Racing in poverty? How cheap is your cheap race car? (way cheaper than challenge money)

I Am Keyser Söze wrote: Local roundy round has a FWD class. Cheap and fun. Good racing

I raced mini stock in a $500 car, and made about $2500 in my second season. You know how people put their name above the drivers window on race cars? I had Keyser Söze on mine the whole time, and nobody ever noticed.

I raced the same rallycross series as NGTD for 2 years in this $400 Suzuki Swift.

It sat for a few years, then did double duty as my son autocrossed it

Total investment, about $550 including rubber.

Bought it in non running condition for $600. Sold off Turbo set up, FM exhaust, 17" wheels, roll bar, etc for about $1500. $350 in tubing for cage, $150 for ultrashield seat, had an 01' bottom end sitting in the garage, it came with a 99 head, alread had the 15X8 6UL's from another project. Found a down pipe back to the muffler off of a 08'GTI at the dump, sold the cats for $125, used the 2.25" tubing to fab the exhaust. Gauges were donated, head was resurfaced($50). She is up and running now. After I buy some new tires and a larger capacity radiator I will probably be in it for around $100 or so. Luckily I don't charge myself for labor

Was hoping to make the Chump race at Daytona next month but I don't think we'll be ready

It's rednecks. Do you expect less?

What is up with this? I suppose you autocross in a parking lot, which you consider much more refined. I race circle track, I have a lot of fun doing it, and really don't consider myself a redneck, other than in terms of being someone who lives in a rural area and has an old pickup that does not run behind my shop.

Who cares about the cost of the car itself?

If i was inventive, and patient, I could probably duplicate my rallycross car for Challenge money. (A lot of the parts I used to put to together are nearly impossible to find anymore, and the price of used parts has skyrocketed) But, I easily spend $5-8k per year maintaining it and competing with it. And if I had another $10k to spend, I'd spend it on hitting more events and doing better maintenance.

The cost of the car itself is almost immaterial, unless you only are building the car to park in your garage and never actually use it.

Now, if you want inventive, make it a rule that people who do the Challenge can only spend $2012 including food, fuel, and hotel rooms....

bearmtnmartin wrote: It's rednecks. Do you expect less? What is up with this? I suppose you autocross in a parking lot, which you consider much more refined. I race circle track, I have a lot of fun doing it, and really don't consider myself a redneck, other than in terms of being someone who lives in a rural area and has an old pickup that does not run behind my shop.

That's why I think the magazine should try it. Once they have, and see how much fun it really is, it might sway the minds of some of the elitist readers. They've tried some really questionable motorsports in the past, I see no reason they shouldn't try a legitimate one like circle track.

Zomby Woof wrote:

bearmtnmartin wrote: It's rednecks. Do you expect less? What is up with this? I suppose you autocross in a parking lot, which you consider much more refined. I race circle track, I have a lot of fun doing it, and really don't consider myself a redneck, other than in terms of being someone who lives in a rural area and has an old pickup that does not run behind my shop.

That's why I think the magazine should try it. Once they have, and see how much fun it really is, it might sway the minds of some of the elitist readers. They've tried some really questionable motorsports in the past, I see no reason they shouldn't try a legitimate one like circle track.

Can we have a beginner circle track thread? I have been eyeing the "crazy compact" class at the Columbus Motor Speedway all winter... Once classes are out I'm gonna hit some races.

Somebody needs to start a "learn me circle track" thread.

moxnix wrote:

Aeromoto wrote: In reply to moxnix: Not my job to check the rules, that's tech's job. They let us run it like it is in those classes, and I'm certainly not going to argue.

Actually rallyx like autox is competitor policed. Tech is only for safety issues. See section 6.3 of the rallyx rules.

Actually classing vehicles is technically the responsibility of the Tech Inspector for SCCA RallyCross:

RXR said: 5.4.D. The Event Technical Inspector shall ascertain that the vehicles comply with the RXR and any supplementary regulations. Competitors are directed to Article 7.3.D for protests information regarding class eligibility.

And a lexan windshield isn't legal in any class without an SCCA Improved Touring spec roll cage or 'better.'

We used to do APR Superleague for and average of $1200 a race. Shortest drive was 300 miles.

So we would do a whole season for about $7K

Not bad for a Boat team and traveling.

