Should have done this
01-01-2011, 08:41 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
12-13 mpg is good. I think the new EgoBoost F150 claims higher numbers. The new Ford diesel does well according to forum posts. I'm debating a new hauler. Hard to see the sense in $65K for an F250 if the justification is 30% better fuel efficiency.
Where you're at -- with an open aluminum trailer and a (relatively) cheap pickup -- is the sweet spot. Just stay there. Even if you can't resist the madness and get a Cup or (as I advise, a GTL) it's a great setup. The next is actually backwards (big, heavy rig, heavy enclosed trailer, heavy hauler tow vehicle, more expensive, more "stuff" ... not a lot more value.)
The real value is having the track car on the trailer and a box on the trailer that you know has everything you need, so a track day is as quick as hitching up and going ... no logistics hassle of searching around the house and garage trying to find things and be sure you picked up 1000lbs of stuff and junk you need at the track every time (right down to the bloody Windex that your forgot again ! or no paper towels or the charger for the bloody data acq. or the SD card or ...)
Just do a couple of your famous mod projects and you'll be set:
* winch (never know if the car will get back on the trailer by its own power and the clutch deserves better)
* aero nose cone (also serves as a stone guard for the car
* full height lock box (wheels, tools, jack,stand, pads, fluids, parts, race suit, cooler for ice for the coolshirt)
* locked fuel jug boxes (saving $3/gal adds up, not having to futz around at the pumps or have too much or too little fuel in the car for a session ... luxury)
* e-track tie-down and wheel chocks (quick, easy, secure tie-down method)
And getting a day at Laguna while the rest of us are shoveling shi ... snow ... is a one of those "reasons I put up with living in California" things ... : )
Where you're at -- with an open aluminum trailer and a (relatively) cheap pickup -- is the sweet spot. Just stay there. Even if you can't resist the madness and get a Cup or (as I advise, a GTL) it's a great setup. The next is actually backwards (big, heavy rig, heavy enclosed trailer, heavy hauler tow vehicle, more expensive, more "stuff" ... not a lot more value.)
The real value is having the track car on the trailer and a box on the trailer that you know has everything you need, so a track day is as quick as hitching up and going ... no logistics hassle of searching around the house and garage trying to find things and be sure you picked up 1000lbs of stuff and junk you need at the track every time (right down to the bloody Windex that your forgot again ! or no paper towels or the charger for the bloody data acq. or the SD card or ...)
Just do a couple of your famous mod projects and you'll be set:
* winch (never know if the car will get back on the trailer by its own power and the clutch deserves better)
* aero nose cone (also serves as a stone guard for the car
* full height lock box (wheels, tools, jack,stand, pads, fluids, parts, race suit, cooler for ice for the coolshirt)
* locked fuel jug boxes (saving $3/gal adds up, not having to futz around at the pumps or have too much or too little fuel in the car for a session ... luxury)
* e-track tie-down and wheel chocks (quick, easy, secure tie-down method)
And getting a day at Laguna while the rest of us are shoveling shi ... snow ... is a one of those "reasons I put up with living in California" things ... : )
We've got another GTL car coming out of Mat Lowrance's shop for Scott Winders. Scott left us in the mid '90s to go try and kill himself on bikes. He was only partially successful, and still has enough functioning body parts to finally go (four) wheel-to-wheel racing.
Keep shoveling! I love the studless ice/snows I got for the C4S. Looking forward to putting them to good use again on a run up in the next few days. (Though I'd likely rather shovel snow than run Laguna with any of my equipment.)
My 3/4 ton GMC with weight distributing hitch doesn't blink at my GT3 on an open trailer so I'll stick with my truck. Parking at a crowded Safeway parking lot was nasty yesterday. A dually would be much worse.....or maybe not. Just back up on top of cars in my way I suppose. 
01-01-2011, 08:53 PM
#18
Right. I had a big block (454) duallie and it was great so long as you didn't need the steering wheel. If you had to turn, it was all out of ideas. The grip on the rear axle and the wheelbase meant there was simply no such thing as a U-turn and you could "back and fill" your brains out, but the truck and trailer would just arc back and forth in the same 100 foot space.
01-01-2011, 08:59 PM
#19
I'm envious of the stacker and tried to buy one recently. A stacker and an SRD (single rear wheel) F250 with airbags seems like a great way to camp at the track.
