THSCC Forums

Thanks for the info! I have the rule book but starting to really read into them more. We definately want to build a legal car and cheating is not what we were after.

I was thinking about a direct replacement instead of a b16,18 swap but if the vehicle value is questionable without a motor then that is off the table. What if it is blown and needs to be replaced? Do you have to pull from another donar car?

Also, I heard a few guys say they were a little over budget but were upfront about it and they took a few penalty laps.

Older Protege might be a good car. Same/simlar engine as the Miata just transverse right?

I am crazy excited about building a car!!!!

-Scott

_________________
THSCC Timing & Scoring

fixed

Correct. I think Bernie still has one (slightly bent) that he will sell you. If even has a cage already in it.

We started with a $250 '89 Honda Prelude Si we bought from a poor college kid who just needed the money to buy a scooter.

No matter what car you buy keep a few key things in mind. This is an ENDURANCE race, not a sprint. The car needs to stay running, not be the fastest thing on the track. The key to that is to MAKE DAMN SURE IT DOES NOT OVERHEAT. Do whatever it takes to keep that from happening. The fastest, best handling car in the world won't be worth squat when the temp needle is pegged. Also if you temp gauge came from the factory you're doing it wrong.

Our team (Magnum, PU) Mark's team (Grim Reaper) and Steve's team (Dorifto Dogs) has lots of experience here. Ask us any questions you have. We'll be glad to help.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Are you looking to win or looking to run? Two different approaches.

Win -- do what everyone above stated. They are proven winners and top 5 performers, so listen to what they suggest.

Run and have fun -- build whatever you can put together, don't lie about it (ie don't cheat), point out the things you did when going through tech to be helpful, accept your penalty laps and go have fun running wheel-to-wheel. If you get slapped with 50 laps, 100 laps or 10,000 laps, just smile and brag about it later on the internet!

We have a legitimate crapcan car. The two times we have made a conscious effort to "go for a top 10" with that car, we lost the clutch at one race and put a window in the block at another race. The other vehicles are just for fun, so that we can continue driving even if the legal car craps out.

_________________
2003 Torch Red Corvette Z06 ST3/TT3 #01

Road Courses: Rock - VIR-F - VIR-N - VIR-S - VIR-P - VIR-G - RRR - CMP - Road Atlanta - CMS - NSS - NCCAR - Mid-Ohio - Watkins Glen
Drag Strips: Red River - Byron - Cordova - Route 66 - Raceway Park - zMAX

One more thing, no matter if you are trying to win or just have fun, don't take it all too seriously. It's quite the experience and getting pissed off about what is or is not 'fair' will quickly ruin your weekend.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Thanks for all the info!!

I'm sure our team will not be in for a win up front as some of them have never seen the race track. My initial goal is to find something that is close and get it running so we can haul everyone out to a few of the HPDE's left in 2011 and get some seat time.

Then hit a few of the Chump events with the goal of just having fun and learning. Then see who might be serious about building a legit car.
Our real motivation right now would be to have the Corvid guys compete against the Pratt and Miller, SHR, and HMS guys that we work with.

I'm a complete noob so all the info is extremely helpful. My biggest question right now is finding something fun, reliable and fairly easy to drive. Originally thinking Civic or Integra but Mike toss out a Protege. All I think would be fun cars.

For example, I found this on CL. http://richmond.reachoo.com/ads/137773426

Pretty sure all mazda B's are interference motors but usually timing belts break on startup so this might be possible...

-Scott

_________________
THSCC Timing & Scoring

Scott,

The guys that run our team are now Chumpsters for our area (NASCARville) and they help with tech for the NC/SC races. If you want Jim's information, he can help point you in a few directions and give you some ideas on what cars to review and build.

And for those of you thinking bad thoughts, they slapped our own cars with lots of penalty laps at the Charlotte race. So everything is legit, just look at our final running positions. The Chump guys wanted experts with the ability to identify cheats helping with tech. It takes a thief to catch a thief.


-Kevin

_________________
2003 Torch Red Corvette Z06 ST3/TT3 #01

Road Courses: Rock - VIR-F - VIR-N - VIR-S - VIR-P - VIR-G - RRR - CMP - Road Atlanta - CMS - NSS - NCCAR - Mid-Ohio - Watkins Glen
Drag Strips: Red River - Byron - Cordova - Route 66 - Raceway Park - zMAX

I'm pretty sure none of them are. At least any of the ones that made it into a Miata. There are ways to combine blocks/heads and machine work to end up with an interference motor though.

That's good news!!! All thoses years I ran the Miata I always thought it was an interference motor. I am pretty stupid.

That Protege might be a decent option but still on the high end for hitting the $500 target.

Kevin, shoot me Jim's info.

Thanks!!
Scott

_________________
THSCC Timing & Scoring