Would You Daily Drive a Race Car?

We admit, using a race car as a daily driver sounds really cool, but actually making your commute to and from work in something whose only creature comforts are vents in the windows and a seat for the driver can get old pretty quickly. However, if the car in question is a classic race car, does that make it more or less appealing for the job?

For replica MGC GT owner Steve Simmons, the answer is more—much more: “I’ve never owned a more practical and fun car, and it’s no less reliable than most of the newer cars I’ve owned.”

In the meantime, let us know if you've ever daily driven a race car, even if it was because your actual daily driver broke down.

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Comments

fidelity101 (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
10/2/20 2:28 p.m.

I'm gonna have to for the next few weeks! I'll report back.

Vajingo New Reader
10/2/20 2:35 p.m.

Already done done. Built 260z. Ridiculous cold idle with manual choke. Old Ferrari 308 seats. 800lb springs. Six puck. No ac, not even a blower. Only safety device was a four point. Manual everything. A diff packed so tight it may as well have been locked, and straight cut gears. 25yr old me loved it. Not sure I would now.

wearymicrobe PowerDork
10/2/20 2:42 p.m.

Dodge Viper ACR with a Tilton clutch and 1400lb spring rates with full hard poly bushings. I loved it. My back hated it. 8K miles that way.

But I am insane and decided to use my Model A ater that.

APEowner GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/2/20 2:43 p.m.

I dailied my Camaro for a while but two things made me loose interest in that. One is that I'm really not really responsible enough to drive a 640hp car on public roads. The other is that it turns out I like AC, a good stereo, bluetooth connectivity, power windows and not having to climb over roll cage door bars as part of my daily commute.

Apparently, I'm at an awkward age. Not old enough to be trusted with a race car on the street and yet too old to enjoy it.

Datsun310Guy MegaDork
10/2/20 2:46 p.m.

This comes to mind.

sergio Reader
10/2/20 2:50 p.m.

We started racing in LeMons. I kept the car street legal because I didn't have a trailer and for the first couple races the track was about 70-80 miles from home. But crawling in and out of it is a PITA. Seatbelts take time, need ear plugs for the noise, no heat or A/C, only a cool shirt cooler. The attention on the street is good and bad. Kids love it. Other people probably think, look at this nut job, thinks he has a race car... The po-po only stopped me once, because no front plate. One of the more fun things was passing other racers towing their car to or from the track. We did have the honor(?) of being the first LeMons winning car to be driven to the track. We also had to have AAA tow it home because race car. One time the tow truck driver said, I've towed Corvettes, Mustangs, Porsches, BMWs, Miatas from this track, but never a Taurus. That's LeMons for ya.

Snowdoggie HalfDork
10/2/20 2:51 p.m.

I drove an MGB every day when I was in college. Does that count?

buzzboy Dork
10/2/20 3:02 p.m.

My racecar is more comfortable and gets better fuel economy than my daily. Then again, my racecar isn't what most of you would classify as a racecar except for the fact it's gutted and caged. The lack of HVAC can also be a problem...

I dailyed it for a month while my BMW was down for paint. My teammate dailyed it on and off as a law firm courier one summer. I've taken a few long roadtrips in it from NC to NJ and from FL to SC.