Minimum cost of entry to start building a spec boxster...
11-02-2016, 07:55 PM
#16
Drifting
After a little less than a year in the SPB class, there are few things left unsaid that I wish someone had told me a year ago:
1- Once built, SPBs are surprisingly inexpensive to operate. But they still need tires ($1,000 per set per race weekend), pads, rotors, and fuel.
2- They are a dream to drive; beautifully balanced and tame. They rarely surprise. Great for a DE, if you don't mind getting eaten up and devoured by the expensive self-driving, nanny-minded, budget-busting super cars.
3- Driving them in a competitive manner is extremely difficult. You must be exceedingly aggressive with your braking, and exceptionally early on the throttle. In a low-power car (195 HP), first out of the turn, wins. This means from the apex out, the car must be dancing on a razor-thin edge of adhesion. You must have extraordinarily fast hands. You must, quite literally, leave NOTHING on the table, in order to be competitive. SPB is all about scrubbing as little speed as possible, carrying it through a turn, and exiting with a head of steam. This is probably not the way you are currently driving. Be prepared to spend a year or two learning the technique. And this type of driving is not for everyone.
4- SPB is THE MOST COMPETITIVE class in PCA. You can drive really, really well...and you will still finish near the back of the pack. The guys who have mastered the platform are on a different planet. Know that going in. Your ego is about to be crushed. You think you can drive? You can't drive like these guys.
5- PCA racing ain't cheap. But it's addictive. Take your budget and double it. Maybe even triple it. And that's if you don't lose it into a tire barrier.
1- Once built, SPBs are surprisingly inexpensive to operate. But they still need tires ($1,000 per set per race weekend), pads, rotors, and fuel.
2- They are a dream to drive; beautifully balanced and tame. They rarely surprise. Great for a DE, if you don't mind getting eaten up and devoured by the expensive self-driving, nanny-minded, budget-busting super cars.
3- Driving them in a competitive manner is extremely difficult. You must be exceedingly aggressive with your braking, and exceptionally early on the throttle. In a low-power car (195 HP), first out of the turn, wins. This means from the apex out, the car must be dancing on a razor-thin edge of adhesion. You must have extraordinarily fast hands. You must, quite literally, leave NOTHING on the table, in order to be competitive. SPB is all about scrubbing as little speed as possible, carrying it through a turn, and exiting with a head of steam. This is probably not the way you are currently driving. Be prepared to spend a year or two learning the technique. And this type of driving is not for everyone.
4- SPB is THE MOST COMPETITIVE class in PCA. You can drive really, really well...and you will still finish near the back of the pack. The guys who have mastered the platform are on a different planet. Know that going in. Your ego is about to be crushed. You think you can drive? You can't drive like these guys.
5- PCA racing ain't cheap. But it's addictive. Take your budget and double it. Maybe even triple it. And that's if you don't lose it into a tire barrier.
I smile when guys pass me in GT3s. I try to give early passes. Then see if I can hang with them in the turns. It's all good.
11-02-2016, 09:05 PM
#18
Pro
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
20-25k to get a "track" ready SPB, no frills though. Bare bones racer while still being safe. Outside of that the costs add up quickly as with any other builds. Buying one already close to being setup is always going to be cheaper initially
11-03-2016, 05:20 PM
#19
Rennlist Member
#3 and #4 are so true. Watch this guy set the lap record at Laguna Seca. He's on the edge of losing it at all times. I have a Spec Boxster, but I personally lack the reflexes to do what he does.
11-04-2016, 12:34 AM
#20
Great responses to my inquiry all around! Thank you for sharing your candid feedback and even the build sheet. Very helpful! I actually have been emailing Todd a bit to get a better understanding of the basic starting points for a build.
I spent the last 3 months investigating spec miata racing and everything described about that experience seems to be the same for SPB.
Agree with doubling/tripling the budget. On my E36 build, people laughed at my proposed budget saying I was spending too much. *Everything* adds up, including the small stuff. My first phase of safety equipment on the M3 was easily 40% of what they thought I should have spent max on my car. I don't regret spending that money on doing safety right when I hit a concrete wall at 63mph and walked away without a bruise.