01-01-2011, 09:04 PM
#20
I like the Michelin studless on the C4S. The 911 is so light, it somehow "swims" or does some sort of "Jesus Lizard" run across the top of deep snow. If I keep up 15-18 mph, it just keeps going (including up 16% climbs) but if I hesitate on the throttle or slow down below about 15 mph, you feel the dynamics change from "planing" to "sinking" and it's all over ... nothing but level ground or a slight downhill will turn the physics experiment equations back to "planing." And digging out a 3200lb 911 is no easier than digging out a 7000lb SUV ...
01-01-2011, 10:12 PM
#22
Rennlist Member
I tell everyone the same; Skip all the small stuff and get a 44-48' enclosed trailer and a Dually. 44' fits 2 cars so you can share diesel and hotel cost. See? Saves you $$. Right. Stackers catch to much wind and are tag..
Closed trailer keeps the car clean and no worries about theft at night at the hotel stops and or wherever you have it parked.
I have to unload because it is a work trailer and daily drive my car, but if I did not need the trailer for work and had a dedicated track car, going to the track would be as simple as hooking up the trailer and get gas..
My gooseneck trailer is 7 and a half foot tall with a pointy nose and bubble. Tows better then any tag trailer. 90MPH on cruise 7.5-10.0 MPG if I can only go 70-75.
Dodge Dually Maga cab (short bed) fits in car garage too
Awesome truck!
Closed trailer keeps the car clean and no worries about theft at night at the hotel stops and or wherever you have it parked.
I have to unload because it is a work trailer and daily drive my car, but if I did not need the trailer for work and had a dedicated track car, going to the track would be as simple as hooking up the trailer and get gas..
My gooseneck trailer is 7 and a half foot tall with a pointy nose and bubble. Tows better then any tag trailer. 90MPH on cruise 7.5-10.0 MPG if I can only go 70-75.
Dodge Dually Maga cab (short bed) fits in car garage too
Awesome truck!
01-01-2011, 10:21 PM
#24
Rennlist Member
You have to leave any tow vehicle and trailer somewhere..
I can't park it for longer then a week or so in front of my house before the neighbours start bitching but I can leave it at my business and brothers house.
I can't park it for longer then a week or so in front of my house before the neighbours start bitching but I can leave it at my business and brothers house.
01-01-2011, 10:24 PM
#25
GT3 player par excellence
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01-01-2011, 10:29 PM
#26
GT3 player par excellence
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jrg knows my parking prowess. i had to circle my box the entire parking of LS just to park it. he tried to save me a space that's big enough for 2 trailers. but i really didn't want to wreck his rig, so i found a spot big enough for 4 trailers and took me 30 min to park. so.... if you see me with trailer, get the hell out of my way. i have taken out a lot of stuff around my neighborhood.
the firestation next to my house, the guys always come out to help me park it and direct traffic, god knows they dont want me to take out the 4 fire engines ;-)
the firestation next to my house, the guys always come out to help me park it and direct traffic, god knows they dont want me to take out the 4 fire engines ;-)
01-01-2011, 10:32 PM
#28
GT3 player par excellence
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01-01-2011, 11:49 PM
#30
Nordschleife Master
I tell everyone the same; Skip all the small stuff and get a 44-48' enclosed trailer and a Dually. 44' fits 2 cars so you can share diesel and hotel cost. See? Saves you $$. Right. Stackers catch to much wind and are tag..
Closed trailer keeps the car clean and no worries about theft at night at the hotel stops and or wherever you have it parked.
I have to unload because it is a work trailer and daily drive my car, but if I did not need the trailer for work and had a dedicated track car, going to the track would be as simple as hooking up the trailer and get gas..
My gooseneck trailer is 7 and a half foot tall with a pointy nose and bubble. Tows better then any tag trailer. 90MPH on cruise 7.5-10.0 MPG if I can only go 70-75.
Dodge Dually Maga cab (short bed) fits in car garage too
Awesome truck!
Closed trailer keeps the car clean and no worries about theft at night at the hotel stops and or wherever you have it parked.
I have to unload because it is a work trailer and daily drive my car, but if I did not need the trailer for work and had a dedicated track car, going to the track would be as simple as hooking up the trailer and get gas..
My gooseneck trailer is 7 and a half foot tall with a pointy nose and bubble. Tows better then any tag trailer. 90MPH on cruise 7.5-10.0 MPG if I can only go 70-75.
Dodge Dually Maga cab (short bed) fits in car garage too
Awesome truck!
With an enclosed I could:
A) Leave the car in "there" between track events, sometimes
B) Use the trailer as an extra "indoor" parking space in winter so that I could park my dd in the garage and not have to clear the snow so much