another good track car question

Life is too short to not consider racing! Do more HPDE's and get board of that soon. Then pick a car with lots of drivers in the class. Competition is were the fun is not the car. Spec box is a pretty cool class if you like P-bugs.

 

I feel weight is always the 1st thing to consider when it comes to track day cars. They are more nimble, less hard wearing on parts, and simply more fun.

Out of your list i would go for the Radical.

Maybe you could also consider these;

Caterham R500 / R400 / R300
Lotus 2-Eleven GT4
Ariel Atom 3
lotus Exige S

 

For pure driving pleasure I say get the SR3. I worked on a small team that ran a Radical. The car was dead reliable and easy to work on when required. The engine is cheap yet lightweight and powerful with a HUGE aftermarket when you decide you want more power (500+ is possible). They look great and can be made street legal in some states.


Can you tell I like them?


Rob

 

You also forgot to say that they are quicker around road courses then all the "million dollar" supercars...

 

At the point you get to an SR3 where do you class it? There are narrow classes that it fits into I think but am not sure. I would really check on this even if you don't want to race because others who do buy trackday cars do want to race. If you go for the SR3 why not up the ante to a real D sports racer like stohr. Then when you are done with the toy there are many more who will buy it because the Dsports classes are so large. I think an SR3 can be micky moused into C or D sports but then they are not competitive there like the cars designed to be in C or D sports. The SR3 is fine if you want a casual trackday car but if you really get the bug you will sell it for something else.

 

A Radical mixed with 2 ton road cars is too dangerous for me. Same with spec Ford. LIke FBB said where do you run with a Radical when you decide to race?

 

That is 100% right on:
A doc in mid west in sr3 several years ago ran into the bumper of a streetcar and killed himself. Guy is streetcar felt a bumper tap.

 

The SR3 fits his criteria perfectly.


Rob

 

I own a Porsche Cup Car (996), Stohr sports racer (similar to a Radical) and Spec Racer Ford.

The only downside of the Radical is that it may not be welcome at as many types of events as a sedan. You could take a Porsche 996 (no sequential) or 997 (sequential) Cup Car many places. I think you'll pay roughly $100k for a 996 Cup Car ready to go - just ballpark.

The Cup Cars certainly are bulletproof, as well.

If by Spec Ford you mean a Spec Racer Ford, they are safe, relatively cheap and need relatively little maintenance, and their tires can last a long time. Say, 18-22K for an SRF. You may not find an SRF fast enough, however, as it's your classic momentum car. SRF's are easily rented from many shops, if you want to try one out. I don't really think of the SRF as a track day car and, like the Radical, it may not be welcome in as many events as a sedan. Some organizations don't let sports racers and sedans run together, and I personally would not take a sports racer on track with a sedan except in a testing environment with few cars.

I would not recommend the Stohr for anyone not racing, needs too much nannying.

I am not trying to talk you out of a Radical; in fact, I love formula cars first, then sports racers, then sedans. You definitely should test a Radical, I suspect you'll love the driving experience.

 

I agree, nothing can satisfy the need for speed like a formula car.

I run my Champ Car at normal track days. I either go out for a few laps between run groups or tag along with a small group and keep my distance. It can be done safely if you take the proper precautions.



Rob
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One more Radical issue. A Radical may be so much faster than most other cars that your enjoyment of track days is diminished by the traffic. Most people don't realize how fast the sports racers can be.

 

"I run my Champ Car at normal track days."


Beautiful! Perfect! To me, formula cars are the only real race cars.

Have you tried HSR, or BOSS?

 

My pocket book is not big enough to commit to such a serious undertaking. I use the car mainly for car shows but it is a great treat to get it out on the track where it belongs.


Rob

 

Sounds like a great plan!

 

That's the right thing to do. Spec Miata is a great starter.

 

...I bet that car is a kick to drive.

I tinkered with SCCA stuff and got my expert license but I always thought the open wheeled cars were the heart and soul of racing.

There was a CSRG Charity Challenge race at Sears Point this last weekend with Historic F1 as the premier class. A hand full of DFV powered cars and there was F5000 too; lumbering V-8's....Shadow UOP cars and a very cherry ex Villeneuve 312T4 (?) out there in full song.

Talk about goose bumps during hot weather.

Neat neat neat.

 

+1

 

Larry,

If you can do without the sequential box my friend is selling his 996 GT2 (2004). It's set up as a dedicated track car... cage, carbon pieces and so on. He wants 70K for it and it's not too far from you (Philly) if you want to see it.


Mike

 

nice swift - quite the rare piece. hit me if you're ever thinking of selling.