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Post by dlee1m on Dec 7, 2007 13:12:40 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300][/glow]what is the best car for road racing ?
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Post by lagunamiata on Dec 7, 2007 16:25:44 GMT -5
The best car is the one you can afford...
Seriously, there couldn't be a more vague question... and one that will get hundreds, maybe thousands of answer.
If you want to go fast with SCCA and cost is not a problem, Formula Atlantic is a quick class, or GT-1. If you're on a budget, F500, FV, SpecMiata, the IT classes are all pretty affordable and good race cars.
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Post by tedebayer on Dec 7, 2007 16:27:56 GMT -5
Hmmm...I'll take a crack at this but I hope you will get a lot of opinions. The one that best suits your budget, your driving style, your body and your future plans. Budget - the old adage is "How can I make a small fortune in racing?" That's easy...start with a BIG fortune. Buying the car does not get you on the playing ground... it gets you TO the playing ground. You must have up to date safety equipment for car and driver and it is common cars you find "race ready" are in need of updating $$$$$. Tires, travel, food, hotels, repairs, entry fees add up fast. More expensive the car...more expensive the parts. A driver recently reported his Hoosiers lasted ten miles!  Don't spend you first years budget on a car and then not be able to get it legal or to an event. There are some great deals around... once you know what you want, start looking and asking around. In here is a great place. Driving Style - You like to more with less (under powered cars require more precision in driving to get better lap times.) You like more power? You like it loose or tight? You like racing in a field of twenty cars spread out or 50 tightly packed cars. you want one with a high degree of changeability or one that is more stock? Body type - I love formula Vees... but I would not be comfortable in very many... some people need a comfy racing seat with side wings while others drive winged beasts with metal seats that bruise them up...  Ambitions - Are you wanting to build a career, is this for pleasure? Hobby? Some classes lend themselves to weekend warriors for fun and others are BIG $ War Zones. So, the answer is, there is no general answer. I might tell you Spec Miata for the $$$$, for fun, for competition is the best deal around. Others would argue there are too many and it's getting crowded. Another might tell you there is nothing like a Spec Racer Ford on curvey track. Another might tell you vintage cars... to drive those dreams cars from the past. another would tell you run a stock class...newer cars have less mechanical problems and you can focus on your driving instead of mechanicing all the time! It all depends what you like. It's kind of like restoring and old car. You are going to put a lot of blood, sweat and tears and hours and hours of work and you will NEVER get your money out of it. So IF you are going to restore an OLD car, make sure it is one you really love. If you want to go racing, pick something you will enjoy... if it's not fun, then you picked the wrong one and changing your mind late in the game gets expensive. Just my thoughts. Hope that helps. |
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Post by soloracer on Dec 7, 2007 22:22:43 GMT -5
Apparently THE best car for road racing is a Ferrari f-2007 formula one car. But if you do not have the 8 mil for it and another 100 mil to run it there are many other choices. I agree with Ted.
Seriously, I have some small experience. Personally I participate in solo events, but have crewed (and been crew chief) on regional, pro , and vintage road race teams. If you think I can help please PM me.
If you are local, I would be glad to sit down and discuss your choices. If not I will gladly type you my ideas and evaluations.
James
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Post by damnyankee on Dec 7, 2007 22:51:46 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300][/glow] what is the best car for road racing ? Somebody elses!!!! ;D |
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Post by philip1 on Dec 7, 2007 23:39:29 GMT -5
I've found that the best car is the car driven the best. If You have the $$ I would go with a used race car. Spend lots on seat time tires and brakes will be eaten up but you will be a better driver.
Oh and take James up on the talk he is a fountain of knowledge.
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Post by MrsVlad on Dec 9, 2007 20:58:51 GMT -5
The best race car ?
It has not been invented yet.
