Which option would you take?
Discussion
Bearing in mind I have the right licenses for all of these, in about three years time I will have 40k at my disposal, plus about 5k pa for racing. Also I prefer historics. And yes, I know I’m very lucky, I’ve been bloody skint previously and relied on the generosity of others for my racing.
a) buy a historics qualifying Sports 2000 and run it in perpetuity (circa 30 k purchase, 5k pa running, occasional scholar engine at about 5k, all mechanics done at home other than engine,already own a covered trailer). Probably an asset too.
b) one entry at Le Mans in a bottom ranking team
c) hire drive in Le Mans Classic, hire drive to get to 300 mph at bonneville, hire drive in top line spa 6 hour car (lots of experience in historic saloons and probably the only thing I’d come away from thinking I’ve done well and stretched myself) and hire drive in Masters Formula one, proper NASCAR induction day (not a tourist experience day) and a go in a rail dragster (including testing where necessary - actually, to be honest, where needed) - although I calculate this at about 30 ish K, so there is room?
d) 4 races in Masters F1 (hire drive)
I’ve got to admit, that bearing in mind the 40k is a one off I’m looking at sustained satisfaction, so maybe a combination of a plus a one off hire in Masters F1, but would appreciate advice from anyone who’s done any of the above. B is definitely bottom of the list now I look at it, but c is tempting for bucket list reasons. Masters F1 I wouldn’t be confident without at least two test sessions at about 2K per go at a guess. And I’d probably still be s**t scared!
a) buy a historics qualifying Sports 2000 and run it in perpetuity (circa 30 k purchase, 5k pa running, occasional scholar engine at about 5k, all mechanics done at home other than engine,already own a covered trailer). Probably an asset too.
b) one entry at Le Mans in a bottom ranking team
c) hire drive in Le Mans Classic, hire drive to get to 300 mph at bonneville, hire drive in top line spa 6 hour car (lots of experience in historic saloons and probably the only thing I’d come away from thinking I’ve done well and stretched myself) and hire drive in Masters Formula one, proper NASCAR induction day (not a tourist experience day) and a go in a rail dragster (including testing where necessary - actually, to be honest, where needed) - although I calculate this at about 30 ish K, so there is room?
d) 4 races in Masters F1 (hire drive)
I’ve got to admit, that bearing in mind the 40k is a one off I’m looking at sustained satisfaction, so maybe a combination of a plus a one off hire in Masters F1, but would appreciate advice from anyone who’s done any of the above. B is definitely bottom of the list now I look at it, but c is tempting for bucket list reasons. Masters F1 I wouldn’t be confident without at least two test sessions at about 2K per go at a guess. And I’d probably still be s**t scared!
Edited by ChevronB19 on Monday 26th February 00:01
fttm said:
Buy a canoe .Any of your options will give you the red mist and one offs will lead to one mores = bankruptcy . Save your money and pain .
Already in the hole I’m afraid, been racing 27 years but at the ‘cheaper’ end of the market (especially when historics were ‘cheap’). So option A looks like the most sensible (answering my own question).Mitch911 said:
Out of interest, where can you rent a Masters F1 (test or race) for that kind of money? And who will let you do it without putting down a deposit for a new DFV?
If I’m honest, I’m scaling from a known point of £6K in a top Lotus Cortina for the Spa 6 hours. I agree that the Masters estimates are probably low. In terms of DFV costs, that’s insurance (at a price, but a sensible precaution, look at what happened to poor Mark Hales for example).I do know a few teams well however, including a couple who run some of my uncles old cars (Shadow, BRM and Lotus, bought when they were cheap, and sadly sold when they were still cheap).
BertBert said:
Only you can answer the how long do you want to race for question. However, if you spend your money in one exciting arrive and drive lump, I bet you'll need to find more to carry on racing after!
Totally agree!
