What are you going to do next?

[Chris P]

Okay, I kind of went tangent in my "Why do you race what you race” thread, so I’ve started this one as well. These are just some thoughts I’ve had.


Now, for my next car. Well, the resale vale of the CRX is pretty low so I can't really see any point in selling it as long as storage is available. Next car, next car......


hmmmmmmmmmmm

I think a tow vehicle and a Spec Miata, SSB Miata, T1 vett(i wish!!), CASC Touring Series cars. Although I kinda see the Touring series as a place to spend endless amounts of money and not get much accomplished. I'm sure the on track fun factor is there but I need a little more then that. Perhaps the series will develop more and I hope it does, it would be nice to have an "at home" alternative. However for now it’s still in the "watching" phase. Preparing a car for the SCCA SOLO 2 Nationals is somewhat appealing for me; it’s defiantly a short term option. The Sentra series is appealing, the competition is good, and it’s relatively fair. However, the cars are expensive for what you get, plus they are slow. I would jump at the chance if it was offered but I’m not sure I could shell out $40,000 of my own money to run one. Also some of the extra bumping that goes on is discouraging and I wouldn’t be able to afford crashing. Some bumping is good, being driving off the track is bad. Also I see a conflict of interest with the series organizer running a car. Will have to watch the series and see what happens in the future. Maybe if a Spec Miata series emerged in Ontario with harmonized rules to NASA and the SCCA…….that was be awesome.

So why not go into a real race car Krispy? Well, same deal as the touring series, there just isn’t any low dollar alternatives available. You have Cdn Pro FF1600, an arguably dieing series, Ontario FF1600 is an option I suppose, but I’ve been around FF1600 cars long enough and would like to try something different. USF2000 and Fran-Am, all very expensive. What’s left? Karts would be an option but I’ve already kind of done that. I truly think karts are currently the best medium at the moment for competitive racing. Fields are strong, competition is furious, and everything is relatively equalized. Of course the down side is that you are racing a "kart". meh.

Krispy..........whose very confused and still looking for answers and options.


Ok, so I want to put the question out. What’s in your future? Will you get married, have kids and abandon this racing thing for the next 10-20 years? Will you dip into it deeper? What car is next? What series? Stay with SOLO; give your self a challenge and attack? Where are you going???

[Rob McAuley]

Talking to yourself in the middle of the night?

How about Ice Racing? Cheapest form of door-to-door racing available.

Sorry I can't help you out next summer.

[Chris91GT]

Interesting ramblings. ;)

For me, I don't have any solid plans for the immediate future. Long-term I'd love to get into sedan racing in some class, somewhere, in some sort of vehicle.

For next year, I've considered doing a race school and running in 1 or 2 regional events just to have some fun and get my feet wet.

Mostly I want to do more driving schools, Solo I, and lapping days to develop my driving skills. And I'd really love to be competitive in Solo I in 2004. :)

[philip_240sx]

Seeing as I have yet to participate in a SOLO 1 event, I have much to strive for. Long term plans however will be limited to how much I can wring out of my 13+ yr. old car. I don't expect it to last forever... it has it's fair share of body rust and an aging motor. After that, who knows?

[Shaman]

I've really considered a spec Miata too.

That's why I'm sitting on the fence buying a new car actually. I'm just not sure exactly what to do.

[Chris P]

Have you looked at the entry fees for Pro Spec Miata? We are talking about $600usd in just entry fees. Hmm, also

I've just done up a quick travel budget here........
Spec Miata
NASA:
-Lows Motorspeedway x1
769.8 miles
11 hours 50 mins
VIR x1
785.7 miles
12 hours 5 mins
Charolina Motorsports Part x1
825.8 miles
12 hours 42 mins
BeavRun x 2
310.2 miles
5 hours 24 mins
Summit Point x4
525.0 miles
8 hours 4 mins
Total=5101.7*2=10203.4miles
10,000 miles of driving and 344 hours driving
that’s 14.3 days of driving!!!! What job would ever support that!!!
16325.44km’s total driver plus any other events you do, lapping days etc etc.


SCCA PRO Spec Miata
Gratten
536.9 km
6 hours 42 mins
Lime Rock
729.1 km
6 hours 58 mins
VIR x1
785.7 miles
12 hours 5 mins
Road America
1059.6 km
10 hours 7 mins
Total
3200mi x1.609=5150km
$1133 = 2 x $566.5cdn=($.72x15 liters)(5150/100)
so $1133 for fuel alone
say $40 in race gas per weekend x 5= $200
food, 10x15=$150

1133+200+150=$1483
travel time= 76 hours

Entry Fee
600usd per weekend= $840cdn x 5 = $4200cdn in entry fees
transponder $350usd = $490cdn
SCCA Pro License $120usd = $170cdn

2000+4200+500+200=$6900+car+trailor+truck

6900+30,000+4000+25000=$70,000 – truck & Trailer = $40,000



Krispy..........who just spent too much time inventing a simply budget. See, the ramblings aren't limited to the middle of the night. Spooky :eek:

[Chris P]

To conclude. SCCA East Coast spec miata is a much better idea then ECNASASPECMIATA. However they both require dumb amounts of time and money. I wonder how much interest there is in developing a Local Spec Miata chapter?

[Nissan Racer]

Or a showroom stock series?
Rules similar to the SCCA Showroom Stock, only minor work needed, mostly safety..kinda like the AFSSC but for any compact car?

[GR8 Ride]

Interesting idea, but how do you define a "compact car"?

FWD only, or do you include RWD cars (Miata, BMW 3 series etc). Lots of stuff to look at, but it does present an interesting idea. I'm just not sure another "spec" series is what we need / can afford here in Canada. The Sentra series was supposed to be cheap, entry-level racing, yet a few competitors have found out that it's quite a bit more expensive than they expected!



