You have to have offical competition results sheets that shows your name on it. Autocross works fine, and all you have to have is a Snell approved helmet and a safe car to compete.

HPDE is not a competition.

 

Hpde?

 

HPDE: High Performance Driving Event

http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html

 

Yep, and that's why your "non-sequential.....New built Banzai Racing motor" will be DOG SLOW as you try to spool in 25 yards than shift

That's why I bought a bone STOCK NSX and leave the single turbo Rx at home.
And yesterday took 1st in my class and out timed 3 other classes, 300z w/ an SC & brakes & suspension, s2000 every mod known to man, a few STIs..........a few Vetts......

One guy with a second gen + suspension mods + (R comps) posted the best time of the day. He was FAST and smooth.

Now I'm going to Infineon for an HPDE this March 3,4 and only upgrading to a stock front type-r sway.

I've got a great instructor that drives an NSX too.

So I'm still in the stock class and will be for mostly this year before i'll need brakes, suspension, "R comp" tires as for power the HUGE 250hp at the rear will get me sideways anytime I push the go pedal.

I know this post will make "Mahjik" happy as I was about to throw this NSX off a cliff

 

LOL! I was about to ask you about that as I thought it was up for sale.

Funny, I'm about ready to throw my FD off a cliff.

 

What number the speedometer is pointed at is meaningless as far as speed perception.

You perceive speed by how fast things happen. 40 mph at an autox is much faster than 100+ mph on a race track. I feel downright lazy in the car when driving HPDE events.

 

I've just got too much **** in the Rx, single turbo, Penske's, adj. sways, BBK..............

I love the FD but hate that I feel like "I should" trailer the car to track events.

The guy I'm driving with (Instructor Dave Levy) is from Portland Or. and is driving his NSX to Navato with all his track stuff on the car. He's running a BIG SC at 12psi with about 430RWHP and his setup has lasted 144k total miles with about 40+k of that on boost street/track.

Now he's working with Horsepower Freaks and HP Turbo and they need a ginnypig car to run a gt-35/t3 turbo setup on a stock NSX at about ~8psi or high boost ~12psi making from ~400-750RWHP. The worst part is they are making it way too easy for me to say yes. They are offering to do most the work and the AEM tuning, dyno before/after for a magazine and the Prime forum.

I guess the best part is I CAN turn a turbo off (spring presser anyway)

I've got a friend that really wants my FD if I get tired of looking at it sit.

 

Sounds good! Get some pictures during the process if you do go through with it!


Every time I head out to work on the FD, I keep thinking of picking up an early '90s NSX; redo the suspension; add some safety equipment and then SC it for a track car. I know I'd be a lot happier in the end. Oh well.

 

I don't know about the SC. I had and sold a NEW Comptech (AutoRotor) SC on the advise from Shad the ex head of design for CT for years.

He was pretty strait up about the intake temps being much lower and consistent with a turbo over an SC both with an air to water IC.

He started his own tuning company (luckily for me 2 hours away in Sac Ca.) so he has some of the top NSX performers and did run the Honda racing program with mega bucks behind him.
He was also in on that twin turbo monster that won the Sport Car Challenge thing.

Shad has offered to do the final tune on the car if I DO go turbo.

So between him and the boys up North I should have plenty of help. So far the list is ONLY a NEW 6-speed W/OS Giken LSD, Motons 2-way (half year waiting list), front sway.............

Than I'll probably loose my head again and go Mod crazy after a few more events

 

I know a few NSX guys that have have been running SC's on the track for a few years without problems. However, I did see the Redline Challenge NSX's thread where he killed the motor with the twin turbo setup.

I agree that a properly intercooled turbo setup would be more ideal, but the SC has proved to be pretty reliable for the car over the years.

 

Your right, the SC is proven but a FEW not many of the NEW autorotor units from CT have had issues. Oil leaks manly and a DOA that I know of. The only down side of the SC is the same as any SC but on the NSX it's only a ~60-80HP gain at a cost of $9k without install

Now match that with intake, headers, Test pipes, exhaust, and tuning, tuning, tuning your looking at $12-16k in just the motor mods.

Not that I won't spend that on a small single turbo setup I'm contemplating. I've talked with all the right people. Now I'm going to go take a few track rides with the guys at T-hill and see what I like.

It's fun right now to have an NSX, the prices have come down enough to have more people in them that will push them. I was first really put off by the snob attitude of most the X owners but now it's easy to find out who is worried about that NEW 20" 75 pound wheel they can fit

But I'm not advocating this is a cheap car by any means. The maintenance can cost with the 4 cam timing belt, water pump, thermostat only being accessible by dropping the motor and doing the clutch why your in there.

 

I've priced it out and I can do about everything I need (which is most of your list) for about $9k (without labor as I would do that myself). While it's not a huge gain like slapping a large single turbo on a FD or a Supra; a track reliable 80-100 HP would be worth it for me.


lol, you should head over to the E46Fanantics forum. All you see there are poll posts asking "Which wheels, HRE or iForged?". I've never cared about other owners so much. If I did, my RX-7 would have been gone a long time ago as most of the owners today are..... well, if you don't have anything good to say...

I can deal with those. Its the replacing engines every 30-40k miles that I'm trying to avoid.

More than likely, I'll keep my FD for another 3 years for good or for bad. By then my M3 will be paid and I can get something that will fit my lifestyle at that time. I have a feeling that by that time, I'll either be more of a hobby track guy (just 1-2 events a year) or I will just go full out and do an IT race car or Spec Racer Ford.

Most likely it will be the first one. In that case, I plan to look at something like a Ferrari 355 (or a 360 if the price comes down by then). While I like the new Audi R8 coming out soon (which will probably be in the same price range as the cars I'm looking at), I don't think it would be something for me.

 

Unforchanetly I think your going to see a huge decline in the weekend warrior category (a few events a year) as I'm sure you have been hearing about all the insurance companies pulling no coverage at timed or not On-Road use or some language to that affect.

So I don't think too many people are going to throw away that P-car, F-car, Vett, or Viper. Under the new insurance polices you won't be covered at an autox

Not that anybody would do something stupid at an autox

 

You know guys, this year I'm going to be competing in a friend's D Sports Racer and as much as I love driving cars of all types I've never had so much driving fun as I have behind the wheel of this thing. So far I have all of about 30 mins experience in it and half of that was repeatedly stalling the clutchless sequential shifter in the paddock The first few events this year should be "memorable".

Approx 1000 pounds, easily 100+ hp with a stock 1000 cc bike motor, tube frame, wing(s), 10" wide slicks, pure racecar suspension etc. Mechanically the chassis is pretty simple and with the motorcycle engine and gearbox the running gear is not exotic. You can buy used ones for under $20K (much less for ratty ones) and they will outrun damn near any streetcar in straightline speed alone while also pulling 2+g in the corners. The bodywork encloses the wheels so most track venues will not be concerned about you running there.

I've never taken my FD any further because it comes down to "$10K+ to go only a few seconds per lap faster? Not worth it". I'm not willing to throw that much money at a car for so little return. It would be fun no doubt, but I can't justify the expense on the FD.

 

True, no way you can "justify" the expense. I just think of it as a hobby and it keeps we entertained, out of the bars :P

You will see a huge increase in the spec and "Sports Racer" category as the expensive cars are not going to be at the track.

I know a lot of people looking at the options now.

 

Jeff,

Most insurance places that I checked with (granted this has been YEARS ago) never covered road course events. The few that did only covered you if you have an instructor in the car, as if that helped.


Damon,

Are you sure that's a DSR price? From what I've seen, rollers go for $15-20k. Complete cars range from $30-50k (Stohr's being on the high end).

I've seen SRF's ready to go for $20k or under which is one of the reasons I was considering that division.

 

For an older used chassis, yes. Sorry; should have been more clear.

For no good, sane reason I've never cared for SRF. I find them ugly

 

That makes more sense.

Same here. I would much rather race a C or D Sport car. The problem is to be competitive in those leagues you need to pay about $60k for a car. I watched one of the older chassis get beat on during the runoffs this past year. But hey, he was good enough to be at the runoffs.

At least the SRF is a spec division so I could be competitive without having to spend a ton of money.

But, I doubt I will ever go "real" racing. I'd have to be able to trailer the car to and from the events and I doubt my M3 would be up to the task. I'd have to get rid of it for something that could tow and I'm not sure I could stand driving a "tow vehicle" every day (the wife has already said no to a 4th vehicle or I'd already have an Elise).

I suppose I could stand a Hummer or BMW X5. Who knows.

 

More like 80K for the new Stohr, fully equiped with all the go fast goodie's. DSR is awesome class I would like to do it myself, but it's going in the same direction all popular classes goes. Whoever has the most money with reasonable driver talent wins. My 2 cents..

 

Yep, I agree. Anyone want to sponsor me a few hundreds of thousands of dollars to campaign a new Stohr?

 

One $$$ hurdle with road racing is power. With long straightaways the guy who spends the two sacks full of cash to make 15 more horsepower than you can stay ahead even if he is less skilled. Spec classes attempt to solve that but all of us already know there's no such thing as cheap racing.

Even so nobody makes it to the Runoffs by being below average.

 

That is correct, but there is 'affordable racing'.

 

Cheap + racing only sometimes happens in Karting

 

That depends on your definition of cheap. Some people's definition may be a lot different than others. Some people would say something like the SCCA GT1 is cheap. Cheap is just a relative term that means different things to different people.

 

Yup. Worked for me for years racing KT100 and Rotax.