I would think there are several categories of historics that would suit the 5k per year self running budget such as clubmans, ff1600, ff2000 and perhaps some of the sports car categories. You could do 2 years in each, possibly improving each car you buy and not losing money on the capital and possibly having your capital sum go up!
Bert
You’re right about all, including historic saloons I currently run in (in a car that is midfield). My real ambition would be Formula junior or historic screamer F3, Which my Dad and uncle started in, but unfortunately these are now out of reach, and will be further out of reach once I’ve raised the 40k).Totally agree!
I would think there are several categories of historics that would suit the 5k per year self running budget such as clubmans, ff1600, ff2000 and perhaps some of the sports car categories. You could do 2 years in each, possibly improving each car you buy and not losing money on the capital and possibly having your capital sum go up!
Bert
I agree however, I think option a (outright purchase) is probably the most sensible, and save for one option out of option c. Spa 6 hours at a discounted rate isn’t impossible as I know most of the saloon runners.
Richair said:
Out of that lot I'd pick option a personally, as I'd get a lot more ongoing enjoyment from it.
Spunking a big chunk of cash I wouldn't normally have on the others sounds like a huge gamble to me. The best you'll come away with is a big tick off the bucket list, so if you really must then go for it. But the ongoing experience of owning and running something really cool for an extended period of time would be much more appealing to me. If you can afford something with the provenance to attract invitations (not sure that's achievable in budget?), that would be something else. The driver hospitality at invitational classic events tends to be very nice indeed...
Or am I too sensible!?..
No, very sensible! Been lucky enough to be invited to Goodwood revival 5 times and the BGP support race once in a car that originally cost £4.50 when we got it from a scrapyard! I agree, the hospitality is lovely, but the associated costs are kind of ‘eek’Spunking a big chunk of cash I wouldn't normally have on the others sounds like a huge gamble to me. The best you'll come away with is a big tick off the bucket list, so if you really must then go for it. But the ongoing experience of owning and running something really cool for an extended period of time would be much more appealing to me. If you can afford something with the provenance to attract invitations (not sure that's achievable in budget?), that would be something else. The driver hospitality at invitational classic events tends to be very nice indeed...
Or am I too sensible!?..
BertBert said:
we wait with baited breath! Hope it works out !!
It worked out! Hand virtually shaken, but bought from a friend. Even earlier than expected! Going to keep it under my hat until it’s in my oily paws, but a) it’s a saloon (again), b) historic and c) a famous car in modern historic circlesWill update in maybe a month...
I’m now in a position to say what I’ve bought. As I said, it’s sort of a combination of options, it gives me a variant of option a plus events of other options (spa 6 hours).
I’ve bought the ex Jon Shipman & Mark Hales Anglia 105e. It came at the right time. Multiple rumours are it cost in excess of 100k to build. I don’t know about that, but I knew Jon and his determination to have the best car, and it’s certainly beautifully prepared, even after multiple owners. All setup sheets, data etc. I’ve loved this particular car since the day I saw it, and can’t belive i now own it, picking it up next weekend, first race will be Croft nostalgia festival. I’m not being ambitious, my aim is simply to match the lap time I can do in our 100e.
I’ve bought the ex Jon Shipman & Mark Hales Anglia 105e. It came at the right time. Multiple rumours are it cost in excess of 100k to build. I don’t know about that, but I knew Jon and his determination to have the best car, and it’s certainly beautifully prepared, even after multiple owners. All setup sheets, data etc. I’ve loved this particular car since the day I saw it, and can’t belive i now own it, picking it up next weekend, first race will be Croft nostalgia festival. I’m not being ambitious, my aim is simply to match the lap time I can do in our 100e.
BertBert said:
Nice! When are you going out in it?
