996 GT3 Cup Car - please someone persuade me not to

[legalknievel]

Ok everyone, here's the thing. I got a M3 CSL a couple of years ago having missed the boat on the cheap 996 GT3s and GT2s that were floating around a couple of heaters before and not wanting to see myself priced out of another cool car before it started climbing fast. Of course CSLs have gone up a lot now, and that has now got me thinking of trying to hop back over into Porsche ownership. So far so good.

Then I started looking at 996 GT3 Cup cars, and the cold sweats began.

My question is, for anyone who knows anything about these things, is a race car as a track car and fun thing to look at a ludicrous and expensive idea? They look about the same money as the road car, and what a great track car it would be. Am i going mad? Will a cold shower and a box round the ears bing me back down to earth? I know about the importance of a recent rebuild of engine and gearbox, but nit much more than that.

And what about long term appreciation? Is it a foolish place to keep money? I'm not in it for the money, but I'd probably feel sick if I saw the road car version rocket in value a la 964 RS.

Help humbly invited!

[legalknievel]

Thanks for that helpful and detailed reply. It looks like sensible use doesn't necessarily lead to big bills. Still going in with eyes open obviously. And do you have any views on the market for these things long term? Can you view them even remotely as a long term investment in the way you might a low edition track oriented road car like a GT3 or an RS? Am I delusional to even think about this rather than a 996 GT3 road car? The idea of having the real thing is just too enticing right now...

[legalknievel]

Ok, everybody. You may be pleased to hear that in no small part down to the irresponsible encouragement I got on this thread, I did it!

Karl Leonard the all knowing GT3 Cup guy connected me with a film producer and part time Porsche race car dealer called Ivo van Riet, and between them they managed to get me in a very good car.

Ivo has just delivered the car over from Holland and I am still in shock. I have to say though that starting this thread, getting great advice and also being connected with someone who ended up advising me on the purchase has been the best experience I've had on pistonheads. Thank you all. Good people do exist on the internet.

Now if anyone knows how I can get around a 105 db static noise test next Wednesday without changing my exhaust, don't be shy, speak up!

Seriously, thanks everyone.

[legalknievel]

Pictures so far are limited. Booked cadwell for next week so hopefully will have some more.

It's the car that Anthony Beltoise won the Carrera Cup France with in 2005 so a pretty cool history. He was the son of Jean-Pierre Beltoise who won Monaco in the 60s and the nephew of Francois Cevert, who was Jackie Stewart's great friend and team mate.

In the spirit of the car's French roots and the fact that sitting in it is about as intimidating to me as being at the controls of a spaceship, I've decided to call it Jean-Luc.

This is what I have so far.

[legalknievel]

[legalknievel]

Lemon yella RS said:

with regards to exhaust. I bought cargraphic's GT3 cup silencers for mine which get it through 105 static and 103. I wasn't thrilled with the standard of fit of the things though. The standard cup exhaust is 107 and the supercup 110 ! UK Carrera cups had a 103 db exhaust system i believe . Congrats on your purchase.

Thanks for this. I've looked on their site. The silencer is the add-on that goes between manifold and exhaust right? The UK stockist is Parr Motorsport I think. If they had one in the UK then I should easily be able to get the car on the road before this Wednesday evening's track shakedown. If not, I'd be trying to do something inventive with getting one of my race buddies in Germany to get it to his house by courier on Monday and getting the Eurowings over on Tuesday night for a late night spannering session. That all could depend on cargraphic or Parr and whether they actually stock the item I guess. The elaborate racecar escapades appear to have started earlier than I thought...

Ralf, Jimmy, and frankly everyone who has given advice and encouragement, I am very grateful.

For better or worse, I wouldn't have made the jump were it not for this thread!

• Edited to reflect my 6 am Sunday morning brain not working properly.

Edited by legalknievel on Sunday 4th June 07:12

[legalknievel]

Jimmy and Ralf, so it seems like a 105 static test may even be within the bounds of possibility with the stock setup?

It's looking like the cargraphic pre-silencer, which looks like the perfect piece of kit could not arrive in time to fit. But if being under the 105 limit is possible or even likely then I guess I'll go to Cadwell Park after all on Wednesday.

Dank - Of course more photos on the way tomorrow!

[legalknievel]

Well I guess it's short term go to Cadwell today and pray for 105 on the meter and meanwhile get the Cargraphic pre-silencer.

Optimism mode engaged - check!

[legalknievel]

Photo from last night prep for the visually minded...

[legalknievel]

Hello again all.

