If you buy a Cup Car then you would just be another Cup Car driver....nothing interesting in that, anybody with a checkbook can be a Cup Car driver.

If you carry out that logic to its logical end the answer is a Formula Ford (same lap times as 996 cup car) or a Formula Atlantic (15 seconds a lap faster at WGI). Used FF - $10-20K with a full set of spares. Upkeep is very inexpensive.

so, clearly we are not driven by 'logic'....:)

you've come this far...12" wheelbase stretch!

:roflmao:

I know a few people with cup cars and the 30 hours maintenance is highly overrated. I haven't heard of anyone doing it in the more grassroots series. But yes, the 997's with seq boxes increase the maintenance costs a lot.
In Europe the Cup cars are running on regular fuel, seems odd that you run on race fuel in the US given the engine is very close to the street engine.

So yes, to run the Cup cars in official race trim and recommended maintenance it's very costly. But I think it's safe to say that it is not necessary for the average joe the same way as I don't send my Öhlins shocks for a yearly $800 service, run race fuel in my car or buy $3k worth of new slicks for each event. Would be nice though :)

Concerning the fuel: I think they have 98 pump gas in Europe. In California it's only 91. And it burns more like 89. If that's the case, they the Cup engines could easily be tuned for that. Makes sense.

Tires: If you're not running a new set of Michelin's each weekend, you're not ever going to win a race. Not in the classes I race in. Not unless the top 10 cars crash or blow up.

With respect to service times: I know quite a few people that have paid a big price for not sticking to the service schedule. And I know quite a few people that have not and have gotten away with it. But for those who didn't get lucky .... not good $$$

I'm sitting in Vision Motorsports as I write this and there are a stack of Cup engines getting serviced in the engine room. Glad none of them are mine :-)

On the other side of the equation... the reason I'm at Vision Motorsports now is because the GM engine shop (RPM Motors) pulled the pan to service the main and rod bearings after 2 1/2 seasons of track time. So since they are pulling the oil pan, I took the oil pan to Vision to get a couple of bungs welded in it.

Anyway... the GM engine shop called and said there's no need to replace the main or rod bearings.. The rod and main bearings look brand new. They told me not to replace them. So with that, and the leak down between 1%-3%, the only thing to replace are the valve springs.

That would never be the case with a Cup motor with that kind of time on it.

Total service cost after 2 1/2 seasons of racing: <$750 ish

TonyG

No... but I seriously thought about shortening the torque tube, cutting the firewall, and moving the engine back another 6".

The only reason I didn't is because there are some classes where the firewall can't be altered.

TonyG

Keep going along that path to Super Kart. Wish I'd just started and stayed with these!

Exactly.

The only problem is that it's open wheel.

TonyG

98(RON), which is pretty much 93(AKI) here in the U.S.

You guys don't have Chevron 94 in California? Just 91???

For the most part... it's 91. And it's a special blend unique to California.

It is horrible.

FYI.... There's no way you're going to be running a 2014 Cup Car on pump gas. It's got 12.9:1 compression ratio.

TonyG

Well.. per Porsche... at least for the 2013 model (in fact for every 997 model I can find that info on....), it's setup from the factory to unleaded 98 octane.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...,d.cGE&cad=rja

TonyG

6 years from last tuesday :D

2265lbs dry without driver.

200lbs more on the front axle than the rear. And that ratio will change once there are fluids in the car. Especially fuel.

TonyG

How much do you allow for fluids? That's very light with all the additions you've made.