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Post by Blair on Jan 26, 2003 22:52:46 GMT
Aye, thats true, but I don't have £3k lying about at the moment, whereas just fooling around with a car wouldn't be that much upfront... did spot something interesting on autotrader's site... makeashorterlink.com/?E18642243sorry for width of page! (Link shortened - GR) |
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Post by norm on Jan 26, 2003 22:53:16 GMT
I would second the recommendation that a track car can cost as much as an XR2, and you don't get to push people round the hairpin on a track day!
Also, from what I've seen of Bangers at Racewall (tend to avoid those meetings - more of an F2 fan myself), I wouldn't go banger racing in anything as small as a Fiesta - if some lumbering old Jag or such like follows you into the wall then I wouldn't think there be much of the footwell left intact!
So, don't spend any money on the Fiesta, trash it at a track day, get the bug, then buy John's XR2.....Easy!
Cheers
Norm
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Post by Dave on Jan 27, 2003 9:39:13 GMT
Thing is though these XR2's in standard form like the race cars are too slow! With my grey car I was holding my own in the corners but on the straights I was getting wasted! Astra GTE, Nova 16v, Cossies, Turbo fiestas, even a bloody mini which had a 1.4 turbo engine! At only 100bhp most things will pass you in a straight line! It was the same with my road car and it was moddified to 140bhp! The only thing the fiesta can beat is small engine cars, like clios, fiestas, novas etc... Its time to play with the big boys!  Nick was always last going round the track in his XR2 when he was taking people out and by the end almost half a lap behind the last person! ;D Make them fast though, and the next thing is you cant stop!  Anyway 1.4 is a good engine! CVH is best (top of engine will be wide) but its probably an OHV (top of engine will be thin)! Just strip it out and take it on! Dave. |
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Post by NS-R on Jan 27, 2003 9:48:20 GMT
Quote: - "Nick was always last going round the track in his XR2 when he was taking people out and by the end almost half a lap behind the last person!"
I can guarantee you that that will never happen in the race car!
I always went out at the back when I was instructing as I didn't want a nervous person going on track for the first time in the middle of a bunch of neds!
Seriously though, Dave is right in what he is saying. A standard Xr2 is comparitively slow in a straight line so you spend most of the time looking in your rear view mirror to make sure that you avoid the idiots.
I'll still take people out in the 2 seater XR2 to show them the correct lines etc but I wouldn't take it out on track for a jolly.
When I dorve the Si, that was even worse as it is only a 1.4. Definately looked the part on the track though...
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Post by Dave on Jan 27, 2003 10:54:26 GMT
It wouldnt happen in your racecar!
But you know what i mean, they all go mad with their cars up there! Even something as harmless as a mini will be kitted out with a monsterous engine at a Knockhill trackday!
Dave.
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Post by jfin on Jan 27, 2003 11:34:25 GMT
The track car -v- race car debate boils down to whether or not you want to drive fast (in a straight line) against other modified cars or whether you want to see if you are a driver or not. For me I don't see track days as a big attraction. You are not allowed to race, there are some pretty hairy things go on, the other drivers can be less than predictable and how "fast" you are pretty much boils down to who has the biggest one (engine that is). Racing against similar cars in a one make series is great fun, virtually all the drivers can be trusted and it pretty much comes down to driver ability.
As an aside, it would probably still be cheaper (and a lot less work) to take a standard XR2 challenge car and modify that rather than start from scratch with a tired road car.
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Post by Dave on Jan 27, 2003 12:01:30 GMT
There are more than only Knockhill trackdays! I have said I wont go to them anymore because they are too dangerous, they let anyone on with anything because they are more interested in the money! I go and watch, like everyone else to see people go off!
Private trackdays organised by clubs are better, the people care for their cars and if you care for yours too and are sensible on the track they will be happy for you to join them as it brings the costs down! You can normally go as fast as you like too cause there are only 8 cars on the track max, you'll maybe come up to one or two at a time but not a whole train of about 10 cars!
As for the road car/race car thing, I bought my car, solid, two owners! Buy a racecar and its had a road life plus an unknown track life and the track is a lot harder on a car than the road! If you know what to look for though it shouldnt matter where the car came from or what its been doing!
Dave.
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Post by jfin on Jan 27, 2003 13:28:02 GMT
Aye, there is always at least two sides to every debate. I would stick by my suggestion of buying a race car (whether or not its mine) and if you didn't want to race it then you could always, put a bigger engine in it or tweak the existing engine in ways not allowed by the xr2 regulations. Cars that have been raced will probably have had a tough recent past but usually they have been well built and maintained. I have recent receipts for much more than I am selling it for. As you say however its all about knowing what to look for. Me, I haven't got a clue - I rely on ICR !
So touring - made up your mind yet ?
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Post by Mike Hogg on Jan 27, 2003 17:20:38 GMT
Sod the baseball cap and drum n' bass approach - I'd take John's racing XR2 any day  (If I had any money   ) |
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Post by Charlie on Jan 28, 2003 23:40:37 GMT
Quote: - When I dorve the Si, that was even worse as it is only a 1.4. Definately looked the part on the track though... Looked quite good on the grass and the gravel too, didn't it Nick. |
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Post by Charlie on Jan 28, 2003 23:48:33 GMT
PS can someone add some linefeeds to the previous posts to narrow the page again:s
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Post by Catriona on Jan 29, 2003 1:02:14 GMT
Looks like it's TL's link to blame... just about to edit it to shorten things a little |
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Post by NS-R on Jan 29, 2003 7:59:21 GMT
T think to answer TL's original question, the answer should be "NO".
Instead of wasting money in a tired raod car, save up and get yourself out in the Fiestas instead.
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Post by Blair on Jan 29, 2003 18:28:01 GMT
Cheer's GR I think I'll dip into my life savings for £41.....+p&p |
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