Pat

[Shaman]

One thing is for sure, I won't be in a FWD car. :)

[ice/solo racer]

Well Krispy,as you know I'm building a 88 crx for solo1 which will be the first track events for me.As for the copper corolla that most people know me by,I've decided that since it didn't find a new home that I can't just let it retire and rust away.So I have 2 choices,1st I'm looking for another body to put the bulk of the parts from the copper one for a street car version.I've bought a 4agze engine for it(I'm thrifty so I got it complete with supercharger and intercooler etc for $400!)2nd I just keep it as is for drift days.(either way it'll be drifting)
Yep there I said it-I'm officially going drifting next year(some people on this forum don't get but thats not my problem)along with trying to manage to get a full year in at solo1.
I have some options open for this years ice race season but because of the above reasons I'm not building a car or trying to get another jacket this year.I have a couple of rides bummed in the non studded class but hopefully a stud tire ride comes thru that I'm kinda working on.
These are all short term of course,I'd love to go regional road race(hence the crx)but time/cash will tell.I'd also love to go rallying(performance not that time distance stuff)I also hope that I could try the targa newfoundland in the future along with the one lap etc.Hey set your sights high right?.

[Dave Barker]

Prolly still Solo 1 for now. Have to wait until the car is so depreciated that I can afford to write it off, cage it, buy 17 x 11 wheels and go GTB racing. Can't stand the idea of having to get a tow vehicle though and really hate the idea that the tow vehicle is worth more than the race car.

[Chris P]

"Wouldn't mind getting back into karting again"

jason.........YOU RACED KARTS!!!??? What the, why didnt you ever tell me anything about that bro?


yeah........Rallying is something i'd love to try. One day

[TintedChrome]

I have no idea what I'm going to build next.. hell, after saying in the other thread that I'm building my ultimate car, if anyone hears mention of me wanting something else, slap me. Hard. And again for good measure.

In terms of racing though, I've always had a particular affinity for rallies.. maybe my next "project".. (we all know there's almost always going to be a "next project" for all of us.. we're never done :p )

[RacerRick]

Getting a tow vehicle of some sort...preferably a Van or even a 4x4 so I can get to the shop in winter....

[Chris91GT]

Originally posted by Dave Barker
Prolly still Solo 1 for now. Have to wait until the car is so depreciated that I can afford to write it off, cage it, buy 17 x 11 wheels and go GTB racing. Can't stand the idea of having to get a tow vehicle though and really hate the idea that the tow vehicle is worth more than the race car.

Dave, I can phone your insurance company for you. :D

That should balance the cost factors. hehe

Just kidding!

And hey, there's nothing wrong with a nice tow vehicle when it's your daily driver! Who wants to spend 3-4 hours per day in a beater?

[Dave]

good thread, baby Krispy!

And I feel your pain. I'm dying to get involved in a road racing series, and although I like the Touring GT series in general it seriously needs some limitations placed on car prep and in particular engine prep so that it's harder (without blatant cheating) to buy a championship. As it is, there's no real limitations on prep and so the cost of running at the front is very high. If we had a showroom stock or even an Improved Touring series up here, I'd be all over that. But in terms of budget and the amount of time I can dedicate to this hobby without driving the wife crazy, Solo 1 fits for me quite well. So I think for 2004 and perhaps 2005-2008 (if Debb goes to Med School) I'll have to stick with Solo 1 and lapping days and perhaps a trip to the OTC if I can swing it. I'm still really keen on trying the OTC again and I think I can do it close to free if I play my cards right.

Eventually I'm going to build a monster B16a for my Civic, since that'll be the hot set-up for OTC and Touring GT.

But first I've gotta get this ZC running in my winter beater! :)

[ADAM]

i like solo 1, plus cannot afford to fix cars that get smashed up door to door racing...

things to do....hmmmm....
prove in the 240sx community that the ka24e engine can be boosted to 500rwhp+ just to see if it can be done or not.....

develop the reliability of the 240sx so that it can run at 350-400rwhp levels all day long....

develop the handling of the 240sx to be able to hold that power to the ground.....

develop the turbo system and related systems to carry the above things out with perfect reliability....

i would say i am 1-2 years away from doing this...but once done the car will be the "ultimate import street fighter"
at least i hope anyway....

or it might just blow up....then i would sell all the turbo parts and drop in some sort of racing V8...that comes NA with 400rwhp +

[GR8 Ride]

The *smash-up* of door to door racing is largely a myth. It's actually quite rare to see a two (or multi) car incident in a regional weekend. In fact, many of the regional guys are running on such low budget teams (like me!) that steps are often taken to AVOID any *donuts* on the side of the car.

Lots of guys might slide off into the weeds, or spin out and tag a wall along the way, but the same thing can happen in a Solo 1 event, especially if you're pushing it that hard.

The SCCA has a far worse reputation for the 'chrome shoe-horn' than we do in the CASC. In fact, regional racing here in Ontario is far cleaner than either the Porsche or BMW Club Racing series.



Pat

[AirCooln]

Interesting food for thought....Solo1 and a couple of lapping days as time and budjet allow for the next 3-5 years. I have tons to learn as a driver. Having started with a near bone stock car, I want to start to explorer what a Mini can really do. Why it earned the name 'Flying Brick'.

After I have taken down a few bigger and much more powerfull cars, destroyed some drop gears, and mangled a few valves who knows. Perhaps vintage racing with an older model.

I have to add, that 2005 Targa Newfoundland sounds very tempting. :D

[Chris91GT]

Originally posted by AirCooln

I have to add, that 2005 Targa Newfoundland sounds very tempting. :D

Drool...

[RacerRick]

If I get the camaro done, and it proves reliable, am doing Targa Newfoundland this year!