Replacing GT3 with Scud, tracking costs

It will take many many years (if ever) to become bored of any Radical.

That is the reason I bought mine. I wanted a car that was going to be better than me. Every street car I have ever bought becomes boring after a season. Then I would end up spending money on it to make it into something that would NEVER be great at a race track.

Street Cars for the Street, Race Cars for the Track. This is my mantra.

Ron

 

Have you considered the new Exige S w/ 350 hp?

 

To m3995, this link may be helpful for the path you are now on (dedicated track car, lightweight, low operating costs, fairly easy to maintain, and fast as heck). May I ask what your level of experience is and what your goals might be? I think we all started wanting the coolest, fastest street car possible and then took it to the track. You sound like you have entered the second step, in which costs are beginning to matter, but the desire to be "fastest" in the "coolest" car is still strong. The next step after that is when you want to fully develop your driving skills, and the car is simply a tool. Well, these sports racers (of which Radical is a popular example) will put you at the pointy end of any track day event, but your driving skills may actually be hindered because these cars are so quick at even 7/10ths compared to tin tops. Because of that, going racing becomes attractive to really develop your driving skills. Lots to choose from, but running these cars requires a deep commitment (trailer, tow vehicle, car prep and maintenance shop, driver safety equipment, etc.) on your part. Good luck and let me know how I can help.

For Sale: Cars Forum

 

Mike, sounds like you know what you're doing. Even trying a SRF will give you a sense of whether or not an open cockpit car is right for you, so maybe look for a rental near you. I do not know the Midwest Council, but have heard good things about them, so they may be a resource near you. Also have a couple friends in Chicago who race (one in SRF and one in tin tops after trying sports racers), both belong to Autobahn Club if you want to talk to them.

Welcome to the Midwestern Council Family of Sports Car Clubs

 

Mike, have you ran with the Midwest F body group at RA?

John

 

I can tell you that I averaged $1500 over 48 track days/weekends for gas, oil, pads, tires, lodging, food, and maintanence on my F355. I can't see the Scud being lower in costs.

 

where do you guys run these type of cars (Radical , Stohr etc..)? In my local track DE days i would feel unsafe in these type of racers around big street cars.

do you guys have memberships at local tracks for exclusive track time?

 

Great question, vf430! You bring up a valid issue about running a sports racer in a safe environment. There are private DE organizers who would accept them (forget BMWCCA, PCA, FCA), you just need to ask around. But most important is knowing the drivers running with you and trusting their situational awareness. As for on-track risks, these sports racers are so much quicker than 99.9% of anything you will encounter that you actually have near total control over when and where to make the pass, and you WILL be making a lot of passes! In fact, one of the downsides to a sports racer in a DE environment is finding a clean lap. I'm happy to provide more info about the advantages and disadvantages of sports racers, and I know these are not the answer for everyone. BTW, I have no business interest involving sports racers, DE's or racing; just have 10 years with these machines, actually just Stohr, after years with F and P cars.

 

Thanks . I will send you a PM , i think i am done with GT3, 430, scud and other street cars and looking to get into sport racers.

 

I moved from a vintage formula ford to an Elan DP-02 and could not be happier. I looked at the Stohr and Radical. The Stohr is wicked fast, arguably the fastest C-SR/D-SR out there, but I just didn't want a bike motor car. The Elan is not as competitive in SCCA racing but it is much bigger than the Stohr and I feel safer if on track with standard road cars. It is basically a pro-Mazda with body work and a 4 cylinder in place of the rotary. Like everything out there, results vary with skill.

For lap time comparisons, I ran an easy 2:02 at VIR with an engine bugaboo, first time out. I expect to be under 2 minutes no issues, and a well driven car is in the low 1:50s. It takes a damn fast car and a damn good driver to get under 2 minutes in any street based car full course. I pass most road cars like they are standing still.

A the end of the day, I think the thing to do is buy what you WANT to be in, because it's all for fun!

 

Tracking a scuderia is very expensive once you factor in $20k transmission repairs every 1-2 years + the depreciation. Plus the engine bays get kind of hot, look at the track videos on youtube the temps people are reaching are quite high. There's a reason barely anyone tracks road legal Ferrari's, they are too delicate. I really doubt a Scuderia would survive more then 5000 miles of track without blowing up. I think there's someone on this forum who touted how reliable they were until his transmission failed and the repairs were over 20g.