So we got the car out to Cadwell for the evening session eventually, having rented a trailer (I'm waiting till next month before buying one).

The car got through the noise test by a whisker. To be fair I got the impression the marshalls kind of wanted it to pass.

I then got some laps in it, and what a step up. Everything is magnified. The sound, the sensitivity, the power as it climbs through the revs, and the balance is simply awesome. As the tyres got warm I started to push it a bit but it was a shakedown and not a full session. I was also still learning and conscious of the step up the whole thing is.

Then the acceleration became jerky and power dropped off and I had to bring it in. The seller had mentioned it had been standing when we'd had difficulties starting it on inspection. The problem hadn't resurfaced in the meantime and it turned out to have been an alternator. Not a massively expensive part but certainly enough to end the session. Enter local random stranger Mick Duane who had heard the car not breathing right when it was on the track, figured out we had an electrical problem and offered his spare race battery. Turns out Mick races a 360 and has owned race and road cars including an F50 and didn't want to see our evening end early.

With that we got another 20 laps in, and I was able to give my father in law a ride round in it too, which made the day perfect.

There were the usual amateur slip ups and mistakes. Lost the splitter by unloading it from the trailer on grass, and was braking about 4 times too early for each corner as I guess most people used to road cars do, but it was on balance one of the best experiences I've ever had driving. Can't wait to get in again, a bit better prepared for the little things you have to be organised about this time, and really start working to understand the car properly.

Friend of mine Verner did a short video. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0q9jZILNJ8

I'm the one at the beginning with the long hair talking about Ferrero Rocher, predictably. Megawinner is the name given by us to the German Lamborghini clad friend of mine after a creditable third at our local karting track the day before. I'll find a picture of that to post for maximum shame for the losers.

We're a bit light on photos so far, but I think more may emerge.

Thanks again to all for ongoing advice. This literally would not have happened but for this thread.

Edits for late night typos and general mental incapacity.

Edited by legalknievel on Thursday 15th June 23:19

Edited by legalknievel on Thursday 15th June 23:21

Edited by legalknievel on Friday 16th June 09:15

[legalknievel]

The megawinner himself in an unofficial post podium ceremony podium ceremony. I'm on the left doing my best Multi 21 sick as a parrot vibe.

[legalknievel]

Harris_I said:

Good thinking to have taped the flap on the filler cap. I forgot to do this when trailering and lost it on the M25. Now my front fender has a permanent naked vibe to it. All part of the character I guess.

Enjoy the Cup.

Thanks man. The trader Ivo van Reit trailered the car over from Holland to donthe handover himself and he gave me all the low down on mistakes not to make. Except unloading on grass of course!

[legalknievel]

Thought I'd add some more tales of spannering and some driving here. So I took Lemon Yella RS's advice and went for the cargraphic presilencers which weren't mega cheap but are high quality and in the end fit ok. I have to say the sweating and wriggling exhausts around was done by Erik with me feeding him beer and looking on sympathetically. The exhaust now is much more road car and clearly legal for 105db static days, maybe even 102. For any demo runs days at cool tracks with the club Global Endurance Legends which I've joined I'll put it back to the full beans crazy cup exhaust arrangement.

We managed to get out for a full day to Oulton two weeks ago and it was great. Varying conditions, starting out pretty damp but just about good for slicks provided respect was shown near the limit and then it really dried out.

Getting used to the car now a bit more. Full concentration and respect, and don't even start getting close to pushing it until brakes and tyres have done a couple of laps. It is still the best thing I've ever driven by a margin.

Thanks to the guy who lent us a jack and also the guy who let us use his compressor at Oulton. Track day spirit at the days I've been to so far is really cool.

Photos below along with a photo of it in its original championship winning livery that I will put it back to soon.

[legalknievel]

[legalknievel]

[legalknievel]

[legalknievel]

[legalknievel]

As the winter hopefully nears its end (if this miserable weather ends), I’ve been getting some stuff done.

I’ve joined the guys at Global Endurance Legends, a new car club for modern classic prototype and GT car enthusiasts, I’m doing my ARDS test in March, and two demo runs at the Le Mans Classic with the club in the summer. I hope not to utterly embarrass myself.

I’ve had the car in paint over the winter and it’s as if today it’s back to stock Glacier White, ready to be put back to the original Carrera Cup 2004 livery.



<Edited for typos>

Edited by legalknievel on Tuesday 6th February 22:16

[legalknievel]

[legalknievel]

And how it looked when I picked it up today: