Most Affordable SCCA Class
10-08-06, 09:53 PM
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Most Affordable SCCA Class
as the title states. what class would that be? and what would that limit upgrade to? I want to get into racing, but am young and poor 
10-08-06, 10:13 PM
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I am aware of the costs of racing, its not someting i woke up on and said "hey, lets make a race car", i have always wanted to do this, i know there is no way i can manage to flesh out a couple of grand and do it in one shot, so i have to start slow, over the years i can complete a car and hopefully get it racing eventually, i dont plan on racing in the new season or anything, ie:anytime soon. thanks for the heads up though guys.
10-08-06, 10:32 PM
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Scca
Are you talking about road racing or autocross classes? Road racing is no place to start, unless you are rich! Try autocross first, and no matter what year car you have or mods you have there is a class for you in autocross. Go to the SCCA website and find some events near you, then go watch and just ask questions, you will find plenty of people willing to help a rookie. Just don't go spend a lot of money till you find out from others at the events what you really need.
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10-08-06, 10:47 PM
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i was doign some research on canadian race classes, and i found the CASC assosiation, not very detaile and informative site, does anyone know anything about these canadian classes? I know spec miata is cheap, but getting the inital miata is not, that really isnt an option for me.
10-09-06, 12:12 AM
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Spec Miata is good but even better for the noob is Showroom Spec Miata, SSM.
If I were you do some indoor karting and then think about if you really want to commit to a car. You will need tools, equipment, tires, and a whole lot more.
Also Spec RX7 seems to be pretty cheap. I think you could have a full race package for about 5K or cheaper. I know there was one for sale in my area for $1300 with spares.
I got my RX7 racecar for $2300. It came with some spares but it's an IT7 car, more money to spend on faster parts.
It would also be a good idea to crew for a team. I did that this year and I learned so much, plus when you get your car they'll probally help ya out.
Good luck and always it's for fun.
If I were you do some indoor karting and then think about if you really want to commit to a car. You will need tools, equipment, tires, and a whole lot more.
Also Spec RX7 seems to be pretty cheap. I think you could have a full race package for about 5K or cheaper. I know there was one for sale in my area for $1300 with spares.
I got my RX7 racecar for $2300. It came with some spares but it's an IT7 car, more money to spend on faster parts.
It would also be a good idea to crew for a team. I did that this year and I learned so much, plus when you get your car they'll probally help ya out.
Good luck and always it's for fun.
10-09-06, 12:16 AM
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I have a 90 na btw. I am considering rallying here in ontario for now, its much cheaper than road racing. hopefully i will get a car ready by next season, but im just considering whether the car should be the rx7 or another car (ae86)...?
10-09-06, 12:34 AM
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Rallycross is cheap, but be prepared for the car to get beat up in the dirt. My daily, '87 VW Fox, is my rallycross car. Its been pretty reliable.
Like others have said start with a couple track days or autocross's with a stock but safe car to drive and see how you do.
Like others have said start with a couple track days or autocross's with a stock but safe car to drive and see how you do.
10-09-06, 12:38 AM
#12
Spec 7 is probably the cheapest to enter and run. SM is good but price of the car is 2-3 times what a Spec 7 is and the frequency of damage is potentially higher.
Next question is whether there are any people running Spec 7 in your area. Try the SCCA and NASA forums for more info.
Can someone who actually runs that class comment on the future of that class?
Next question is whether there are any people running Spec 7 in your area. Try the SCCA and NASA forums for more info.
Can someone who actually runs that class comment on the future of that class?
10-09-06, 12:42 AM
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I didnt know there was a spec 7? but im in canada, i doubt there is a spec 7 class here in ontario... rallycross for now 
, not sure which car to use though...
, not sure which car to use though...
10-09-06, 01:12 AM
#14
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If you want to be cheap, Spec Miata is not the way to go. Top drivers now are spending $6500-$7500 for engines, new tires every other weekend to stay up front for points. Getting out of hand. Yeah, you can get by with building your own engine, but you will not have all of the exact weight and size of rods and pistons the big shops have. There checking many parts to come up with a set of 4 that are perfect, then balancing, blue printing and etc. Time consuming and expensive.
You can build a car for around $9-10,000. Costs about a grand to run it each weekend, sometimes less, sometimes more.
Find a class that you have a car for, something you enjoy driving and race when you can. Something in IT or Show Room Stock would be the best bet. Biggest expense is suspension and Tires.
