Cerbera as a track day/race car
Discussion
Been thinking over the last few weeks that if i didnt sell the Cerb that id like to start doing some track days in it and possibly in the future maybe even enter a race series with it as i undoubtly got the bug. Ive been following the progress of both Mike & JonnyW on the forum with racing in the GTCup and admire what they have done and acheived with this glorious car.
Thats probably a long way off and a distant dream for me but im pleased at the fact now that i have a mechanically sound car with which to start from(touchwood). I can start possibly building myself and the cars abilities to a solely track orientated combo. As i understand it by talking to some friends who have done this, theres a huge amount to learn (and burn) and most of which starts with the driver and then progresses onto improving the car.
Ive been looking at Mikes threads on what he has done to his Cerb. 4.7 Engine, 2 way adjustable suspension, carbon wheels, weight, lighter panels, custom front splitter and rear wing.....certainly helps to paint a picture in my head with regards to the car
What i'd really like is some guidance and input towards this long term goal in terms of both driver and car....? Thanks in advance
Thats probably a long way off and a distant dream for me but im pleased at the fact now that i have a mechanically sound car with which to start from(touchwood). I can start possibly building myself and the cars abilities to a solely track orientated combo. As i understand it by talking to some friends who have done this, theres a huge amount to learn (and burn) and most of which starts with the driver and then progresses onto improving the car.
Ive been looking at Mikes threads on what he has done to his Cerb. 4.7 Engine, 2 way adjustable suspension, carbon wheels, weight, lighter panels, custom front splitter and rear wing.....certainly helps to paint a picture in my head with regards to the car
What i'd really like is some guidance and input towards this long term goal in terms of both driver and car....? Thanks in advance
Personally it seems a 'waste' of what seems to be a good, sorted, standard Cerbera to convert it for a pure Track and Race car. What about a Part-ex it against a tatty Cerbera and use that as the base for a conversion?
PS - Good luck with your dreams and ambitions, it's a big commitment, but go for it
PS - Good luck with your dreams and ambitions, it's a big commitment, but go for it
That's a fair point jensen which I have thought about but it may sound totally illogical but I'd rather start with a good car than a tatty one which is going to cost extra money getting right. I'd rather spend that money on driver training and track time, I don't know if that makes sense?
Edited by sk7ine man on Friday 2nd April 11:06
Believe me Sk7lineMan, I have agonised over this same point for the last two of the five years I have owned a my Cerbera, ever since I did a couple of track days in it!
I had a good look at how Mike Saunders yellow race car has been converted from a road car, and a very cool black 4.5 that used to be in the workshop at APM, striped out, perspex windows and a flat floor, really looked the business. Along with a lot of maintenance jobs I am starting to get a good picture of how I would modify/improve a Cerb for the track, but I am loathe to tare my road car apart to such ends.
The trouble is you have to ask yourself, if you track it are you prepared to possibly loose it? much better to start with a wreck worth next to nothing and build a track only machine, if you get serious about a race series you will have to remove most of the road going stuff anyway.
I had a good look at how Mike Saunders yellow race car has been converted from a road car, and a very cool black 4.5 that used to be in the workshop at APM, striped out, perspex windows and a flat floor, really looked the business. Along with a lot of maintenance jobs I am starting to get a good picture of how I would modify/improve a Cerb for the track, but I am loathe to tare my road car apart to such ends.
The trouble is you have to ask yourself, if you track it are you prepared to possibly loose it? much better to start with a wreck worth next to nothing and build a track only machine, if you get serious about a race series you will have to remove most of the road going stuff anyway.
sk7ine man said:
That's a fair point jensen which I have thought about but it may sound totally illogical but I'd rather start with a good car than a tatty one which is going to cost extra money getting right. I'd rather spend that money on driver training and track time, I don't know if that makes sense?
Hey, buying a Cerbera is totally illogical, but we still go ahead and do it Edited by sk7ine man on Friday 2nd April 11:06
Were only here once, so go for your dreams and use the car you feel confident in. If I could go back in time it's something I'd love to do. Buy the Black one from APM, I hear Andy is working on it again, that the owner wants to finish it!
Get your ARDS and get out there!
Converting a car is expensive, Mike and I'll tell you the details but buying a racer that's had the money spent is always cheaper!
Get your ARDS and get out there!
Converting a car is expensive, Mike and I'll tell you the details but buying a racer that's had the money spent is always cheaper!
Edited by JonnyW on Friday 2nd April 12:33
If it were to be my first experience of competitive racing, I think I'd want to first do a season in something cheaper, like that series that SELOC used to run down south for E30 320i's or the XR2 challenge up here.
Plenty of sorted cars available at reasonable cost, and it lets you test the water before ripping your Cerb apart, and learn a bit of race-craft without putting expensive and fragile fibreglass panels at risk.
Plenty of sorted cars available at reasonable cost, and it lets you test the water before ripping your Cerb apart, and learn a bit of race-craft without putting expensive and fragile fibreglass panels at risk.
JonnyW said:
Buy the Black one from APM, I hear Andy is working on it again, that the owner wants to finish it!
Get your ARDS and get out there!
Converting a car is expensive, Mike and I'll tell you the details but buying a racer that's had the money spent is always cheaper!
Blimey, its still there? Any idea how much he wants?Get your ARDS and get out there!
Converting a car is expensive, Mike and I'll tell you the details but buying a racer that's had the money spent is always cheaper!
Edited by JonnyW on Friday 2nd April 12:33
Many thanks for all the input guys, certainly going to be doing some head scratching this year. I particularly like the idea of getting a cheap track car just to learn the ropes before i commit to using the cerb, certainly a more contructive approach. Jonny, any chance of pics of the Black Cerb at APM? It would be nice to see what kind of prep has been done to it.
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