why aren't old single seaters more popular for track days
Discussion
I'm guessing that there's a rule about open wheelers, but presumably there are plenty of "test days" for race cars rather than track days for road cars where these cars would be brilliant. (I did see a maserati 250f at wheeltorque events a couple of times)
I can never understand why someone would risk writing off their big-bucks road car when they could be going faster for less in a car designed to do the job.
I haven't done trackdays for a few years now, but remember busting both the o/s wings of my caterham on armco at the ring. I got back to the pits and fixed it with gaffer tape. My TVR driving friends looked on and muttered something about the same mistake costing them thousands.
Looks like a nice older Formula Ford would be £6-8000. Spa lap record two and a half minutes-ish.
I can never understand why someone would risk writing off their big-bucks road car when they could be going faster for less in a car designed to do the job.
I haven't done trackdays for a few years now, but remember busting both the o/s wings of my caterham on armco at the ring. I got back to the pits and fixed it with gaffer tape. My TVR driving friends looked on and muttered something about the same mistake costing them thousands.
Looks like a nice older Formula Ford would be £6-8000. Spa lap record two and a half minutes-ish.
doogz said:
You can't drive it to the event, you can't drive it home, you can't go on track with saloon/closed wheel cars, only other open wheeled cars, and proper test days are much more expensive than your average track day, as well as often requiring you to be part of the relevant championship/hold the relevant licence.
Few reasons i can think of.
Yeah, but apart from that...Few reasons i can think of.
doogz said:
You can't drive it to the event, you can't drive it home, you can't go on track with saloon/closed wheel cars, only other open wheeled cars, and proper test days are much more expensive than your average track day, as well as often requiring you to be part of the relevant championship/hold the relevant licence.
Few reasons i can think of.
Exactly. We were looking for track car and considered a Caterham, but instead went for R26.R, which is good enough on track, comfortable enough to get there, and doubles as a shopping car for my OAP mother (she isn't 100% sold on the harnesses)Few reasons i can think of.
louiebaby said:
doogz said:
You can't drive it to the event, you can't drive it home, you can't go on track with saloon/closed wheel cars, only other open wheeled cars, and proper test days are much more expensive than your average track day, as well as often requiring you to be part of the relevant championship/hold the relevant licence.
Few reasons i can think of.
Yeah, but apart from that...Few reasons i can think of.
Cost and hassle I suspect.
Sounds a good idea in principle, but in practice means more cost, limited events, can't attend normal track days.
Not too mention it means a car with a single purpose.
e.g. a £5k MX-5 can at least be used for other things, be it normal use or other motoring events (Auto solo's, sprints, etc).
An £8k single seater race car could only be used on approved test days and not a lot else really.
Sounds a good idea in principle, but in practice means more cost, limited events, can't attend normal track days.
Not too mention it means a car with a single purpose.
e.g. a £5k MX-5 can at least be used for other things, be it normal use or other motoring events (Auto solo's, sprints, etc).
An £8k single seater race car could only be used on approved test days and not a lot else really.
Some track day organisers do allow single seaters out on track days (whether they're supposed I don't know, but it does happen!) But I'd go with the above: You get all the hassle of transporting, storing and maintaining a very specialist car that you then only use for the odd weekend. At least with an Atom or something you could drive it to the shops for that ellusive pint of milk that everyone keeps talking about.
TomJS said:
How difficult would it be to make a formula ford road legal?
As far as most regular track days at Knockhill (my local track) they need to have a brake light...but it does then say on the next line: 'No race cars are allowed out on a Speed Sunday car trackday.'To be 'properly' road legal it would need to meet noise regulations (I think an FF would anyway), have covered wheels, have all necessary lights...uhm...a handbrake?
Even if you did trailer it etc. and accept the fact that it's just going to be for track days, don't forget when you first drive it in anger it will be on a track, not the best way to start to learn how to drive a new car.
My cousin & I looked at it, but that put us off, you can't shake down any mods to the car other than on track, that and unless you have other experience in race cars, we thought we'd feel massively out of our depth having only driven road cars.
The latter points, for us, were more of the reason we said "no" than the impracticality & expense issues.
My cousin & I looked at it, but that put us off, you can't shake down any mods to the car other than on track, that and unless you have other experience in race cars, we thought we'd feel massively out of our depth having only driven road cars.
The latter points, for us, were more of the reason we said "no" than the impracticality & expense issues.
doogz said:
TomJS said:
How difficult would it be to make a formula ford road legal?
Front lights, rear lights, wheel arches, side repeaters, horn, and an IVA.Not really worth it i don't think.
If it can get through the TUV, an IVA should be a piece of piss.
davepoth said:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/109012116431/street-le...
If it can get through the TUV, an IVA should be a piece of piss.
Fantastic! If it can get through the TUV, an IVA should be a piece of piss.
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