Reading through this thread, especially the parts about old vs. new, street car vs. race car I thought I would speak more from the purist side of things. I realize I will catch some s*** for this so fire away!
1. If you want a car to go fast around the track and cruise in comfort get a 911 or a Corvette, can't go wrong and they will most likely beat all comers at alot of AutoX, HPDE, Open Track type events with a good tire and minimal modification. You'll probably save alot of time and money vs. building a car also.
2. I would say that I am on the ultra-conservative side of things when it comes to street car vs. race car. Here is what constitutes a street car for me:
4 point roll bar maximum for hardtops GT-350 style or a head hoop on a space frame roadster or Cobra style car. Cars equipped in this manner won LeMans overall and class championships in the decade or decade preceding the era most of our cars were manufactured in, I think that spirit is important.
Front and rear windshields made from glass not lexan
Suspension bushings not rod ends
6 stage dry sump oiling shouldn't be necessary for a street car engine
A street car shouldn't need the same amount of braided line necessary to plumb a space shuttle
No "Jerico" style trans
I will be the first to admit that my interest in pro-touring is more the quality of the high end builds than the styling, I am more of a purist I enjoy the look and feel of a period correct car for what it is. If anything older cars have a big advantage over newer cars, simplicity, that I have yet to see really be exploited by alot of the 'ultimate' builds. Bottom line, a well prepped near stock Vette or 911 will smoke anything short of a 1969 McLaren M6GT in a new vs. old street challenge.
Safety: If you have a good seat, a 5 point harness and a 4 point bar on a road course, you'll be fine and probably the only thing to get hurt will be your pride and maybe checkbook from the car and Armco repairs. Safety shouldn't be taken for granted, but at this level you'll be okay in a well prepared car. Most tracks now also have so much runoff built in or retrofitted 'the wall' is becoming less of a concern at some places.
Also, sponsorship and product placement may have it's place but with some cars it's getting rediculous. Nothing worse than peeking under the hood and thinking that you're reading down the vendor line of the summit catalog from all the logo's, maybe be a little subtle.
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