Is There A Not Particularly Fast Racecar You Want to Drive?

One of these...

and one of these

and this one

If we are doing imagined racing, then definitely this:

Wouldn't be able to stop laughing!

Bugeye Sprite for sure. I've been on track with them, they look like a scream to drive. 

An Abarth Sp1000 certainly comes to mind. 

And for something completely different, how about a Tucker?

A track ready LBC. Something like a Triumph Spitfire is already amusing to drive on the street and try to keep up with traffic. A race prepped one on track would have a similar appeal - not very fast by the stopwatch, but would definitely feel fast. I imagine a Formula Vee or 500 may take the same idea even further.

Rodan said:

'Not particularly fast' is kind of ambiguous, 'cause they were all 'fast' in their time, or they wouldn't be iconic.

Here's a few top contenders for me:

 

This of course is a highly subjective thread

The BRE 510 pictured is going to be 3 seconds faster than a Spec Miata.

Using Laguna as a bench mark we know that a Formula One car will do a 1:05.

I've driven a legal of car that will do 1:26 - 1:27 (SCCA DSR/P2 car) I'm currently driving an F500; the lap record is 1:33. 

Something like a Formula Atlantic would be pushing my skill set but not totally unmanageable as those are running 1:21s. I could get that car mostly up to speed.

While it would be cool to say you drove an F1 car or say  Porsche 962 I know full well I would barely be going faster then the cars I've already driven.

In reply to wspohn :

What car is this?

Truthfully my Mercedes, assuming I finish it one of these days.

But with a more "dream in color" answer

I am totally on board with the Mirage Cup cars. Basically the Mitsubishi version of a civic Si-R in race form. I've been looking for a decent example to import but they have gotten thin on the ground. 

In reply to Tom1200 :

Your 1200

Some of the old VW powered off road buggys look like fun.

Mndsm said:

A legends car. 

We have one locally that autocrosses.   I took it out for a lap.

I didn't enjoy it at all, just not my cup-o-tea in the slightest.

An MX-5 cup car seems like it would be in my wheelhouse however.

Rons said:

In reply to Tom1200 :

Your 1200

It is a crap load of fun. 

I bet one of these would be a blast 

When I first saw one of these autocross it wasn't unlike watching a shifter cart for the first time: "How does something so small go so fast?" 

I really wish that we had something like British Historic Sporting Trials and Hillclimbs around here.

This looks like a ridiculous amount of fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6nKpFYoJVs

This one. Flat out in the desert. 

I imagine this isn't that fast, probably under 200hp but super light and likely good gearing.

Any Not Particularly Fast race car is great when paired with other NPF race cars.

"Not Particulary Fast" could apply to me and my Mustang because of driver ability... 

But in the spirit of the thread I'm going to say Citroen 2CV, because they look to be a whole lot of fun in the "slow car fast" category. 

Turbine said:

I bet one of these would be a blast 

This was my first thought too.

The Hillclimbs that Woody mentioned though seem like a good time and 2CV either looks like a great laugh or sea sickness.

In reply to Tom1200 :

In the early eighties I owned a 1200 for a year. It was prepared to ICSCC Sedan rules. The Production and Sedan rules were more restrictive than SCCA rules. A SCCA prepared 1200 would be a C Improved Sedan vs my C Sedan.

non racecar answer to this question would be this:

fidelity101 said:

I imagine this isn't that fast, probably under 200hp but super light and likely good gearing.

225-245hp per Fiat, or a tad less than the Escorts.

Rons said:

In reply to Tom1200 :

In the early eighties I owned a 1200 for a year. It was prepared to ICSCC Sedan rules. The Production and Sedan rules were more restrictive than SCCA rules. A SCCA prepared 1200 would be a C Improved Sedan vs my C Sedan.

With my so called race motor; mine puts 99hp to the wheels.  The motor in it now is about 80whp (I'm rebuilding the race motor)

If you jump to minute 7:50 in the video below that's the start of the race. It should bring back fond memories.

I nearly pick up a class win when I catch a wounded mini; but alas I flub the downshift (went 4th to 5th instead of 3rd) The shifter bushings have been shot for a while and I should have changed them.............so I only have myself to blame.....sigh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFW-mX0HSms