Hoping to find a suitably quiet track day to test it after a bit of fettling, then Croft Nostalgia Festival, then Oulton Gold Cup, then more next season after my bank balance has recovered. I can borrow a van and a trailer for this season, but I’ll look for a new cheap everyday car to replace my 208, as well as a trailer for next year.Easter update - jobs list
1) fire extinguisher service (have a mate with his own company that will do this for free)
2) raise Seat - not keen that I can’t see the tips of the front wings
3) fix ludicrously expensive rev counter
4) fit larger fuel tank (races I’ll be doing are 40 mons, the current tank will only cope with about 30)
5) change rear track - 6mm too far forward on offside, vice versa on nearside
6) medical and license - haven’t raced for a while, but had an international license, so they last for 5 years without racing (new fact to me, assured by MSA)
7) test day, somewhere, hopefully ‘close’ to Carlisle, I.e. Croft
8) damn good clean, touch up on a few scarred parts, bolts etc need replacing for aesthetic reasons (hello ocd)
9) panic a bit about racing my very own car for the first time, especially engine costs
10) foot down
Wish me luck!
1) fire extinguisher service (have a mate with his own company that will do this for free)
2) raise Seat - not keen that I can’t see the tips of the front wings
3) fix ludicrously expensive rev counter
4) fit larger fuel tank (races I’ll be doing are 40 mons, the current tank will only cope with about 30)
5) change rear track - 6mm too far forward on offside, vice versa on nearside
6) medical and license - haven’t raced for a while, but had an international license, so they last for 5 years without racing (new fact to me, assured by MSA)
7) test day, somewhere, hopefully ‘close’ to Carlisle, I.e. Croft
8) damn good clean, touch up on a few scarred parts, bolts etc need replacing for aesthetic reasons (hello ocd)
9) panic a bit about racing my very own car for the first time, especially engine costs
10) foot down
Wish me luck!
Update: after a track day at Croft (lotus on track, highly recommended), was out at Croft Nostalgia Festival today. Qualified 8th, but got fastest or second fastest sector times/speeds in a couple of places in qualifying and race. But after lap 8 massive misfire and undiagnosable at the circuit, so race tomorrow is off. To cap it all, my dad threw a rod through the block in his 100E in the same race, doh!
Having said that, I’m delighted at the performance of the car, if I managed to knit all the best sector times together I should get top 5 (I wish, not going to happen without more cash to spend on testing, and I am down to pennies, but still having fun - great having a Mrs who races a s well, so lots of support)
Having said that, I’m delighted at the performance of the car, if I managed to knit all the best sector times together I should get top 5 (I wish, not going to happen without more cash to spend on testing, and I am down to pennies, but still having fun - great having a Mrs who races a s well, so lots of support)
BertBert said:
ChevronB19 said:
Update: after a track day at Croft (lotus on track, highly recommended), was out at Croft Nostalgia Festival today. Qualified 8th, but got fastest or second fastest sector times/speeds in a couple of places in qualifying and race. But after lap 8 massive misfire and undiagnosable at the circuit, so race tomorrow is off. To cap it all, my dad threw a rod through the block in his 100E in the same race, doh!
Having said that, I’m delighted at the performance of the car, if I managed to knit all the best sector times together I should get top 5 (I wish, not going to happen without more cash to spend on testing, and I am down to pennies, but still having fun - great having a Mrs who races a s well, so lots of support)
Are you all sorted for the gold cup?Having said that, I’m delighted at the performance of the car, if I managed to knit all the best sector times together I should get top 5 (I wish, not going to happen without more cash to spend on testing, and I am down to pennies, but still having fun - great having a Mrs who races a s well, so lots of support)
pablo said:
Looks great, I hope you have fun. I keep seeing Lotus Corrtinas and things around that budget and get tempted. Out of curiosity, is it eligible for FIA HTP papers in that spec?
Mine isn’t, no, but there are classes for appendix K cars (although it’s a very expensive way to go). Lotus Cortinas vary wildly in price, I know an HRSR one for sale for about 30k, while the ex x Steve Soper one apparently sold for 130k! Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff