Retired SCCA car vs ProTouring for Track Day

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by michics

Hi Dave,

I read about your experience in the Race Car section. Looks like a nice ride for the track. I saw some of the guys giving you the raspberries about alot of shifting, so I watched your in car video what struck me was how fast it was rpm'ing. Does it have low rear gear ratio?

So since you've made this transition any pointers on what to watch out for in the search for a track car ?

Ha - I get the raspberries no matter what I do (deservedly so).

I was told it is a Richmond close ratio trans (5 speed) and no reason to not believe it. Without any actual verification, I can just say it works and gears 3-5 are pretty closely geared so it works pretty nice. I have decided to short shift the LS3 around 6k rpm for now so the gear changes do happen more often than with many other transmissions. I also do not know what rear end gear is in the car but I don't really care either. It's probably a 3.23 or 3.55 I reckon. I just get in and drive.

As far searching pointers.... I'd say buy the best, safest car you can find. I knew all the builders/installers of the systems of this car (cage, suspension, tuner, etc - all local, reputable names) as they were mostly all shops AT Sears Point, so that helped immensely.

There are a lot of what appears to be "deals" in the used race car world I think. Racing Junk (so aptly named) etc... I would be hesitant to buy sight unseen one of these.

This was intended to be a training car for me.... as my Camaro (when finished) will be a downright weapon of mass destruction. This just made too much sense for me and so far I am loving it.

You are on a good path - many PT guys have gravitated there or added a race car to their stable after figuring out what you are discussing here.

Good luck in your hunt. The hunt is very fun!

[michics]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Ha - I get the raspberries no matter what I do (deservedly so).

I was told it is a Richmond close ratio trans (5 speed) and no reason to not believe it. Without any actual verification, I can just say it works and gears 3-5 are pretty closely geared so it works pretty nice. I have decided to short shift the LS3 around 6k rpm for now so the gear changes do happen more often than with many other transmissions. I also do not know what rear end gear is in the car but I don't really care either. It's probably a 3.23 or 3.55 I reckon. I just get in and drive.

As far searching pointers.... I'd say buy the best, safest car you can find. I knew all the builders/installers of the systems of this car (cage, suspension, tuner, etc - all local, reputable names) as they were mostly all shops AT Sears Point, so that helped immensely.

There are a lot of what appears to be "deals" in the used race car world I think. Racing Junk (so aptly named) etc... I would be hesitant to buy sight unseen one of these.

This was intended to be a training car for me.... as my Camaro (when finished) will be a downright weapon of mass destruction. This just made too much sense for me and so far I am loving it.

You are on a good path - many PT guys have gravitated there or added a race car to their stable after figuring out what you are discussing here.

Good luck in your hunt. The hunt is very fun!

I not trying to insult you. Just offering a little knowledge on your r & p ratio.
You can figure this out by jacking the car put a mark on a tire and a mark on you driveshaft then rotate the tire one complete revolution while counting the revolutions of the driveshaft.

Thanks for your advice.

[DBasher]

Originally Posted by michics

I not trying to insult you. Just offering a little knowledge on your r & p ratio.
You can figure this out by jacking the car put a mark on a tire and a mark on you driveshaft then rotate the tire one complete revolution while counting the revolutions of the driveshaft.

Thanks for your advice.

I’ll add a bit to this to help Dave.

1) Purchase a jack. Don’t worry, the guy at the store will know what it is.
2) Block the front wheels
3) Place the jack under that thing that connects the two rear tires and raise the back of the car...after that follow the above instructions.

[michics]

Originally Posted by DBasher

I’ll add a bit to this to help Dave.

1) Purchase a jack. Don’t worry, the guy at the store will know what it is.
2) Block the front wheels
3) Place the jack under that thing that connects the two rear tires and raise the back of the car...after that follow the above instructions.

WOW !! You guys really put effort into keeping Dave headed in the right direction.

[DBasher]

https://www.racingjunk.com/NASA-Amer...11&from=search

Proven car that has a history and appears to have all the correct parts. Add a mild motor and trans and you’re off to the....track days.

As far as Dave goes...he’s one of the best and it’s all in good fun.

[michics]

Originally Posted by DBasher

https://www.racingjunk.com/NASA-Amer...11&from=search

Proven car that has a history and appears to have all the correct parts. Add a mild motor and trans and you’re off to the....track days.