Pro 7 not bad if there is any left in your region, ours has all but dried up.
I use to think racing my Late Model Stock car ($25,000 average cost of car, slicks $125 ea. , Entry fee every Friday Night $75 with 2 crew guys, Food and Beer $60, 10 gallons of 110 oct) was expensive, but I got more track time dollar per dollar and I would win purses that would allow me to maintain my car. Only if SCCA paid local racers to race!
At least with Road Racing you have a few weeks to get caught up on expenses, usually!
You can build a car for around $9-10,000. Costs about a grand to run it each weekend, sometimes less, sometimes more.
Find a class that you have a car for, something you enjoy driving and race when you can. Something in IT or Show Room Stock would be the best bet. Biggest expense is suspension and Tires.
Pro 7 not bad if there is any left in your region, ours has all but dried up.
I use to think racing my Late Model Stock car ($25,000 average cost of car, slicks $125 ea. , Entry fee every Friday Night $75 with 2 crew guys, Food and Beer $60, 10 gallons of 110 oct) was expensive, but I got more track time dollar per dollar and I would win purses that would allow me to maintain my car. Only if SCCA paid local racers to race!
At least with Road Racing you have a few weeks to get caught up on expenses, usually!
10-09-06, 08:11 AM
#15
Old Rotary Dog
Affordable and road racing are usually not used together in the same sentence.
The amount you spend also depends if you want to be ultra competetive or not. Some people just enjoy getting out there and driving and can have fun regardless if they are mid pack, near the back, or where ever. For others it's a matter of winning at all costs. If you are the latter, you may want to look into another sport, because winning ain't cheap.
Spec Miata is definitely *not* the way to go. Much $$ just to run.
If you want to door-to-door race, I would recommend looking at one of the lower Imroved Touring classes. IT was intended to be a "starter class" for new drivers. Look around for a good used ITB or ITC car. Do *not* try and build one on your own - it will literally cost you twice as much as you would spend on a well-sorted used car.
Go buy Dave Gran's book "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" (http://www.GoAheadTakeTheWheel.com/) and read it. Dave gives a lot of great advice on how to get started and some decent guidelines for a budget. Definitely a good read for someone looking to get into the sport.
Go read through the Inproved Touring website (http://www.improvedtouring.com/) and listen to what those guys are saying. Also look in the classifieds for some decent deals on cars. It's getting to be between seasons now, so some good deals may be coming along between now and April.
Contact your local SCCA (or the Canadian equivalent?) and tell them you are interested and would like to get more information. Usually this gets you a quick invitation to come to the next track event or club meeting. If it's one thing that racers love to do, it's talk about, ummm, racing! Really, most of the racers that I have met are great people and enjoy helping new people get started. Anything that potentially brings more cars out is a Good Thing.
Good luck,
-bill
The amount you spend also depends if you want to be ultra competetive or not. Some people just enjoy getting out there and driving and can have fun regardless if they are mid pack, near the back, or where ever. For others it's a matter of winning at all costs. If you are the latter, you may want to look into another sport, because winning ain't cheap.
Spec Miata is definitely *not* the way to go. Much $$ just to run.
If you want to door-to-door race, I would recommend looking at one of the lower Imroved Touring classes. IT was intended to be a "starter class" for new drivers. Look around for a good used ITB or ITC car. Do *not* try and build one on your own - it will literally cost you twice as much as you would spend on a well-sorted used car.
Go buy Dave Gran's book "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" (http://www.GoAheadTakeTheWheel.com/) and read it. Dave gives a lot of great advice on how to get started and some decent guidelines for a budget. Definitely a good read for someone looking to get into the sport.
Go read through the Inproved Touring website (http://www.improvedtouring.com/) and listen to what those guys are saying. Also look in the classifieds for some decent deals on cars. It's getting to be between seasons now, so some good deals may be coming along between now and April.
Contact your local SCCA (or the Canadian equivalent?) and tell them you are interested and would like to get more information. Usually this gets you a quick invitation to come to the next track event or club meeting. If it's one thing that racers love to do, it's talk about, ummm, racing!
Really, most of the racers that I have met are great people and enjoy helping new people get started. Anything that potentially brings more cars out is a Good Thing.Good luck,
-bill
10-09-06, 11:57 AM
#16
Potato Love
Allow me to rephrase:
My experience is primarily with the 3rd Gen RX-7. I love to auto x this car, but the seat time between fixing the next thing is measured in minutes.