My friends are urging me to stay with the E36 due to the 100s of hours learning to build/disassemble the car. I just like the idea of spec racing with big fields with reasonably equal cars. Needing to find that last 10th seems exciting to me and why I want to get out of just doing DEs (e.g., tired of friends in 911 turbos bragging about their times, which quite honestly, are not faster than lap records for SPB and SM cars!).
I spent the last 3 months investigating spec miata racing and everything described about that experience seems to be the same for SPB.
Agree with doubling/tripling the budget. On my E36 build, people laughed at my proposed budget saying I was spending too much. *Everything* adds up, including the small stuff. My first phase of safety equipment on the M3 was easily 40% of what they thought I should have spent max on my car. I don't regret spending that money on doing safety right when I hit a concrete wall at 63mph and walked away without a bruise.
My friends are urging me to stay with the E36 due to the 100s of hours learning to build/disassemble the car. I just like the idea of spec racing with big fields with reasonably equal cars. Needing to find that last 10th seems exciting to me and why I want to get out of just doing DEs (e.g., tired of friends in 911 turbos bragging about their times, which quite honestly, are not faster than lap records for SPB and SM cars!).
11-04-2016, 09:34 AM
#21
It's also important to see what the fields look like for SPB/SM in your area, on the east coast SPB is booming. To me big fields mean if I'm at the front (HA), middle, or back of the pack I will always have someone to race against.
11-07-2016, 04:09 PM
#22
Also... SPB are loud! Holy cow. Do you all wear hearing protection while driving?
11-07-2016, 04:15 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
I was just helping a buddy out with our Spec Miata this weekend at NJMP and there was a huge field of SPBs out. I took a look at most of them and I would say that it didn't seem like the cages would fit me any better than the Spec Miata did. Do people just not care if their helmet goes over the roll bar with hardtop?
Also... SPB are loud! Holy cow. Do you all wear hearing protection while driving?
Also... SPB are loud! Holy cow. Do you all wear hearing protection while driving?
11-07-2016, 04:23 PM
#24
I was just helping a buddy out with our Spec Miata this weekend at NJMP and there was a huge field of SPBs out. I took a look at most of them and I would say that it didn't seem like the cages would fit me any better than the Spec Miata did. Do people just not care if their helmet goes over the roll bar with hardtop?
Also... SPB are loud! Holy cow. Do you all wear hearing protection while driving?
Also... SPB are loud! Holy cow. Do you all wear hearing protection while driving?
My ears don't ring when I get out of the car, but when we come down the front straight you are well aware it's a SPB!
11-07-2016, 09:03 PM
#26
Rennlist Member
I was just helping a buddy out with our Spec Miata this weekend at NJMP and there was a huge field of SPBs out. I took a look at most of them and I would say that it didn't seem like the cages would fit me any better than the Spec Miata did. Do people just not care if their helmet goes over the roll bar with hardtop? Also... SPB are loud! Holy cow. Do you all wear hearing protection while driving?
11-08-2016, 08:27 AM
#27
Even if my car was whisper quiet (which it's not) I would wear hearing protection. One time I got caught between two GT3s going up the hill on the main straight at Road America. I'm sure I did some damage to the old cochlea that day.
11-08-2016, 01:55 PM
#28
Rennlist Member
I'd say you might have that backwards. Learn to RACE in the SPB, and DE the GT3. In this way, the DE's get you to practice going much faster, which is good, but you'll never duplicate SPB race conditions in a DE. You must get in there and learn to drive at the limit in very close company to be competitive.
11-08-2016, 02:13 PM
#29
Drifting
I'd say you might have that backwards. Learn to RACE in the SPB, and DE the GT3. In this way, the DE's get you to practice going much faster, which is good, but you'll never duplicate SPB race conditions in a DE. You must get in there and learn to drive at the limit in very close company to be competitive.
Also, did I mention I love the SPB on the track?
Jeff
11-08-2016, 03:02 PM
#30
Rennlist Member
Interesting perspective. Another reason I retired the GT3 from the track is simply too much risk. So I'll be DEing the SPB exclusively. My mentor is Bill Rudtner (I live within walking distance from his shop) so I'm pretty much using his advice to shape my driving career, whether that be DE only or eventual Club Racing (which I hope to try in the future).
Also, did I mention I love the SPB on the track?
Jeff
Also, did I mention I love the SPB on the track?
Jeff