As far as Dave goes...he’s one of the best and it’s all in good fun.

Yes, this car is only about 50 miles from me. I been thinking about setting up a appointment to go look at it. He's got the price lowered to I believe $5k now. I think it would cost about 10k to put the drivetrain back in it. I was just trying to avoid doing a project. My life has been littered with projects. I tend to get carried away when I do these car projects. I can buy a running and proven race car for the same amount I would put into this one. However if I do the project I'll know what's in it.
I'm currently talking with this person about this car.

https://www.racingjunk.com/Road-Club...Third-Gen.html

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

A race car is far safer than many of our protouring cars
If you can do both cars that is the way to go.. my problem
is I like to run my cars on the street also... problem again
if you are running a $100k car on the track you sometimes
start thinking about what will happen if something goes wrong
... the other guy, oil or water on the track or something breaks
Chet who bought my barely street legal mustang years back
was a Gm guy with a lot of cool protouring cars... his comment
to me if I wreck it is just a mustang

With a Race Car it does not have to look all that pretty to be
safe and fast.. plus someone else did most of the hard work

Bob

Bob. You absolutely nailed it with this whole post. I could not agree more. Especially the part in BOLD.

Originally Posted by DBasher

I’ll add a bit to this to help Dave.

1) Purchase a jack. Don’t worry, the guy at the store will know what it is.
2) Block the front wheels
3) Place the jack under that thing that connects the two rear tires and raise the back of the car...after that follow the above instructions.

Rude!

Originally Posted by michics

WOW !! You guys really put effort into keeping Dave headed in the right direction.

If I didn't have my Lat G friends... I would not have any.

Originally Posted by michics

I was just trying to avoid doing a project. My life has been littered with projects. I tend to get carried away when I do these car projects. I can buy a running and proven race car for the same amount I would put into this one.

I would go with this instinct.

[michics]

Originally Posted by DBasher

https://www.racingjunk.com/NASA-Amer...11&from=search

Proven car that has a history and appears to have all the correct parts. Add a mild motor and trans and you’re off to the....track days.

As far as Dave goes...he’s one of the best and it’s all in good fun.

Well, a little update. I contacted the guy that has this car and got to view the car. It's be stripped pretty clean and has not been raced for about 7 or 8 years. It would be a interesting project but because it has 351w based engine cradle in it the engine cost starts to go up. And everything is needed.
Looking at 10 - 15k for a decent built 408ci. All the suspension parts are still there and has a heavy duty built 8.8 3:73 rear end. But as usual who knows whether it is any good. At this point every piece on the car would need to checked. I think I'll pass.
Here's link to the ad with plenty of pictures.
https://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/c...405495809.html

Also, some of you guys in CA may remember this car if you followed NASA racing . Here's a link to a Mustang magazine article about the car and driver back in the day.
http://www.mustangandfords.com/featu...-gt-aix-racer/

[GregWeld]

Old? Retired? Racing? LOL


WTF......


My opinion of the people that track their EXPENSIVE PT cars is ---- I hope they're independently wealthy... otherwise they're idiots.

These tracks days are so hard on equipment... they're hard on paint... they're brutal on the motors and transmissions.... and there's no way I'd drive my track cars on the street or vice versa.


Anyone that doesn't think tracks days are RACING are not people I would want on the track with me.... that means their heads not in the right place. I can tell you - visor down! Race on! I'm going to go as fast as I can. Get the right car with the right safety equipment -- full fire protection in a driving suit - helmet - gloves - shoes - fuel cell - in car fire suppression system.... get a full containment seat -- get a Hans device.... It's all a lot of fun - right up until the time you get hurt.

Nobody knows when they're going to wreck -- nobody can predict a tire blowout -- a busted trans that oils your tires - or someone else's blown up junk and oil on the track... Trust me - it can be as simple as a coolant dump and you're off track so fast you won't know what happened to you.

I still remember being at Oregon Raceway Park -- the pro driver was testing the Palatov Pikes Peak car -- asked me if I wanted to ride along.... I said -- Hell yeah -- should I suit up or just my helmet?? He says to me --- you know what?? I've never planned a wreck.... therefore I never know when that's going to happen -- I suit up every time I get in the car. DONE. I've never gotten in the car without every safety precaution I can use since that day. A very small engine fire coming thru the firewall at mach 9 --- good luck with that T shirt....