$5k Track Car: A little bench racing

[fndrbndr]

In another thread, it came to light that iRacing can run one $5000 fairly easily.  Granted, that may still pretty good for those who don't have a lot of trackdays/autocrosses in their area.  However, it got me thinking:  could you get into HPDE's and autocrossing for that?  Front-running spec miatas go for $10k or so, so we'll call that a non-option.  You have to run several HPDE's before you can get a road racing license with NASA, and they're still much cheaper than an SCCA racing school from what I can gather.  I figure $1000 in fuel/entry fees for local track days is probably enough to get in deep enough to know whether it's your thing.  That leaves $4k and a question: can you build a serviceable track car for $4,000?  If so, how much lower can you go?

 Note that I'm not interested in building a winning race car, which is much more expensive.  I'm trying to figure the cost for a decent track car.  It has to be reliable, preferably with a strong aftermarket, RWD (at least my preference), manual tranny, and must remain street legal, since we're not figuring in a tow vehicle.  Also, let's go ahead and disqualify locosts, since the real costs are questionable (how much would it cost to hire a welder to assemble a car for you?)  Thoughts?

[Open2nd]

My only real problem with building up a purpose built, street legal racer is that the only real seat time you get is a standard commute.  Very rarely will you be pushing yourself to your limit, much less the car's limit.  At least in a game like Forza or iRacing or even Race Pro you can hop in the driver's seat and RACE to your heart's content.  And with iRacing, if you have a proper setup, one could argue that you may even extend your personal limit so that seat time in a REAL car becomes even better utilized..

That said, exactly how far can you go with a Spec Miata, and have you looked into some of the more entry level series' that NASA runs?

[RenoWrench]

I would think you could get a 3rd gen Camaro together for pretty cheap.  I've seen them on craigslist here in Reno for $500-$1500 (granted they would need some work) and the aftermarket doesn't get much bigger.  SB 350 parts are cheap and available everywhere seems like if you found the right one it would just be a matter of getting rid of the unnecessary stuff and tweaking the suspension.  

Personally I'd spend my 5k on a track bike. Seems like more fun and with fewer expenses (assuming you don't try and be a hero and end up in the weeds)

[Open2nd]

Riding gear can get pricey too...  Any third gen bird that goes that cheap is going to need work too.  Most are even going to be the gutless 305 rather than the decent 350, and making any sort of decent power from the 305 will be kind of ridiculous.  Trust me, I've tried with two and am on the verge of giving the second to my father.

They handle well, but most of the cheaper ones you find will also have drum brakes out back, and converting to disc can get up there.  At least the car rotates fairly well through a corner, but its going to be too heavy to be a fun driver, and most of the ones I've ever come across all had the 700r4 auto trans, which isn't terrible, but it wouldn't be well suited for anything other than straight lines honestly.

[Hoplee]

First, get a tow vehicle. The cheapest/most efficient option is a full sized American with a body on frame. A police package Crown Vic would be perfect. I also have a strange fascination with the "Orca-body" Caprice wagon/ Buick Roadmaster Wagon (can you say "Vista Cruiser"? ) If you prefer something more like a truck, that works too. Personally, I chose an International Scout because it'll tow just about anything and because I can't do anything the 'easy way'. 

If you don't have the 1500-3000 set aside for a tow vehicle, maybe karting is an option. There's a 88 hatch-back Civic that does towing duty for a racing kart in my region of the SCCA. A Civic with a trailer is funny, but an S2000 carrying his auto-cross wheels & tires in the cabin with the driver is much, much funnier (especially if you think safety hazards are hilarious. )

Second, buy someone else's race car that's already set-up with all the safety gear you'll need for the series you want to run. The seller usually even has a trailer for it that you could bargain for. There was (is?) a proven rally-x Civic, fully prepared with extra sets of tires offered for $1500 obo in my area.

Remember that the cheapest and best way to go racing is to build a car just for racing and not worry about it having to get you to work the morning after an event. The old cliche' is this:

NEVER RACE YOUR DAILY DRIVER UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO WORK!!!

If this sounds like good advice, it's probably too late for you to make use of it.

[Drift2XL]

Best advice for warming over a 305.

Take it to the recycler and get yourself a 350.

[fndrbndr]

NEVER RACE YOUR DAILY DRIVER UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO WORK!!!

If this sounds like good advice, it's probably too late for you to make use of it.

Actually, that's kind of what I'm working out.  I have a daily driver, and expect it'll be around for some time if babied and well maintained.  I'm considering finding something that can be used for HPDE/autocross.  I'm not looking for a race car, though that Civic is a tempting idea.  I have neither the skills nor the free time for full-on club racing.  I suspect that karting won't be practical until I'm MUCH further into my weight loss/fitness regimen than I currently am, though that's part of the motivation behind my current project, the removal of my "waist-mounted ballast."  Basically, I'm considering something I can track a couple of times a year for the next few years while I finish my degree.  At that point, when I'm paid in dollars instead of course credits, I'll have some track credentials under my belt and be able to consider the possibility of a "real" race car and appropriate licensing if I'm still interested.  If not, I have a (Camaro/RX7/Miata/Mustang/whatever) that I've put a little TLC into and had some fun along the way.  

I guess I should also say that this is mostly a hypothetical; like I said, I'm paid with course credits more often than not, so I'd probably have to come up with a real find to have any shot at a decent result from this sort of project.

[RenoWrench]

Sounds like a good plan, though I don't know how your going to keep from falling over if you don't have some "waist-mounted ballast".

Personally, I wouldn't mind going the kart route (especially since the van is perfectly sized to carry one) but at 6'5" cramming myself into one is uncomfortable at best and I feel incredibly exposed.  There is something to be said for the full-size car route.  It seems like you would have more options i.e. autoX/track days/rally/drag race or what have you.

[Open2nd]

The karting thing is out the window for me as well.  I'm 6'6" and at 200lbs I don't think I'd even fit in one.

[BarbecuePete]

If I had the room to work on a car I'd love to do something like this, I'd probably go for an old Mini as they can be put together relativley cheaply and are simple to work on.

I think if you're not too bothered about what car you get you could do some searching and find a fairly solid car relatively cheaply and have enough change left from the $5000 to prepare it for track use.

Karting is great fun though, Company I used to work for had Karting as part of the social events they aranged. 4 person team, two hour enduro races. So much fun with about 16 karts on the track at once going up to 50mph