Carl Fausett

I'd like to gauge interest in a Rent-a-Racer concept: we have the wicked idea here to build a rentable 928 racer. We would supply the race car and the crew to Road America, Blackhawk Farms, or the Autobahn (Joliet Illinois) for a given race weekend. The car will likely feature a built NA motor, and be around 450 HP. It will be equipped with many of our 928 suspension, braking, and engine bits. If you have never raced a 928 but always wanted to, or wish you had a 928 race car but cant afford to own one, this might be a nice way to get you in the seat for a weekend. A NASA Instructor would also be available if requested.

I'm trying to gauge interest in this concept before I go all nuts starting down this road...

Any interest?

Wisconsin Joe

What kind of cost?
What kind of schedule?

I'm up near Appleton, and I'd definitely be interested. I could probably pull a few friends in too (wouldn't have to pull to hard).

I have zero track experience.

DKWalser

Carl -- That's a very cool idea. In addition, it would be nice to have such a car available at DE events around the country. Then, the drivers of those other Porsche's could see what they've been missing.

I don't know that what you propose could be done at a price that would be attractive. Ignoring such practicalities, the concept is very cool.

Carl Fausett

Yes, I think its best use would be DE days and HPDE events. Then an instructor could ride along.

At this time, we are only thinking of offering Road America and the Autobahn in Joliet IL as venues. If I start transporting it much further the costs go up a great deal. I am 1 hour from RA and 5 hours from the Autobahn, so those tows I can handle on a budget pretty easily.

That said, that doesn't mean for X dollars I couldn't be encouraged to bring it to Mid-Ohio, Gateway, etc....

Carl Fausett

As to price, when I rented a seat in a BMW race car I paid $1500 a day, and that included the entry for the car into that vent. This would be similar. I've looked around and that seems to be about the going rate to rent a seat in a racer. Way cheaper than building or even just owning/maintaining one.

Speedtoys

I would love to see you enter the 25hr, and..well..survive it.

Bigfoot928

a local place tried that until an instructor who was in the passenger seat lost his life..... ask the people that tried that how it worked out.... after they lost everything in bankruptcy court.... the insurance could easily run 2K per day...

Speedtoys

SG:

How many race cars have you rented out?

Insurance is not a big thing for this.

James Bailey

Great idea Carl....Go for it !!!

Carl Fausett

I was at Watkins Glenn with my son in May 2014, I was Austin's instructor and we were driving his BMW Z4M when a student with instructor went out for his last check-off to get his wheel-to-wheel competition license. It was a 911, race prepped with a complete roll cage. The driver had been through all the steps HPDE 1 through 4. But he lifted in the corner, lost the squat, and pushed straight into a cement barrier.

I was about 100 yards away when I heard the impact. The crash folded the car so badly that they had to cut the roll cage to get the guys out. I felt horrible for the instructor. These guys are largely unpaid. When I instruct at an event, NASA gives me $150 off my race registration - that's what we get. It isn't much.

Carl Fausett

I wonder if any of you will remember our Sept 21st 2006 event. We rented the whole north section of the Autobahn race course in Joiliet IL for our customers for the day.

We said "Bring out your 928 and drive it as fast as you want around the race course" (it was brand new then) and we even brought in some instructors. 928 Motorsports paid for the whole thing - you could drive for free. Mark Anderson, Myself, and Phil Kalameros all instructed. Phil and I brought our race cars and we gave rides in them. Tim Murphy trailered in one of his supercharged cars.

Everybody had a blast - some guys ran a whole tank of gas through their 928 , left, got gas, came back and did more laps!

It cost me $3600 to rent the race track for that day, and that included the ambulance and the corner workers and the insurance. But like I said, The Autobahn was new and they were giving discounts to get people to come out. You can't go near it for that price anymore.

I have often thought how damn lucky I was I never hit anything while I had a passenger in the race car, and that no-one got hurt.

Here are a few pics

Carl Fausett

I don't mean to post all doom and gloom - obviously (as our 2006 track day shows) it is possible to have a great event and enjoy the 928's wonderful capabilities safely.

So if this idea of renting a 928 for an occasional DE or an HPDE (High Performance Drivers Ed) appeals to you, let me know.

If your interest is wheel-to-wheel racing, this will not likely be your way to go. At that level, you should own and maintain your own car.

toofast928

I like the idea and would rent for a day.

Speedtoys

I would do, for sure, if Norcal...not saying "do it" just..if..I would.

Lets talk 25hr.

Carl Fausett

Things changed this weekend. I destroyed my motor by making a bad decision to drive it back to the pits rather than wait to be flat-towed.

This is what I posted on FB:
So... rather than building a rent-a-racer, I think what is more likely to happen is I will build a strong naturally-aspirated motor for this car, and we will use it.