Race-prepping a car

[Cos18]

First of all, apologies if this is the incorrect section. I'm a newbie as you can tell by my post count!

Say, I handed you a bog-standard road car (let's say a Mk5 Golf GTi) and I wanted it to be converted for professional racing at events such as the Britcar 24hr, what would be done to it? (As in body/engine/interior modifications)

The reason I ask is I would very much like to build a car which could be used in competition events at some point in my life (Most likely after I finish uni, as funds are tight as you could probably guess)

Thanks in advance


-Edd

[lewis1]

so many variations on this,
some championships have classes for cars that you only need to stip out interior and add roll cage,race seat and belts oh and a good fire extinguisher.
others you need to look at new suspension and engine mods.

do you have a car/championship in mind at all?

[Cos18]

Well too be honest, I'd like to purchase something small and cheap (Like a Toyota Glanza GT) which can be easily modified and maybe compete in some hatchback events. Ultimately (especially after looking at the pictures) I'd love to do something like the Britcar. Not sure how well a 1.3 turbo would hold up in that though!

[lewis1]

id suggest the first thing is pick a championship.
read the regs and pick a car, then read the technical requlations and buy what u need so your car complys with the class that you want to race in.

[skibum]

I think that by the time you add up all the costs of converting the car (as much fun as doing it is) you will be better off buying one that has already been done and has been raced a few times. You will save a hell of a lot of money and by getting one that has been used, hopefully any gremlins will have been sorted. You may also find you get a load of spares and set up data thrown in for good measure.

[cirks]

lewis1 said:

id suggest the first thing is pick a championship.

I'd probably say "pick a budget" then find a championship that will allow you to compete with said budget Remember, there's no such thing as cheap motorsport (well, there is, if you don't mind not winning!)

[mikee boy]

Set yourself a budget, spend half on the car and half on entries/maintenance/spares/tyres/trailer/kit/etc/etc....

Find a formula you like.

Buy the best car you can afford already racing in that formula.

Test it until you're as fast as the person you bought it off.


PS: If you test at Cadwell Park I'll come down and do some data logging for you (for free!)

Edited by mikee boy on Monday 6th October 21:05

[D_G]

Edd,

My advice would be to join a local motor club and get involved in local events. I compete in sprinting, hillclimbs and autosolos which are all great fun without much outlay. My race car is still road legal so I can drive to an event, do the day and drive home without the hassles of trailers etc. It's also good to be able to drive it on the road for testing between events. All club events have production classes, modified classes for production cars, and classes for single seaters and caterhams etc.
You will also get to enter trackdays with the club which will give you valuble track time without the numptys you normally get at open trackdays.

Cheers

Dave