DIY Trackcar... Idea's, Suggestions?

[Moto]

So I will be in the market for a track car shortly and have a budget of about 11 grand, I won't mind spending more money on it as the pay days roll by but I would like to have a decent base with the 11g's.

I am probably limited to an NA model, but would prefer something with a 1.8lt engine in it.

I figure I've got a few options;

- Buy something stock and cheep, sell the bits I don't want, spend the rest of the budget on roll cage, suspension, seat harness etc etc. Build it my way from the ground up.

- Buy something that has already been modified but still street dríven, keep the good bits and sell the stuff I don't want.

- Try and find a track car for sale, already stripped out with the goodies I want (the 2F car that was for sale a little while ago is a perfect example) but I might be waiting a long time.

- Buy something very cheep with a shagged or no engine, buy a 1.8lt engine and drop it in, spend the left over budget on the other bits and pieces.

How has everyone else gone about building a track car? I'm open to any and all suggestions!

[Jeo]

Buying a car that already has most of the work you wanted done already will certainly be your cheapest option, but like you said, you will be waiting a while.

[Fatty]

isn't dave / lightyear selling the NB shell he's got? it's got a cage in it already, just needs an engine and stuff. would be worth looking into.

[tbro]

ADLINK : http://www.my105.com/12245

Probably one of the most competitive cars from Queensland, it's Neil D's old car.

If your serious and want the best at a bloody cheap price sell you mum or sister or both and buy it.

Even doing what I did, by buying Scooter with repairs and rebuilding to my standard it still cost nearly 9 grand.

Terry

[Hammer]

Buy one that is already built up, and just spend the little extra to add/change things to suit you.

It's a buyers market out there right now. And I can assure you most of the track cars being sold, the amount of money spent on them is a heck of a lot more than what the asking price is.

Just go and ask Lou aka Boyracer.

[lightyear]

Have a look here viewtopic.php?f=57&t=34903 if your interested in something that has had plenty of hours put into it already. It has had all metal removed that isn't required like parcel shelf, seatbelt towers, seat brackets, etc. All sound proof removed. I agree it would be cheaper to buy something built. But with a car like this u can build it as money becomes available. It depends if you like the racing part only, or you enjoy the build process as well.

[Moto]

I think the way to go is buy a pre-built car, I only just found that my105 website last night...I'm still cleaning the drool out of my keyboard!

I think it would be far more economical for me to stretch out my budget and buy something like that green MX5.

[Guran]

Could you perhaps explain a bit more about what sort of track car you're looking for? Will it be road registered so you can drive it to/from the track and around town, or will you be towing it to the track? Will you just be using it for club days and supersprints, or is the plan to race it? If you're only going for club days, what class do you want to run in?

Perhaps my own situation might give you an idea of what you're in for. In January this year I bought myself a stock 1992 NA6A for $6900 to use as a road-registered track car for club days. The car is in good mechanical condition but the paintwork is a bit rough. I'm running in the stock class with the NSW club until I reach the limit of the car and my own skills, and then I'll start some street-legal modifications and jump into Class 3 with the hope of someday getting close to Slammer's Wakefield Park record (sacrilege!). Even though I only started with $6900 outlay, the purchase of hardtop, tyres, racesuit package, BD rollbar, tyres, rego & third party insurance, brake pads, helmet, track day costs, fuel, wheel alignment, and miscellaneous parts have already blown my total expenses (including the car) to ~$13,500. In four months! And I'm doing the servicing myself wherever possible. Expensive hobby. At least some of those expenses are reasonably liquid if I ever decide to offload them.

[evil_weevil]

Id wait and buy something already modded.

I had an r33 skyline, bought it stock, modified it over 3 years to suit track days.

I lost so much money in that thing it wasnt funny!!

So after 6 months of looking, I found an awesome road rego'd 2F race mx5 in QLD at a good price.
I have not looked back!

After wakefield on sunday, I said to myself, this is the best thing I have ever done!
Im on a tight budget, I try and do my own maint with mates (like Guran has said - saves money plus you learn as you go!)
since Ive bought it, I got it engineered in NSW, cold air and exhaust fitted, added a shift light.
Thats it!

And its the most fun Ive had on the track!

So, my advice, try to hold out and buy something already done. It can be worth the wait! Im glad I waited!

[SKYHI]

Still regret selling that car

Back on topic, as most have said, buy a car that has already had the money spent on it if you can.

I have just recently purchased ANOTHER road registered 1.8L, 94 model NA to turn into a track car. Cost me $8K with a hardtop which wasn't too bad, but I will end up spending double that finishing it.

I seriously considered buying Neils old green car but in the end I just had a few things I wanted to do my way so I didn't. In saying that though, it's a great car for the money, especially when people I've spoken to have said that it could most likely be purchased for a few thousand than the asking price. Another point worth considering is that that particular car is a complianced import and could probably be re-registered without too much trouble if need be.

Paul.

[Moto]

Thanks for all the replys everyone, I've made up my mind and I know what I'm looking for now, just have to wait 'til my KTM sells.