Replacing GT3 with Scud, tracking costs

I am replacing a 997.1 GT3 with a 08 Scud. It cost about $1,200 a day to track the GT3, tires, (R6's)' Pagid brakes pads, oil, brake fluid, and track and hotel and transportation costs.

The costs for tires, fluids, transportation, track and hotel costs should remain the same. If I run steel rotors, what can I expect in additional costs for tracking the Scud?

Are brake pads significantly more? Other maintenance issues?

Thanks!

 

Why would you trade fast for slow?

and I would expect that with the steel rotors on the Scud your running costs will be about the same.

or keep the GT3 and buy a dedicated track car. Like a Radical SR3 perhaps.

Best of both worlds.

Ron

 

Part of the cost equation is going to be how often and how hard you track any car....I find that 1 track mile is probably equal to 10 road miles in wear-and-tear.

As a bit of a comparative, I went from a 993 Turbo track car to a F430C - both dedicated, full-on race cars. Both were very reliable, but the Ferrari was simply more expensive on (all) consumables and maintenance. Front wheel bearings, ball joints, etc etc become high-wear, consumable items - especially if you are aggressive.

I might consult with one of the several very good shops that run 430's in CCR, they know what works and doesn't and might have some advice (and services) that would help.

FWIW, in my 430C I got maybe one full day, best case, on a set of Hoosier slicks. 430's have narrow fronts and they take a beating. Different car and tires than you are planning, but I budgeted $2K/day for tires.

Having said that, these cars are an absolute blast on the track and are sweet to drive, hope you enjoy many laps in yours.

 

I just paid about $3,400 for Scud pads(Ferrari parts) not including installation - don't know what true list is - also, the ceramics last a long time plus if they are not too far gone they can be refurbished

 

Thx for the input, all good information. So 1st poster said trade fast for slow, interesting - your thought is that he GT3 is a better track car for DE than a Scud?

Also 1 day for the R6's Wow! I am getting about 16 heat cycles with the GT3, which equates to 3 - 4 track days.

Thanks again

 

My friend and I ran scuds for two seasons in DE events. Had a blast running them, got them all dialed in then traded them for challenge cars.

We put steel rotors and hosier r6's on... Check out http://cantechautomotive.com/blog/.

We also installed harness bars and 4 point belts.

Let me know if you would like a spare set of factory scud wheels or two. We also have a bolt-in harness bar.

Oh yeah, by the way, it's expensive but you'll forget about that after a few laps!
Have fun with your Scud!

 

I've watched a GT3 outrun a Scuderia on more than a few occasions. Now that car was a RS but I am sure the normal GT3 is 90% as fast.

Driver is probably the deciding factor though. The more time I spend at the track the more I re-learn this lesson.

You really should think about a dedicated lightweight track car for even DE days. The cost to run it is a fraction of what it costs to track a street car.

I am coming up on the end of season two. My brakes still look new and I have spent less than $5K on tires in the last 2 years.

I am a BIG fan of lightweight dedicated track cars. If you couldn't already tell.

Ron

 

Ron,

What type of dedicated track car do you run?

Mike

 

to clarify, I was running Hoosier 80/100 slicks, not R6's...I ran R6's for a while on the Porsche and got more sessions. The Pirelli DH's give a bit more life than the Hoosier. Again, tire wear is variable - how hard you drive, the surface of the track, the car, the setup....

also as I got faster, I kept hearing some good advice about not risking a $200,000 car to save a few bucks by stretching a set of tires too far...now I'm giving that advice a lot.

both GT3 and Scuderia are amazing cars. if these would be your dedicated track cars, I might consider converting the GT3 to track only, and/or picking up a nice 430C or 360C

 

a friend played this game recently, started looking at modified road car GT3, then a GT3 Cup, then a Scud, ended up with a 360C so he could go racing in CCR. there's a lot to be said both performance and safety wise for using a fully race prepped car.

