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+--- Thread: Track car questions (/showthread.php?tid=3475)
Track car questions - D_Eclipse9916 - 01-10-2006
For those that have track cars. Are they registered? Do you have insurance on them? How do you get them to the track? Do you have your own truck and trailor?
I was studying (yes already!) im trying to stay on top of things this semester instead of getting drunk everynight and fucking up my grades. Anyways, I was studying and was thinking of track cars. Ive got a certain type of car in mind and I Was thinking that I could buy that car in shell form or blown up engine. That way it would be cheap, I know I would probably be able to get the replacement engine for that typical car for free or very dirt cheap, so it seemed plausible that I could afford a track car. I am just too worried that I will crash my eclipse which has WAAAYYY too much money invested to risk crashing into a barrier at the track.
Give me advice!! BTW, my eclipse is already paid off, so any incoming money I have now goes towards the eclipse or going out doing shit. So it would be pretty easy for me to afford the car and engine and random maintenance. However, insurance and registering my car would look like it would kill me if its like my current insurance.
- Mike - 01-10-2006
not quite sure what you're asking... but...
the majority of us have registered/insured cars that we drive to the track. a few have registered/insured cars that they tow, and a few have unregistered/uninsured cars that they tow.
- D_Eclipse9916 - 01-10-2006
I am asking guys with track cars what expenses they have, did they buy their own truck and trailors, and shit like that. Just like warning me of anything I may walk into, id rather walk arround in the dark with a map then to slam my face into a wall.
- Mike - 01-11-2006
assuming you don't drive with a hot head you can pretty safely drive your car to the track... i've been doing it for 3 years now (knock on wood).
- G.Irish - 01-11-2006
Ok, if its just a track car, not a race car, then I wouldn't go through the expense of getting a truck and trailer.
On insurance, if its a cheap track car, just get liability with really low coverage terms. I don't think it'd be worth it for collision since some policies explicity exclude track events and others may be reluctant to pay a claim. Evan might be able to give some perspective on this.
So, keep it registered, drive to and from the track, and have fun. As long as you have the right mind set it can be relatively easy and pain free.
Re: Track car questions - Rex4life - 01-11-2006
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:Ive got a certain type of car in mind
......Fb Rx-7. i know a silver one that can be had for real cheap :wink:
- Dave - 01-11-2006
i track my daily driver, for the most part. If you can get a car that you think will be a rewarding track car, go for it. Register it and insure it for as cheaply as possible. Best recommendations would be something easy to work on, fairly cheap to maintain, and fun to drive. You don't need to know anything about the car, that will come with time and experience. I tracked the 240 all year last year and between Lindsey and I, there was almost 1000 miles of actual track/autoX seat time on that car, not to mention driving to and from events as well as the daily abuse of me driving it to work. The car rarely has any problems and still serves me well to this day. It is for sale, if I might add, but I digress....
Re: Track car questions - Mike - 01-11-2006
Rex4life Wrote:D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:Ive got a certain type of car in mind
......Fb Rx-7. i know a silver one that can be had for real cheap :wink:
he doesn't want to have to trailer it
Re: Track car questions - JackoliciousLegs - 01-11-2006
Mike Wrote:HAHA... who buys RX-7s? :lol:Rex4life Wrote:D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:Ive got a certain type of car in mind
......Fb Rx-7. i know a silver one that can be had for real cheap :wink:
he doesn't want to have to trailer it
Re: Track car questions - Feersty - 01-11-2006
JackoliciousLegs Wrote:Mike Wrote:HAHA... who buys RX-7s? :lol:Rex4life Wrote:D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:Ive got a certain type of car in mind
......Fb Rx-7. i know a silver one that can be had for real cheap :wink:
he doesn't want to have to trailer it
Not just one, but two :wink:
- Rex4life - 01-11-2006
[rodney dangerfield voice] no respect [/rodney dangerfield voice]
- D_Eclipse9916 - 01-11-2006
hahah I love rx7s but am concerned about having to deal with maintenance on it. I am thinking of 240sx or mr2, their stock engines can be had for real cheap in good condition as a lot of people take out the stock engines and put in the turbo ones os I could pick up the old one for cheap. I know of people that are swapping engines for both cars in the summer that would let me have their engines and trannies dirt cheap or possibly free because I am helping them perform the swap.
