Anyone own a 348 or 355 challenge car

pp has one.
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There are a number of events in the area. Contact your local Ferrari Club as well as the
tracks. The club can tell you what they have and the tracks and tell you what they have.
Keep in mind it does not have to be a Ferrari Event inorder to run.

 

Can't speak to the situation in Northern California, but I use my 348CH frequently at various track events in South Florida (mostly FCA and SAFE Motorsports). Aren't there groups like SAFE, Chin, NASA, PBOC, etc. near you? In FL there's a track day every few weeks between Sebring, Moroso, & Homestead.
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Have a 355C (actually, if you're interested, PM me).

Previously, I raced in the Challenge series. Now, I use it principally for track days. I've found that while there are many series in which I can run it, it's more economical (if you're serious about racing) to look at other marques. That said, if you absolutely want a Ferrari race car, these are, IMO, the best. Change the oil, new brake pads, fill it up and put new tires on. That's about all the maintenance it needs. No support team required. Very driver friendly and well-mannered. Fast when you're good at carrying speed, but lacking torque and grunt. Superb brakes.

CW

 

I drive mine on the street. The 348's all had street titles and can still be licensed in almost all states.
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The only wheel-to-wheel racing I know of for these old Challenge cars is with NASA. I think they have (or are establishing) a class for them, but Martin W. of Cavallino Motors is the guy who'd know more. I can certainly understand the desire to get these cars back on the track, but using them at track days is a much less ambitious (and expensive) and more realistic undertaking than campaigning them seriously, which is what you seem to have in mind.

 

IRA
Are you going to be at Sebring sep 22 with safe?

 

Yes, Greg; I'll be there. I try not to let that car sit for too long, so I thought I'd take advantage of the SAFE event since I haven't driven it since 7/21.

 

Ira
See you there. I"ll bring the 355 ch and maybe the 550.

 

Great- be sure to stop by and say hi.

 

I don't disagree with your premise, but suspect there's not too much interest. I do use my car pretty often, but at track days.
How competitive these cars would be turns on which cars would be similarly classed, but take into account that a 355CH is much faster than a 348CH- not just more power but MUCH better brakes, which makes a big difference in lap times.
A 355CH is a lot of bang for the buck IMHO, but I can't stand power steering and besides, only '95 355CHs have titles (and that was important to me), so I opted for a 348CH, having found one that hadn't been crashed (which is RARE).

 

NASA is also in Cali. One of their huge events is the 25 hours of Thunderhill held in December. Events at Willow Springs, Thunder Hill, Buttonwillow. Go to their site and take a look.

 

Guys - I have heard rumors of a new class opening up in the Ferrari Challenge series. Some of the Ferrari challenge events will have a 'historic race series' that you can enter your modern Ferrari in. Lets say a 355/348 Challenge or 360 Challenge class. Ferrari is thinking about running this race before the actual 430 series in selected cities. It is already happening in Europe. Ferrari is trying to get more people to these events. So they are adding the F1 cars,430 challenge, historic racing, and the FXX program which is the Corsa Clienti. It will also help the resale value of your old challenge car because it will qualify for this program. But just remember this is Ferrari and a lot of rumors never become reality.

 

These cars are awesome, just did the FCA event at Watkins Glen-I drove the Glen! What a track, and the beautiful location in the Finger Lake area. The drive up from DC was long but fun. These are from other events-Indy, VIR, Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Interesting . . . I wonder if there's sufficient interest in the US?

 

As much as I would like to see the 348/355's back on the race track, I would not likely race my car in head to head competition. For one I think alot of the 348's are in some kind of street form now. It would be expensive to get mine up to modern safety stantards. I would hate to get involved in an incident and tear up my car as well.

Juan, nice pics at the Glen. I would love to be able to do more track time in my car.

 

VIR is a great track. Lots of member days as well as events by clubs etc.

Highly recommend the car. We would love to have you join us.
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Ferraris are bad race cars. Just about everywhere if they fit into a series they mostly get killed because they are outnumbered and lack development. Example SCCA T1 the 360ch fits but there are 8000 ZO6 vettes. If they don't beat you out right they wear you out by attrition. One of those vettes will get the national championship. If you clubrace a Ferrari in an unlimited class there are nearly zero aftermarket go fast goodies so you have to develop your own. How many of use can really do that? How much money do you have to throw at part makers who claim they can make you faster? If you race a ZO6 or a Porsche you can get anything your heart desires and in the color you want and with a proven track record to boot! If you want to race a Ferrari like I do it is for the fun of it. You have good days and bad days but you are not going to be competative. 348's like I race are cheap as dirt so just race it. Why stick to challenge specs? My 348 is so light that so far I have not met a guy in a 355 who could beat me. I am crap driver to. Anyone who thinks a 348 drives pretty good wait until you stiffen the chassis with a welded cage, get under 2800lbs and go with a solid suspension. At the non-scca ametuer level porsche has the best network for clubracing. There is a buget in porsche that will fit everyone from 944 spec racing ($2500 bucks for a 944) to GT3 cup racing where a decent car will be in the 150k range. ZO6 vettes can be made into incredable racecars and national chapionship winning SCCA T-1 cars can be had for less than $35k and still be legal for T-1 racing until 2014. How is that for budget racing? Yeah the vette and the porsche are not Ferraris but darn is sucks getting schooled by them all the time so I admit... I had to buy one.