I know Miata guys that paid less than I did for their cars, and drive them cross country to track events. One guy asked me to go with him to the "Tail of the Dragon". I don't trust my car not to break down 2 hours from home, much less 20+. These guys don't use a trailer. They drive the miata to the event, and back. No major mechanical failures. Now that's a low budget car.
Will I ever road race my 3rd gen? Never. It bleeds me enough as it is.
These guys have posted good info regarding use of the other rotaries. They obviously know more than I do. Listen to them. I don't know how reliable a 2nd gen race car could be, but if it was 100 bucks an hour, I'd take that over my FD anyday. I just informed you of what I've seen, and 4-8K purchase price plus 4K more for a track machine is cheap in my book. But what these guys have in mind is way cheaper than even that. And they have much more experience in this field than I probably ever will. Sorry for the misinformation.
My experience is primarily with the 3rd Gen RX-7. I love to auto x this car, but the seat time between fixing the next thing is measured in minutes.
I know Miata guys that paid less than I did for their cars, and drive them cross country to track events. One guy asked me to go with him to the "Tail of the Dragon". I don't trust my car not to break down 2 hours from home, much less 20+. These guys don't use a trailer. They drive the miata to the event, and back. No major mechanical failures. Now that's a low budget car.
Will I ever road race my 3rd gen? Never. It bleeds me enough as it is.
These guys have posted good info regarding use of the other rotaries. They obviously know more than I do. Listen to them. I don't know how reliable a 2nd gen race car could be, but if it was 100 bucks an hour, I'd take that over my FD anyday. I just informed you of what I've seen, and 4-8K purchase price plus 4K more for a track machine is cheap in my book. But what these guys have in mind is way cheaper than even that. And they have much more experience in this field than I probably ever will. Sorry for the misinformation.
10-09-06, 01:07 PM
#17
Old Rotary Dog
Considering our original poster still has his learners permit, let's just answer his question in a more general, but also more informative, manner:
There is no cheap way to road race.
The is a corollary to this:
If you can't afford to ball it up and walk away from it, don't even think about road racing your car.
-b
There is no cheap way to road race.
If you can't afford to ball it up and walk away from it, don't even think about road racing your car.
Last edited by wrankin; 10-09-06 at 01:14 PM.
10-09-06, 09:13 PM
#18
Senior Member
Originally Posted by wrankin
Considering our original poster still has his learners permit, let's just answer his question in a more general, but also more informative, manner:
There is no cheap way to road race.
The is a corollary to this:
If you can't afford to ball it up and walk away from it, don't even think about road racing your car.
-b
There is no cheap way to road race.
If you can't afford to ball it up and walk away from it, don't even think about road racing your car.
Take a $100 bill and throw it in the toilet. If you can flush it and watch it go down the drain, you are ready for road racing.
A take-off on the corollary above:
If you can take a car, roll it up into a ball, and walk away from it both emotionally and financially secure, then you are ready for road racing.
Finally, the suggestion to crew for somebody is the best one. You will learn not only WHAT you need to do to campaign a race car, but HOW to do it. Even if you had the money to purchase a prepped car right now, would you know what it takes to run a car? If so, great. If not, crew for somebody.
10-09-06, 09:41 PM
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All this confusion, gah, For now I am going to race rally production class, much cheaper than road racing and very affordable. All i need is a cage, various other safety equipment, decent tires and decent suspension. I know the cost of road racing and am not up for it yet.
10-09-06, 10:06 PM
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Bah... forget the SCCA/NASA etc if you truley want to race and are on a budget. The Dirt Track roundy rounds are the place to be. Look for a hornet class. Local tracks have a $500 claimer series. Truly low cost racing.
10-10-06, 04:42 PM
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all racing has breakage. best to attend a few events in all types of racing. go to rally's and road racing events. check out the local oval track and drag strip. go to a couple rally crosses and auto crosses. find out what you like and what looks fun. all these activities will cost serious money, some more than others, but all will cost lots of cash. since it is very expensive best to find the dicipline that you enjoy so when the bills come due you will gladly pay.
10-11-06, 12:53 AM
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Originally Posted by adam c
It sounds like you need to start autocrossing. You can drive your car "as-is", as long as it passes tech. It's cheap, and is a great way to start out. Once you get good at it, then consider what your budget will allow you to enter next.
Good luck.