- Goodspeed - 01-11-2006
If you don't mind the at the limit widow-making cornering attitude of the MR2, I'd say get one. My next favorite Toyota
- .RJ - 01-11-2006
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:I know of people that are swapping engines for both cars in the summer that would let me have their engines and trannies dirt cheap or possibly free because I am helping them perform the swap.
Well, if you want a track car then dont do things the hard way - it will only frustrate you and make you not enjoy the car. If it needs an engine swap, or is an abandoned project of some sort in disarray, then run away - unless its absurdly cheap for what it is and you could make a significant chunk of change off it when you sell it down the line. Cheap project cars are a misnomer, as in they will often cost you a lot of money fixing up someone else's problem.
For a track car you want light weight, good handling, reliable, and easily available parts (both oem and aftermarket). There are a lot of 'cool' cars out there that might make good track cars except they are none of the above. People at the track appreciate them, but we still laugh after you spent half your sessions crawling in the dirt trying to fix it. Notice that I *did not* mention powerful, turbo, v8, etc....
Of course this may somewhat limit your options, but dont let it discourage you. The track car is a tool, a means to an end - if its reliable and affortable to operate on track you will have a good time no matter what it is - honda, mazda, ford, etc. Keep it insured, in the event of theft, accident on the street, fire, etc - it probably wont be covered on track, but for the rest of the time its not worth it to save a few bucks. Plan on driving it to the track - if you did break at the track, there are enough people there that they can almost always get you and your car home, and if you have a common car then you can get parts at autozone or from someone else at the track and fix it up.
My $.02
- Andy - 01-11-2006
Following up on what RJ said, I bought a nice car from a nurse, and outside of routine maintenance and suspension upgrades, I've had it for 12k worry free miles. You should talk to Dave about buying a pile for track and getting it on track for cheap.
Re: Track car questions - white_2kgt - 01-11-2006
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:For those that have track cars. Are they registered? Do you have insurance on them? How do you get them to the track? Do you have your own truck and trailor?
My car is currently registered, when time comes for me to do emissions, we'll see.
I do have insurance on it, limited required by law to keep my tags. It sees the highway for about 10miles a monht, maybe.
I use to drive it, now I tow it.
I have a trailEr now, but before then I'd beg, borrow or steel a truck/trailer for the longer hauls, just in case.
I disagree w/ RJ that you MUST have a track car that is light and low on power. It is VERY true that you will spend more in brakes, tires, gas and parts on a heavy/more powerful car. However, I love it. There's nothing like coming out of a turn, stomping the gas and just feeling the raw power. With smaller cars it is all about momentium. Maybe that does it for you, maybe it doesn't.
Now, if you are worried about not getting home from the track in an unreliable car, you should be. When John wrecked his M3 it cost about 500 + AAA to get his car back home. It isn't something people want to think about, but it is a real threat, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
- .RJ - 01-11-2006
For a long time my "tow vehicle" was the AAA card in my wallet and $300 in cash in my glove box.
- Sijray21 - 01-11-2006
.RJ Wrote:$300 in cash in my glove box.
Mental Note: take .RJ's money at next track event :wink:
- JohnC - 01-11-2006
theguywiththeSi Wrote:.RJ Wrote:$300 in cash in my glove box.
Mental Note: take .RJ's money at next track event :wink:
Who knows where he keeps it now, considering he doesn't have a glovebox
hock:
- .RJ - 01-11-2006
Towing next year = no money in the glove box
Sucker