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Post by C4Shane on Dec 16, 2007 9:53:29 GMT -5
I agree with Ken..the best race car is someone else's...go forth and get somebody to pay you about a Mil per event (much less after taxes) and hand you a 250K-8Mil race car and tell you to go out and have fun....
You'll know your in heaven if you get a lifetime contract after tearing up 19 cars in your first year (see Gordon, J - 1993 season)
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Post by tedebayer on Dec 16, 2007 12:31:38 GMT -5
HAHAHAHAH!!! GOOD ONE ... EXALT...  "I love to go to the track after everyone has gone and it's all quiet ... I often lean against a wall on my arm in a 'cutsie poo' pose and listen ...to the awesomeness of me..." Press Reporter : "Jeff...which one got stuck?"  "being this cute ...AND FUNNY TOO ...I tell you, it's a curse!"  |
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Post by MrsVlad on Dec 16, 2007 17:57:02 GMT -5
[/img][/quote] Thank you Teddy, ,, you made my day ,, oooh,, I'll have to put this up in "my" room. |
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Post by trickbrick on Dec 16, 2007 22:10:25 GMT -5
ROFL that's hilarious. especially the commentary. My fav. was "and listen ...to the awesomeness of me..." and my fav. pic. was this one... somehow he just looks like he's laughing evilly or something. (Not that he's actually evil, of course, lol.) |
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Post by huntersrun on Nov 11, 2008 9:09:34 GMT -5
The best car/series is Spec Miata. The cars are plentiful, parts are cheap and the experience is the best there is. A Spec Miata is a Momentum car and you have to keep the speed up in the corners to be fast. Great training ground with fields of no less than 20 cars so there is always someone to race with.
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Post by trdriver on Nov 11, 2008 11:00:30 GMT -5
A historical answer to a similar question: Bob Tulius went road racing in the 60s - he and his team "Group 44" raced until 1988. Lanky Foushee was Group 44 crew chief for all those years. A few years ago Lanky appeared at "The 6-pack Trials" (annual meeting of the national TR6 club) with the Group 44 TR6 - now owned and Vintage raced by Bill Warner. During a Q & A session Lanky was asked which car, out of all those raced by Group 44 was his favorite. His answer, without any hesitation was "oh, no question about it - that would be the TR8...  ..that little thing was just drunk with horsepower and it would just run forever" Not suprising, i guess, that he liked it better than the Spitfire, GT6, TR6, and XJS - but he also like it better than this one  Another bit of useless trivia brought to you by the old guy with the old cars. Cheers, Jack Mc PS - i DO NOT recommend a TR8 for autocrossing in E Stock against RX7s, 1.6 L Miatas and Mr.2s |
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Post by nutdriverrighty on Nov 11, 2008 12:10:00 GMT -5
IMHO,
The 1st gen Rx7 is a great car to start with. The rotary engines run forever, don't need race gas, the tires are "spec" in IT7, and so is the engine. Since it's not a reciprocating engine, the redline basically just means that you're out of power now. Also, they're great to learn heel-and-toe with since you can't do much damage with a mechanical over-rev. Russ Marshall has won the ARRC in 2006 as well as 2008 and possibly more. His car is for sale in the classifieds of ImprovedTouring.com right now. He WAS asking $6500 for the car with the trailer and $5500 without, but these prices seem to be pretty negotiable. In summary, the car has a proven track record, it has all of the "go fast" goodies you need, it (can) comes with a trailer, and it's nearby.
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Post by roundman on Nov 11, 2008 12:29:09 GMT -5
RX7S ROCK ;D there a few for sale in the classifieds nothing like shifting at 8 grand hint hint  |
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Post by C4Shane on Nov 12, 2008 21:49:35 GMT -5
Best car is one that you "drive like you stole it"!!!
Because you did!!!
(see Casino, Mike aka "clutchless")
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Don't spend you first years budget on a car and then not be able to get it legal or to an event. There are some great deals around... once you know what you want, start looking and asking around. In here is a great place.
