With more PT cars being tracked is it changing PT vendors product offerings?

[monza]

Originally Posted by rogue

Muscle cars aren't about luxury, they're about riding lightning and turning money into heat, adrenaline, noise and melted rubber. They always have been and always should be.

To refine a muscle car is a sin. I can understand AC, power steering, comfy seats. But to expect modern car comfort and "get in and go" functionality out of one seems to go against the mere purpose of the vehicle.

Then again, I'm a guy stuffing a 170whp Yamaha R1 with a sequential gearbox in a 1970 mini, so I have a few screws loose myself.

Whatever floats your boat I guess.

I think some people should have bought an AMG SL55 instead of a 1969 camaro though on these forums.

A refined muscle car is cute, I'd like one for my girlfriend.

I have to disagree. Not to side track the thread, but your always bitter about cars that happen to have some creature comforts. My car is not cute, my wife is. I love your car but why slag a car with a killer stereo, etc? I love music and cars! Power windows why not... it's pimp and adds a few pounds, whatever? Maybe you should look again at what site your posting on and what defines a Pro Touring car. You don't like shinny paint I do.

[evilzee28]

Dane, thanks for bringing some good reasoning to the board, excellent points raised.

cheers....Nige

[Stuart Adams]

The hp numbers that I am referring to are not at the wheels. Just motor dyno numbers that most can relate to. 700 to 800 at the wheels is not what I'm talking, I tried to drive a car with 800 at the whheels, lol.

I guess I should have just said I've noticed the cars being built now have more hp and a bigger front tire!

[tones2SS]

Originally Posted by Stuart Adams

Of course with all the supension upgrades we have now, more hp can be used to push them upgrades harder and have more fun.

I agree Stuart. It's like having a ton of power WITH the ability to control that power a lot more because of the killer upgrades to suspension, front and rear.

[fleetus macmullitz]

With the recent popularity of pro-touring events like the Motor State Challenge and The Optima shootout, to name just a few, do you think the focus of many in progress builds have changed with the success of these events?

[Stuart Adams]

Yeah more power, wider tires, better suspension pieces precisely tuned for that car.

[fleetus macmullitz]

It would be nice if Goodguys started using bigger auto-x tracks.

[rogue]

Originally Posted by monza

I have to disagree. Not to side track the thread, but your always bitter about cars that happen to have some creature comforts. My car is not cute, my wife is. I love your car but why slag a car with a killer stereo, etc? I love music and cars! Power windows why not... it's pimp and adds a few pounds, whatever? Maybe you should look again at what site your posting on and what defines a Pro Touring car. You don't like shinny paint I do.

I'm sorry did I slag your car or anyone elses? Comparing your car to a lexus or an AMG is an insult? I'd think thats the compliment you'd be going for with a build like that. You've added power everything, leather everything, AC. Its a luxury automobile with performance, like an AMG. I apologize if you take this as insult.

My opinion on what a muscle car is and isn't varies from yours, thats all.

To assume I hate shiny paint is silly. I'm not a rat rodder here.

[70rs]

I think it is safe to say we all want our cars to perform. If that includes the AC system performing on a hot day....so be it. No, I am not going to buy a Prius Dane.

The parts rolling out to market these days are getting better all the time. And seem to be leaning in the direction of serious street and track performance. But there will always be a big difference between a dedicated track car and the components used to build it and a "traditional" PT car. But the line between them is getting more and more fuzzy every year (from a strictly performance standpoint). Meaning, the PT cars are posting better lap times, higher skid pad numbers, shorter stopping distances. But as they do this they lose the "street" comfort and daily driver ease of use.
So how far do you take it before you turn it into a track car?

[rogue]

Originally Posted by 70rs

I think it is safe to say we all want our cars to perform. If that includes the AC system performing on a hot day....so be it. No, I am not going to buy a Prius Dane.

The parts rolling out to market these days are getting better all the time. And seem to be leaning in the direction of serious street and track performance. But there will always be a big difference between a dedicated track car and the components used to build it and a "traditional" PT car. But the line between them is getting more and more fuzzy every year (from a strictly performance standpoint). Meaning, the PT cars are posting better lap times, higher skid pad numbers, shorter stopping distances. But as they do this they lose the "street" comfort and daily driver ease of use.
So how far do you take it before you turn it into a track car?

We all build our cars for our own purposes, whether it be show queen, cruise night car, or track monster. This thread however is about PT cars that are tracked. Everything I've ever read says that anything with a hoop or cage should not be driven on the street. Unless there are rigid bucket seats with proper harnesses used at all times and proper padding on the cage.

Lots of cars on these forums break that general rule of safety. My own included with its half-assed 5 point belt harnesses and lack of hoop at all. A dedicated track car should have rigid buckets, a full cage, fire system, depending on how 'into' the hobby you may be. A certain trans am on this forum is properly setup for track use, and beyond that!

Any time I see a street car with reclining seats and a hoop/cage I think of all the advice given to me by track instructors. Recipe for serious injury or worse yet death on the street from a minor fender bender. I'm walking the fine line of swapping out my comfy reclinable recaros for some trans am styled vintage rigid buckets and a proper cage or hoop. I'll use the recaros for the Mini.

Of course this is all advice from the safety nazis. We can all take it or leave it with a grain of salt.

I've left it ages ago, but given all my health issues, I'm considering a full cage, halon system and proper buckets. Last thing I need is an accident to cause me even more pain. Dick Guldstrands eyes went wide open when we started discussing what I do with my own car and laptimes, and the first words out of his mouth were "You need a cage."

I'm very close to pulling the trigger to full time track monster thats street legal. 5 point belts, a cage and buckets on the street SUCK, but for that amount of safety on the track its a sacrifice. You just have to properly pad the cage, and actually USE the belts as intended every time you get in the vehicle. No exceptions.