Well, since rallyx cars seem to be dominating this thread, I may as well continue the trend:

This car (now gone) cost me approximately $0 total. I paid $1000 for it. I got rear ended in it, never fixed it, and received $1600 from insurance. I also later sold it for $1300 after putting 40k miles on it :)

Only rallyxed it once. It was a blast. I did alright. Its surprising how almost anything can be competitive in rallyx. I should pick up another rallyx car...

cghstang wrote:

moxnix wrote:

Aeromoto wrote: In reply to moxnix: Not my job to check the rules, that's tech's job. They let us run it like it is in those classes, and I'm certainly not going to argue.

Actually rallyx like autox is competitor policed. Tech is only for safety issues. See section 6.3 of the rallyx rules.

Actually classing vehicles is technically the responsibility of the Tech Inspector for SCCA RallyCross:

RXR said: 5.4.D. The Event Technical Inspector shall ascertain that the vehicles comply with the RXR and any supplementary regulations. Competitors are directed to Article 7.3.D for protests information regarding class eligibility.

And a lexan windshield isn't legal in any class without an SCCA Improved Touring spec roll cage or 'better.'

Jeez, you guys are anal. Thankfully our region isn't. Pretty much any of the cars in our region's stock or prepared could be thrown out of the class for this or that, but no one is protesting. We have good events and everyone leaves happy.

cghstang wrote:

moxnix wrote:

Aeromoto wrote: In reply to moxnix: Not my job to check the rules, that's tech's job. They let us run it like it is in those classes, and I'm certainly not going to argue.

Actually rallyx like autox is competitor policed. Tech is only for safety issues. See section 6.3 of the rallyx rules.

Actually classing vehicles is technically the responsibility of the Tech Inspector for SCCA RallyCross:

RXR said: 5.4.D. The Event Technical Inspector shall ascertain that the vehicles comply with the RXR and any supplementary regulations. Competitors are directed to Article 7.3.D for protests information regarding class eligibility.

And a lexan windshield isn't legal in any class without an SCCA Improved Touring spec roll cage or 'better.'

I am going to disagree with you about tech still. When they say comply with the RXR they are talking about the safety section IMO. Reading the second part should make that clearer since they talk about competitors protesting classing. Why would they need to protest if tech did the classing?
The last part of section 6.3 is pretty clear about tech and classing.

RXR 6.3 said: All vehicles must pass safety inspection on the following points prior to competing. This applies at each event entered. Entry fees, if already paid, will be refunded if a car fails to pass the safety inspection. A safety inspection is not concerned with class compliance.

I agree with you on the lexan windshield and that is something tech should be looking into since it is a potential safety issue.

How in the hell could a lexan windshield be considered a safety issue on a rallycross car? It's not some random sheet of plexiglass from Home Depot, it's an NHRA, IMCA, NASCAR, and SCCA approved polycarb from Racecar Engineering.

Aeromoto wrote: Jeez, you guys are anal. Thankfully our region isn't. Pretty much any of the cars in our region's stock or prepared could be thrown out of the class for this or that, but no one is protesting. We have good events and everyone leaves happy.

I'm only anal about the rules on the interwebz I'm the rallycross chair for 'my' region and you won't hear me bringing up any of these issues at a driver's meeting or throwing anyone out of a class.

I'd be willing to wager that 80% of cars entered in stock or prepared classes EVERYWHERE technically belong in modified, but like you said, no one is protesting (at the regional level).

We have good events and everyone leaves happy.

And on the cheap cars... my first rallycross escort was purchased for $400, run for most of a season, and parted out after to essentially break even. My B13 SE-R was a $700 purchase that held up much better and did rallycross and autocross. It was later sold to a LeMons team at minimal loss. I miss that car

jrw1621 wrote: Around here, the paved ovals have the Charger Class 1980 -2005 fwd cars and require auto trans. no engine bigger that 3.1L no forced injection no aftermarket rims but open on size as long as all rims are same size. roll bar optional Fire suit optional $1,500 claim rule. http://www.loraincountyspeedway.com/index.php/rules/charger-division I have not done it but looks fun on a budget. Chevy Berettas seem to be the hot item.

I always wondered about circle track racing. I have a coworker who just became the race director at a local track. I have always been a road race snob who never raced a car (except autocross) before. Could something like THIS be $1500 worth of fun?

Beretta Race Car - $1500

2.3 quad 4 dual over head cam comes with complete motor, one motor minus heads, freshly rebuilt 5 speed transmission Has a great roll cage in it.

or would $1500 be better spent on a race Kart?

In reply to Rusnak_322:

It's tempting, right? As far as karting goes, I once did a search on youtube for "kart crash" or "karting crash" I'll take my race car with a roll cage.