 

My daughter tracks a full track Lotus - know it ain't no Ferrari but it does not cost like one either - I'll take the Scud
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Any more that 2 or so weekend DE's and I would not be tracking the Scud. It's a road car, unsafe and expensive in the armco. Would get a 360C or 430C or Cup.

 

Hi Mike,

I run a '06 Radical SR3.

On top of the cost savings it will run circles around ANY of the mentioned cars in this thread.

It's also nice to be the fastest car at the track whenever you decide to go.

Ron

PS, if you want more info on the Radical then just ask.

 

I agree with a dedicated track car, Radicals are nice.

 

I prefer the Caterham SP 300/R over the tube-frame, motorcycle-engined Radicals. Helped talk one of the Radical importers (for the SE US) to get one and he loves it. I've driven one and it's hands down quicker and easier to drive than the Radical. Call Steve Potter at Dyson Racing.

Yes, purpose-built cars are fun! Just did 53 seconds around Lime Rock with a thirty year-old, 150 bhp Sports 2000! Maybe have $35K in it? I go through $1K of tires in four heat cycles, at that speed...

My experience is that there is SO much driver variance that direct comparisons are not possible, but the GT3 is a very competent, well-built and easy (well, easier) car to drive fast.

That said, if I had a Scud, I'd track it. In a heartbeat!

 

I really like the Caterham too!

really Peter??!! quicker than the SR3? and I can't imagine something easier to drive than the SR3. It's almost too easy to drive in my opinion. It goes scary fast but you don't realize it until you review the telemetry.

**Edit - just looked at that Caterham, I thought you were talking about the openish wheel road car. There is no doubt that that thing is faster than a SR3. I wonder what they list for new.

I am not even sure if I can get a Caterham in Canada.........it'll give me something to do on the internet tonight.



Ron

 

I test drove the Caterham at MSR and was impressed, but car was clearly set up too low and with incredible amounts of push for the newbie testers. I like the fact that it has an automobile engine and sequential transmission. That said, my SR8 is definitely faster

 

Second fastest at MSR ;-)

 

Touche Keith.

 

Ron,

The specs make any of the Radicals look very fast, I assume full roll cafe for safety? Where do you get it serviced? Can local shops do the work or specialty race shops? Thanks for the tip, now I'm looking at dedicated track cars!

Mike

 

Very Cool Mike.

If you go with an SR3 (Suzuki 1300-1500cc) then it is just a bike engine mated to the bike transmission. Any good bike shop should be able to do the rebuilds.

Other than engine rebuilds I do all my own maintenance. It is really quite easy. Race Cars are generally built to be worked on. Street Cars......not so much. If you don't want to do the maintenance yourself I would find a race shop. There is nothing really high tech about the car. Some Steel and a fiberglass body.......old school.

I on most days am the only guy at the track with an FIA Rated crash structure around me. I feel the car is very safe. I agree that open cockpit presents a little more risk, but there is nothing as visceral as it. Buy a VERY good Helmet.

Ron

and make no bones about it.......driven properly they are fast on a scale you won't know right now if you have never driven anything with real downforce.

 

You will want a race shop for the Raddys. Radical has a pretty decent manual for them so even an inexperienced person can figure them out. I do most of my own routine maintenance.

 

I agree entirely. Any street-based car feels pathetic in comparison. The SR8 adds power to the equation of the SR3 grip. Even the base SR8 engine makes 360 rwhp in at 1500lb car. Truly life altering to drive.

 

Are you buying the Scud because you want a street/track toy all in one, or will it be mainly used on the track?

 

I was buying the Scud as a track/street toy. I have the GT3 and a F430, I like them both but want something other than a GT3 at this point, (get bored after a couple of years). The F430 is a great street car - took it to the track once, wouldn't do that again.

The GT3 is set up for the track, with camber, toe and caster and alignment, and I run R6's although been waiting for Michelin slicks in the right size. Probably will end up doing 10 track days this year.

The dedicated track cars are something I had not considered before, and they fit my price range, so they're now in the equation. Thanks for all the input, it's been VERY helpful

Mike