Cup Ownership: Self Supporting
#32
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Washington, DC, West Palm Beach
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Received 39 Likes
on
21 Posts
Even the best self supporters have to reach out for help sometimes. No harm in that. When I've been alone I've had many east coast shops go out of their way to be incredibly nice and help me out. That's what makes this community so fantastic.
Stu
Stu
#34
Never used any of those to change wheels. Lift car with airjacks, and change one wheel at the time. I never leave the car in the air for extended periods of time on the jacks with wheels removed.
#35
Burning Brakes
Found that after 12 race weekends, ( some times in one year, two or even 3 years for me sometimes) Axels are replaced, (we pull the blacks apart) and they are worn. Then also the W/B need to be replaced. Generally they don't look good when they come out. Its no fun doing either at the track..
#36
Nordschleife Master
There are a great bunch of guys at the track that are always willing to help. You just have to ask if you need something. I have been on both ends of needing something, and able to offer parts to get guys back running. All good....
#37
When I lost an axle, it broke on the part which goes through the upright / bearing, just inside the wheel mounting stub axle. Result was the rear wheel coming off which did about $10,000+ in damage. Apparently 3-wheeled cup cars are not the optimal design. For some reason now, axles scare me.....
#38
Rennlist Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away....
Posts: 17,106
Likes: 0
Received 256 Likes
on
172 Posts
I love the idea of self supporting a Porsche factory built race car, and i have seen it done.
Reminds me of when I used to self support my D.E car.
I used to work like a dog onloading and off loading the trailer.
Tire changes. Brake changes. Refueling etc.
I can imagine a Cup being a larger work load.
Running a race car now, I cant imagine trying to self support it between all the trucking, trailering, wrenching, refueling, drivers meetings, pit stops, driving etc.
For D.E perhaps.
My hats off to those that do.
Reminds me of when I used to self support my D.E car.
I used to work like a dog onloading and off loading the trailer.
Tire changes. Brake changes. Refueling etc.
I can imagine a Cup being a larger work load.
Running a race car now, I cant imagine trying to self support it between all the trucking, trailering, wrenching, refueling, drivers meetings, pit stops, driving etc.
For D.E perhaps.
My hats off to those that do.
#39
When I lost an axle, it broke on the part which goes through the upright / bearing, just inside the wheel mounting stub axle. Result was the rear wheel coming off which did about $10,000+ in damage. Apparently 3-wheeled cup cars are not the optimal design. For some reason now, axles scare me.....
#40
I love the idea of self supporting a Porsche factory built race car, and i have seen it done.
Reminds me of when I used to self support my D.E car.
I used to work like a dog onloading and off loading the trailer.
Tire changes. Brake changes. Refueling etc.
I can imagine a Cup being a larger work load.
Running a race car now, I cant imagine trying to self support it between all the trucking, trailering, wrenching, refueling, drivers meetings, pit stops, driving etc.
For D.E perhaps.
My hats off to those that do.
Reminds me of when I used to self support my D.E car.
I used to work like a dog onloading and off loading the trailer.
Tire changes. Brake changes. Refueling etc.
I can imagine a Cup being a larger work load.
Running a race car now, I cant imagine trying to self support it between all the trucking, trailering, wrenching, refueling, drivers meetings, pit stops, driving etc.
For D.E perhaps.
My hats off to those that do.
#41
When I lost an axle, it broke on the part which goes through the upright / bearing, just inside the wheel mounting stub axle. Result was the rear wheel coming off which did about $10,000+ in damage. Apparently 3-wheeled cup cars are not the optimal design. For some reason now, axles scare me.....
#42
I self support my 996 cup since I bought it in 2009, and go with 4 or 5 other friends who self support their spb's, 944 spec. I think the 944 guys work on their cars at the track more than I work on mine (at the track). I do prep it well to avoid any issues I can, and I truly enjoy working on the car. I think if you're mechanically inclined and enjoy doing it, you can self support just fine.
I certainly wouldn't discount the value of a good shop supporting your car, though. These are complex, setup critical cars that really do benefit from careful attention and fettling; an area where any self supporter may fall short due to lack of time. Also, I have been lucky to have good shops behind me for the things I can't do or figure out, like Autometrics, Zotz, and CPT.
I certainly wouldn't discount the value of a good shop supporting your car, though. These are complex, setup critical cars that really do benefit from careful attention and fettling; an area where any self supporter may fall short due to lack of time. Also, I have been lucky to have good shops behind me for the things I can't do or figure out, like Autometrics, Zotz, and CPT.
#43
Rennlist Member
It's one thing to be intimately familiar with your racecar but it's a different thing to do everything yourself.
There's a definite limit to your time at each event. At any given point you can only do so much as driver, engineer or mechanic. I didn't have a proper mechanic in my early days and each time i tested the cup I was distracted with temps, pressures, heat cycles, warning lights and what not. It got to a point where I could clearly tell my problem: I could not, and should not be engineer mechanic AND driver at the same time.
If budget allows, I would strongly recommend sharing the resources of a crew with your buddies. It allows you to focus on driving and learning
There's a definite limit to your time at each event. At any given point you can only do so much as driver, engineer or mechanic. I didn't have a proper mechanic in my early days and each time i tested the cup I was distracted with temps, pressures, heat cycles, warning lights and what not. It got to a point where I could clearly tell my problem: I could not, and should not be engineer mechanic AND driver at the same time.
If budget allows, I would strongly recommend sharing the resources of a crew with your buddies. It allows you to focus on driving and learning
#44
Rennlist Member
if I didnt have shop support probably would have missed 25% of race time for various reasons cant say enough about shop support. Autometrics or Zotz are great
#45
Thanks for all the info guys. I am in search of car at the moment. Had a GT4 track prepped, but seller has now backed out of deal. Looking for a great car, if possible on the west coast. Have some track time under my belt and would love to get some more starting next month. Ideally I am entering some races by the summer. If anyone knows of some cars for sale, I would be interested. Please message me and I can respond. Back to reading this entire thread. Have a great weekend!