Pondering Something
10-18-16, 07:47 AM
#1
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Pondering Something
I was out in the shop a few days ago working on the Cougar and I was looking at my race RX7 and I started thinking about something for the first time. This car has done tons of races since I converted it to a race car back in 1997. It has a great history of wins and top placings. The shell is mint, the suspension is fully built, I love driving it and I think it looks great. I wonder how hard it would be to turn it back into a street car again as I would hate to see it get pounded after all this time.
The car owes me nothing as it has paid back every cent I have spent on it with joy and fantastic memories. I also think it would be a ton of fun and hardcore to drive a full race car on the street for a few times every year. The car is fast, like 1:37's at CTMP. It rare to have an NA Motor this flexible and fast. I don't know. I would more than likely need to purchase another shell to strip all the street car stuff I need to convert it back to a street car, but it may be a ton of fun. With the Hot Rod sniffer test, I think we can work on the tuning and exhaust to get it legal again, but it will be tough. Of course I would strip off most of the decals again and add safety glass and a rudimentary interior and dash. I would need to hook up a heater, stock seat belts, some kind of sound making stuff, fan etc... all of the turn indicators and headlights, but that could be fun.
Am I nuts? Does it have any value as a street car or should I leave it as a race car and only do lapping days with it or should I keep on racing it?
Eric
The car owes me nothing as it has paid back every cent I have spent on it with joy and fantastic memories. I also think it would be a ton of fun and hardcore to drive a full race car on the street for a few times every year. The car is fast, like 1:37's at CTMP. It rare to have an NA Motor this flexible and fast. I don't know. I would more than likely need to purchase another shell to strip all the street car stuff I need to convert it back to a street car, but it may be a ton of fun. With the Hot Rod sniffer test, I think we can work on the tuning and exhaust to get it legal again, but it will be tough. Of course I would strip off most of the decals again and add safety glass and a rudimentary interior and dash. I would need to hook up a heater, stock seat belts, some kind of sound making stuff, fan etc... all of the turn indicators and headlights, but that could be fun.
Am I nuts? Does it have any value as a street car or should I leave it as a race car and only do lapping days with it or should I keep on racing it?
Eric
10-18-16, 03:17 PM
#3
Rotary Enthusiast
I don't think it would be worth converting back – maybe retire it from competition and use it for lapping, especially since you've done all the development and tuning already.
If you're considering buying another shell, the next closest thing is buying a street-legal FC, maybe a Turbo II for fun and a change. It would save you a lot of money and time.
If you're considering buying another shell, the next closest thing is buying a street-legal FC, maybe a Turbo II for fun and a change. It would save you a lot of money and time.
10-18-16, 09:07 PM
#5
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
10-21-16, 03:35 PM
#7
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
I think you guys may be missing the point a bit. I don't need a cool street car to drive. I have my Jag for that type of duty. Maybe I am looking for a crazy street car that is miserable to drive everyday, but that will provide a few moments of joy when you can get on it on some twisty out in the boondocks road. It would mostly be for drive ins and meets if I take it off the track.
I just love the history I have in this car and want it to be able to be enjoyed for as long as I can. Part of the issue is me. If I am racing it, I race it hard whether in Historic or Regionals. Its a great race car still and I expect after I get the motor back from Joe, it will be a lot faster and easier to race than my Cougar as well. Most of you guys have never felt the joy of driving a car as hard as it will go for hours at a time, in one stretch. I have with this car. Its like a favoured buddy that's gone to war with me. Its carried me through the smoke and battlefields more times than anyone ever thought it would and it almost feels like its alive to me. I just don't want it to fade away rotting in the garage like the way that too many race cars end up. Race cars deserve to be driven hard and shown off to people.
I guess that's why I have been sharing the car a lot over the last few years. I wanted as many people to get to experience this car as possible and have good memories of it as well.
Time to think some more.
Eric
I just love the history I have in this car and want it to be able to be enjoyed for as long as I can. Part of the issue is me. If I am racing it, I race it hard whether in Historic or Regionals. Its a great race car still and I expect after I get the motor back from Joe, it will be a lot faster and easier to race than my Cougar as well. Most of you guys have never felt the joy of driving a car as hard as it will go for hours at a time, in one stretch. I have with this car. Its like a favoured buddy that's gone to war with me. Its carried me through the smoke and battlefields more times than anyone ever thought it would and it almost feels like its alive to me. I just don't want it to fade away rotting in the garage like the way that too many race cars end up. Race cars deserve to be driven hard and shown off to people.
I guess that's why I have been sharing the car a lot over the last few years. I wanted as many people to get to experience this car as possible and have good memories of it as well.
Time to think some more.
Eric
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