars, BTCC and a 'Ring' race against the german challenge 24hr VLN weekend. What do you think a New car @ €45k will be worth after a season? 07MY Cilo's are at £16k in racing condition, £4k in a year is nothing for a new car to lose in a season. The MINI will never be worth more than €35k after a year surely, i think it'll be €27500 max!!
engine rebuild,
gearbox rebuild,
new calipers, disks and pads
new wheel hubs
new shocks
new data logger
new tyres
new seat plus a miriad other smaller items being replaced, just part of the winter health check in a series where the regs don't really change much.
Not long now, can't wait.....
gearbox rebuild,
new calipers, disks and pads
new wheel hubs
new shocks
new data logger
new tyres
new seat plus a miriad other smaller items being replaced, just part of the winter health check in a series where the regs don't really change much.
Not long now, can't wait.....
Edward (EL77) sounds like you've made your mind up about the Mini and I must say it has good potential BUT...
.... you don't need a new ECU, you don't need a second rebuilt engine and unless your engine is over 30hours old it doesnt need a refresh just yet. Even so on one of those engines around £4k should cover it. I have yet to find out how the Honda Tuners for CN cars can charge as much as they do since their motors are supposed to be as production. PM me and I will put you in touch with our engine guy if your interested.
Race teams naturaly want to cover thier backs and yours by going for overkill on security with parts and refreshes. I am big believer in covering all angles thats why we are so successfull but at the same time allot of the rebuild stuff is just trimming and not needed if the car is maintained properly in the first place.
.... you don't need a new ECU, you don't need a second rebuilt engine and unless your engine is over 30hours old it doesnt need a refresh just yet. Even so on one of those engines around £4k should cover it. I have yet to find out how the Honda Tuners for CN cars can charge as much as they do since their motors are supposed to be as production. PM me and I will put you in touch with our engine guy if your interested.
Race teams naturaly want to cover thier backs and yours by going for overkill on security with parts and refreshes. I am big believer in covering all angles thats why we are so successfull but at the same time allot of the rebuild stuff is just trimming and not needed if the car is maintained properly in the first place.
I've just kicked the tyres and changed the oil in the tuscan...
but admittedly I do only have about 30 mins on the engine and a newly built gerbox with zero hours in it..
mind you just tinker ing about with a few odds and ends has probably come to a grand.... the biggest hit your probably taking is in labour as your getting a team to do it, not sure why you should need new ecu and logger though and how much !!!!
but admittedly I do only have about 30 mins on the engine and a newly built gerbox with zero hours in it..
mind you just tinker ing about with a few odds and ends has probably come to a grand.... the biggest hit your probably taking is in labour as your getting a team to do it, not sure why you should need new ecu and logger though and how much !!!!
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