Yes, I guess that's what I'm saying. And I've previously been an advocate of expendable, dedicated track cars.
Yes, I guess that's what I'm saying. And I've previously been an advocate of expendable, dedicated track cars.
if I were to build a dedicated track car. I think I would start with the E36 318ti and go from there. Cheap, light(er) and simple... seems like a good start for a track car. You can only go up from there.. and as BMWs are like legos.. going up is just a trip to the Upullit away
This probably deserves its own thread but along the same vein as some posts in here, who else is a little put off by the escalating arms race in HPDE events that's been going on the last half decade or longer? It almost feels like racing now; if you don't have competition tires and 400 horsepower you're going to be a rolling roadblock for the pain train of Corvettes, Porsches, GT-Rs, etc. that seem to make up the bulk of events these days. I guess I shouldn't complain, the ol' FD is still pretty zippy and it IS hugely satisfying overtaking cars that cost 10x as much.
assuming you can get them to point you by ... that's as big a reason as any that I went to TT
Oh, there's definitely a track day arms race. Personally, I'd love to see some kind of HPDE 4-type subgroup that's limited to cars with no more than 200-ish horsepower. I don't mind open passing without a point-by, but I just don't have 500 horses to run with that group.
Sign me up. I neither want to pay for the consumables of a 500hp car nor assume the risk of crashing one while at warp speed.
Yeah, me, too.
With 116whp I am in the group that spends half my session giving point bys, but I am still having more fun than should be legal in a car. I see alot of HP wars in HPDE and while I don't have a problem with everyone else having 400+hp it does get a little old to spend my time with one hand off the wheel. 
The HPDE scene is only reflecting what's happening on the streets, really. It's a lot easier to find 400 hp than it was a decade ago. 116 hp, on the other hand, is a lot less common...
I don't find horsepower disparity as troubling as weight differential. I've been in my Miata at New Hampshire Motor Speedway sharing the track with Vettes and Vipers. They had the double advantage of power and weight and it made for an uneasy event.
I'm building my dwarf car into a budget autox and track car. It should be fun and cheap enough to run or crash. I may throw on some wings for track days. There's enough p cars and vettes that do track days to have someone to run with. It should also fit nicely on my northern tool 5x8 trailer behind my rav4
I have a '97 M3 as a dedicated HPDE car. Its fun, extremely capable and believe it or not, not expensive to maintain. Prices on these cars are not too bad nowadays either.
J
As is often the case, my dream car would work well in this environment, as well.
I envision an exceptionally built original Meyers Manx with a built-to-the-hilt G50 transaxle/993 Turbo engine combination. Somewhere in the vein of 500 horsepower should be lively. Lots of power, little to no aero, everything based on driver skill and mechanical grip.
I can only assume that it would be a fun half a lap before I kill myself.
Mainly just improve the current Miata from how it sits now.
Xida's, 15x9 225/45 NT-01
And a nasty FM 2.0L with cams, 11:1 pistons, ITB's
Long way from the current stock 1.6, 15x8 205/50 R888s and VMaxx with FM sways.
If I could maintain my current lifestyle, my '13 GT Mustang with AST's and wide sticky R-comps would be an insane track toy.
My current car (70 Firebird) with three hundred more horsepower and a 5 speed. I like the look, sound, and feel of the old Trans Am style cars combined with the smell of leaded race gas etc. It's completely different than zipping around the track in a more modern car. Sure the new ones are faster but it's HPDE and I'm just out there to enjoy myself. I don't really care how fast the other cars are going but I would like mine to be a bit faster so I could learn more.
Out here we have lots of make only HPDE competitions you can participate in like the miata challenge, s2k challenge, bimmer challenge, honda FF challenge etc so finding track days that dont have a bunch of Porsche Cup Cars is possible. There are always a few super fast cars in the advance open passing groups but not so much in the point by ones
I do want to build a tube chassis, pro touring track version of something that has no business on a road course... maybe a Studebaker Hawk or some similarly heinous looking thing from the 50s.
On a semi-related note, there was a tube frame E30 roller for sale at the track this weekend. I believe the asking price was like $1800.
David S. Wallens wrote: On a semi-related note, there was a tube frame E30 roller for sale at the track this weekend. I believe the asking price was like $1800.
LINK? Contact info? Pixs?
I need a 2 door body that isn't complete E36 M3 to move some stuff over to. If it rolls... all the better.
Maroon92 wrote: As is often the case, my dream car would work well in this environment, as well. I envision an exceptionally built original Meyers Manx with a built-to-the-hilt G50 transaxle/993 Turbo engine combination. Somewhere in the vein of 500 horsepower should be lively. Lots of power, little to no aero, no wheelbase, everything based on driver skill and mechanical grip. I can only assume that it would be a fun half a lap before I kill myself.
Fixed. Although I think the estimate of time to impact is probably accurate.
Ultima GTR + BMW V12 and a pair of turbos for good measure.
Something AWD that can serve both rally-cross, track day, be driven on the street, in the rain and snow.
Lets just call it a STI with spare suspension setups and a few hundred more horsies.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I do want to build a tube chassis, pro touring track version of something that has no business on a road course... maybe a Studebaker Hawk or some similarly heinous looking thing from the 50s.
Me too, but instead of a 50s car, I would use a Buick Reatta (hardtop). I need help, huh?
PS122 wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I do want to build a tube chassis, pro touring track version of something that has no business on a road course... maybe a Studebaker Hawk or some similarly heinous looking thing from the 50s.Me too, but instead of a 50s car, I would use a Buick Reatta (hardtop). I need help, huh?
I know an art director who's right there with you.
In reply to David S. Wallens:
Any chance said art director thinks a C6 Vette drivetrain, backbone, and suspension would be great under a Cadillac Allante body?
There's really no end to my sickness...
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