Just attended chump car at road Atlanta and thinking about getting involved In a year or two. Anybody here involved in it?

 

I've got a Corrado I run with a couple of 944 guys, we did Nelsons in 2011 and are registered for VIR 2012, and likely Nelsons again 2012 if our car survives. We are targeting the 24hr events. It is absolutely nuts and we loved it.

 

our team is out of it now but we did three years with the Dragon. Did you see a white 944 there running? I helped that team out with some engine assembly and parts.

 

Our car...

 

Yes I did see a white one. Is there a list of cars that we are allowed to choose from or is it not that organized?

 

928dreamer, basically any car you want, as long as it's Average Internet Value is $500 or less. Lot's of info on the Chump website. Great fun for comparitively little $.

 

The car you decide to enter is supposed to have a "craigslist" value, not to exceed $500. You are required to provide comparables. Cars with higher values will be penalized laps, but not in a very meaningful way. We had a value of $900 and recieved a 4 lap penalty. Download the rules and read up. We were running with a wild variety, from Neons and CRXs to 5 series BMWs and RX7s.

Don't get too hung up on the value part. Build a safe, reliable junker and come out and run it until it falls apart.

 

@ 944fest
Sounds like u did pretty good with only 4 laps. Still trying to decide what car to buy and build but thanks for the comment.
Options:
Fiero
Integra
Mr2
Mazda pickup (b2200)
Rx7

Opinions?

 

We ran a beater 944 in the inaugural event in Portland. Unfortunately one of our drivers stuff the right side pretty hard and we ended up scrapping it, despite finishing the race, as the right side was trashed. Considering I have purchased 3 for $500, I know the 944 is still legit.

I need to go run another of these events sometime... have run a few so far but currently don't have a compliant car or a ride. Good times though!

 

Schwank -
Where are you from? Any ideas or tips how to save money or get safety equipment?

 

Dreamer, read up, grassroots motorsports is a mag that carries articles on Chump Car builds. There are forums where team owners rent out cars, or teams who need another driver can have someone buy in. A safe starting point is 5 guys all chip in 1k$ apiece. Depending on your resources, a cage will cost from 800 (DIY) to 2500 done, driving suits and helmets are close to 1k$ a guy. entry fees are close to 1k$ per car. . Really, it can be done cheaply by guys who have suits and helmets, but can get spendy to do right. Some guys spend 1k for a radio system, others just chat on their iPhones. Figure 5k$ bare min, 10$k to do right. It is tough to make a pickup handle well, plan to get a lot of weight to the rear. I don't know much about rotary reliability. of your list I'd be MR2 in a heartbeat.

http://forum.chumpcar.com/

I have run with all the cars you mention. Integras do well but are a little more $$$ (higher AIV) than the others. The fiero and Mr2 are well represented, the fieros seem to fail mechanically while the Mr2s are serious threats, like the miatas.

 

Yup, just dropped new rod bearings in "Car 54 Where Are You" 944 today. Car is running at Eagles Canyon in a few weeks.

Around here, the car of choice somehow appears to be an e36 3 series, lol. Not sure how that is a 500 car, but there will always be cars that push the limit. Last year at Hallett, there was an RX7 with an LS1 in it......they got 7 penalty laps, lol.

 

Wow, we got 4 laps at VIR for being $25-30 over AIV. Not very consistent

 

This pricing can get you a turn key 944 spec car. A car that following the race will still have value and not be a junker. I think the $500 idea is fine, but it really costs a heck of alot more the $500 to build a race car.

 

Yea, really nothign cheap about chump car. Sure, the initial buy of the car, and that is where it ends. It does give you an opportunity to go out and do some endurance racing with a team of guys, versus just going out and running 20 min solo races in PCA or something. The other thing is that you need to either be in a group of guys who are willing to pay a mechanic to work on the car, or a team that all the members can work on the car and put in equal time and effort. It doesn't work to have a mix of both.