I guess I'm a road course snob just like most of the rest of us on this board, and I've done a couple lemons-style events on roadcourses. They're a great time, but there aren't many "local" road racing events (Mid-Ohio is an hour from me, Nelson Ledges is 3-ish, this year the Chumpcar event we're going to is at VIR, 8 hrs. away) so I end up spending tons of money on food, hotels, gas, I have to clear my schedule for at least one weekday. This wouldn't be any different if I was road racing with SCCA or NASA, most events would be a long drive, so I'd have to be much wealthier than I am to make several races every year and I'd end up spending all my vacation time on it.

In contrast, the Columbus Motor Speedway looks like it runs just about every weekend and is a 20 minute drive.

I've been looking into this $400.00 Celica, and I already have a sawzall, so $400.00 is my budget for this summer.

(Offered 300.00 twice. He said no.)

Aeromoto wrote: How in the hell could a lexan windshield be considered a safety issue on a rallycross car? It's not some random sheet of plexiglass from Home Depot, it's an NHRA, IMCA, NASCAR, and SCCA approved polycarb from Racecar Engineering.

Windshield is part of the roll structure of a car. When replaced with non-stock it can only be in conjunction with an approved roll cage. It is all in the rules.

Like cghstang I am more anal about rules on the internet.

Aeromoto wrote: Jeez, you guys are anal. Thankfully our region isn't. Pretty much any of the cars in our region's stock or prepared could be thrown out of the class for this or that, but no one is protesting. We have good events and everyone leaves happy.

I don't know if cghstang knew, but I personally didn't know that it was the tech inspector's job to police classes until about eight months ago, and I'm a friggin' rules weenie

I still think it SHOULD be competitor policed, since the competitors are the ones who presumably know the intricacies about their class and their vehicles. Also, it is not uncommon for a new competitor to run in a lower class after getting permission from the other people in that class.

Rules weeniedom doesn't necessarily mean not having sportsmanship.

moxnix wrote: Windshield is part of the roll structure of a car. When replaced with non-stock it can only be in conjunction with an approved roll cage. It is all in the rules. Like cghstang I am more anal about rules on the internet.

A safety-glass windshield can easily deform if the roof gets squooshed in a rollover, but still stay in place due to the seal. A Lexan windshield may pop out, leaving a big hole where the occupants' arms or whathaveyou may flail out. A rollcage gives a Lexan windshield a fighting chance of staying in place.

Rusnak_322 wrote: Beretta Race Car - $1500 2.3 quad 4 dual over head cam comes with complete motor, one motor minus heads, freshly rebuilt 5 speed transmission Has a great roll cage in it. or would $1500 be better spent on a race Kart?

$1500 is a lot of money for a mini stock. It had better be very well done, and very competitive. If it is, it's probably worth it.

Do yourself a favour, and look into the claim rule at the track. Few people (and practically nobody here) really understand how a claim rule works. You do not actually have to give up your car. The choice is always yours.

I just checked the rules. That's a VERY generous claim price for that class.

Zomby Woof wrote:

I Am Keyser Söze wrote: Local roundy round has a FWD class. Cheap and fun. Good racing

I raced mini stock in a $500 car, and made about $2500 in my second season. You know how people put their name above the drivers window on race cars? I had Keyser Söze on mine the whole time, and nobody ever noticed. I raced the same rallycross series as NGTD for 2 years in this $400 Suzuki Swift. It sat for a few years, then did double duty as my son autocrossed it Total investment, about $550 including rubber.

LOL

You must be a pimp who walk with a limp.

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to Rusnak_322: It's tempting, right? As far as karting goes, I once did a search on youtube for "kart crash" or "karting crash" I'll take my race car with a roll cage. I guess I'm a road course snob just like most of the rest of us on this board, and I've done a couple lemons-style events on roadcourses. They're a great time, but there aren't many "local" road racing events (Mid-Ohio is an hour from me, Nelson Ledges is 3-ish, this year the Chumpcar event we're going to is at VIR, 8 hrs. away) so I end up spending tons of money on food, hotels, gas, I have to clear my schedule for at least one weekday. This wouldn't be any different if I was road racing with SCCA or NASA, most events would be a long drive, so I'd have to be much wealthier than I am to make several races every year and I'd end up spending all my vacation time on it. In contrast, the Columbus Motor Speedway looks like it runs just about every weekend and is a 20 minute drive.

My problem with a Kart is not the danger, it is the perceived lack of danger. I road raced motorcycles for 10+ years. If I had 4 wheels, I don't think that I could scare myself enough to slow down before I made myself a you tube star