Where is the line, and have I crossed it?

[CJD Automotive]

As I continue putting my car together for it's second go round, I'm finding myself crossing lines I drew for myself years ago, but have good arguments for each, or not. Opinions wanted.

This was primarily going to be street car that I could compete with. That meant no door bars on the cage, reclining seats, etc. I am now questioning the street driver aspect. Exactly where do you really street drive your car? Obviously not Walmart! or anywhere else you can't see it the entire time your away from it, so what, a local car show? Sonic? Maybe just a cruise? I can still do that with door bars and full containment seats. With custom inserts, those seats can be very comfy for the limited amount of time that I would actually "street drive". So I've decided to upgrade the cage to current NASA/IMSA spec. I feel the full containment seat is required for a full cage that is street driven (keeping your head from banging the jungle jim in a street accident) and highly recommended on the track. Now this begs the question I'm wrestling with. Is it a street car or race car? This is not a tube chassis car, still retains the stock floor and firewall, and will still have a complete interior, glass, and A/C (it's Florida and wouldn't have a car without it!), so does that push me back to street car? I realize it's just a word, but to me, a race car is purpose built, well, to race...I don't want a race car, I want a street car, with sound insulation, A/C, stereo, etc...that can also be a race car! I understand the compromise keeps it from achieving either of these goals to it's full potential, but does adding the safety aspects of a race car to my street car, make it a race car???