As with so many people, in my earlier years it was all about energy: How a lot engine may I stuff into how little of a chassis? It was all in a quest to see how briskly I may go.
At one time, a flyweight Triumph Spitfire with a 240-horsepower rotary that might hit 60 in about 4 seconds sounded completely affordable. It may spin the tires at no matter pace.
A collection of V8-powered Tigers and TVR Griffiths additionally seemed like good selections. The latter of these two, with that Ford engine nestled inside a flyweight fiberglass physique, feels like a hotrodders delight, doesn’t it? I can inform you that it’s not. Stinking quick, sure. Refined? Not totally.
Not quick sufficient? I’ve been fortunate to run Brian Johnson’s Lola T70 Can-Am car at Sebring, the Group 44 Inc. Trans Am Jaguar at VIR, and Curt Vogt’s wicked-fast Boss 302 classic race Mustang at Street Atlanta.
Whereas I nonetheless personal and like quick vehicles, I’m studying that subtlety has some attraction as properly. A properly set-up E30-chassis BMW 318is with 150 horsepower is as a lot enjoyable on the Tail of the Dragon as nearly any automotive with double that.
And an Alfa Spider with about 135 horsepower is simply as beautiful for a weekend drive as a Tiger with thrice the ability. The Tiger may bark louder, however the Alfa simply sings.
I’ve additionally fortunately raced my Triumph TR3 for many years and have loved many a Miata on monitor. My previous Method Vee was all about momentum and smoothness, as its 1200cc engine solely supplied a lot grunt. I paid for errors, too, as I couldn’t cowl them up with any spare horsepower.
I’m simply ending up what could possibly be greatest referred to as a hybrid–and no, not that type of hybrid. We’re constructing what ought to show to be a really quick race automotive for a category filled with theoretically slower vehicles: a not-so-radical 1965 Mustang that can run in opposition to extremely strung 2-liter Porsches and the like.
So, this raises the age-old query: Is it higher to race a quick automotive in a slower group or a gradual automotive in a quick group? For me, pricing helped me make this determination. To construct an early Mustang for a sooner class is a six-figure proposition–and that’s earlier than you issue within the bills of campaigning that sooner automotive. Extra pace often equals extra tires, extra brakes and extra breaking issues. Personally, even when I had that type of cash, I’d reasonably race a less expensive, slower automotive in a slower group.
What about you? Whether or not heading to the road or the monitor, are you all about having the quickest automotive which you could purchase or construct, or do you want giant-killers or vehicles with a bit extra finesse? Let’s return to the ’60s: Are you choosing the Mini Cooper or the big-block Ford sedan?
I’ve performed on each side of the fence and, in my later years, now are inclined to favor the extra conservative selection. I’d love to listen to which camp you want.
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benclear stated:
I do not perceive how racing a gradual automotive quick may probably be useful, however I’m new to racing.
I am unsure if that is what Tim was intending, however one method to interpret the query has to do with the construction of most membership racing teams. SCCA, NASA, and many others, we often have far more courses than we do teams, so every race group is made up of a number of courses. The org tries to be good about how they do the grouping and put related vehicles collectively, however generally (particularly in endurance racing) there will be some fairly large pace disparities between courses.
So in case you have been racing the NASA 25 hours of Thunderhill, would you reasonably be driving a Spec Miata or one of many sports activities racer/prototypes? Getting handed 5-10 occasions per lap, or passing different vehicles the same quantity? Is it higher to be within the Miata that is main the E3 class, or a prototype that is additional down the sphere in its class however a lot greater in total place than the Miata?
JG Pasterjak stated:
False dichotomy.
Quick automotive quick 🙂
I entire heartedly disagree see the lengthy winded submit that follows this one.
Nicely, My monitor automotive is a 2100LB 150HP automotive within the V8 dominated monitor day scene of the Midwest so you already know the place my vote is.
I drive a gradual automotive gradual lol. I autocross a MK4 GTI in STH…I give away numerous HP to the others in my class…and my automotive is chubby. However I am grinning on the finish of every run. I say drive no matter you may have, as quick as you possibly can and giggle the whole manner!
I been on each side of this one. Time trials again within the day I had the proper automotive in FSP with a ACR neon. I had a blast driving that automotive and it was a lot sooner than something within the class on the time. I’m at the moment operating all of the autox I can in a Chevy Sonic so I’m in what’s by far the slowest automotive (in all probability in any class). I ran all this season in HS in opposition to Fiesta Sts, Fiat 500s, and Honda Civic sports activities. So the Fiestas I’ve heard are rated at 197hp in opposition to my 138. The Fiat is 160hp and the Civics are at like 160 from what I hear. I had a absolute blast mixing it up with these guys however have now moved on to STH and can in all probability find yourself in SMF. Once more in these courses I am manner manner down on the whole lot in comparison with the opposite vehicles nevertheless it’s enjoyable nonetheless operating the identical occasions they do in a gradual automotive so I vote gradual automotive quick.
Whereas I am greatest identified for gradual automotive quick I’ve pushed a quick vehicles quick.
It has been 20 years since I campaigned it however our D-Sports activities Racer (now SCCA P2) was a really quick automotive. The category lap file I set with it was solely a second off Mike Lewis’ ex Roush Trans-Am automotive and roughly the identical off the Method Mazda file set by one of many Professional Mazda collection entrance runners.
The automotive was exhilarating to drive however this is the rub; I do know that I’m a greater than common membership racer and the automotive was quick, so something lower than a lap file can be underperforming. When you end down the order (whatever the motive) it is a disappointment. Driving the automotive on the restrict was easy and lapping slower vehicles was kid’s play.
Now juxtapose that in opposition to my 80 wheel horsepower Datsun; it’s a must to drive each inch of each lap like a fiend and consistently alter to exploit ever RPM out of it. You need to plan 1/2 a lap forward. Within the Datsun when you flip into the nook, in case you aren’t a passenger all the best way to the exit you are merely not making an attempt onerous sufficient. You need to borderline overdrive the automotive to be quick.
Dragging the Datsun up the general ending order is massively satisfying. Having rivals come as much as you and say “you get each as soon as out of that automotive” provides to that satisfaction.
In gradual automotive in case you do get it the slightest bit incorrect it is instantly apparent. If you’re solely getting 90% out of a gradual automotive is painfully apparent whereas in a quick automotive 90% of it is potential might be quick sufficient to win.
When you’re in a quick automotive and go quick it is anticipated……………I like the joys of surpassing expectations with a gradual automotive.
Tom1200 stated:
When you’re in a quick automotive and go quick it is anticipated……………I like the joys of surpassing expectations with a gradual automotive.
All of the stuff you say in regards to the Datsun are additionally true in regards to the DSR in case you’re racing different people who find themselves additionally in DSRs.
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