justaguy

I did my second Ice race this past weekend and had a blast! I am thinking of building a car specifically for ice racing anyone have any advice? Any other Ice racers here?

K964

Buy one already built from a guy looking to get out or move to a different car.

justaguy

One of the guys has a Neon road race car I'm thinking about buying.$3K new engine and clutch.

white924s

what about an old B5 Audi A4? Probably not as cheap as the neon, but I doubt they're too much more expensive and quattro is great in snow/ice.

justaguy

no 4wd allowed

Kurt R

I used to ice race about 20 years ago - I got tired of laying on my back in 0 degree water changing CV joints. On the ice light is fast, a MK1 Golf is still one of the top cars. Older Honda Civic or CRX is pretty quick too. Does your group run studs or rubber to ice?

Flying Finn

Here's one advice: make sure you get the big enough spikes for your tires.
(although with spikes like these, if your car is Neon, you'll have hard time just to get going...)

DM993tt

where's the video of the race? sounds like fun

justaguy

Thanks for that. I have been looking at a jetta VR6 but I will now look into a MK1 . I can rent a neon for $300/day arrive and drive from one of the guys. But of course its an auto and slower than his car. If any one is interested in giving it a go let me know. You do need a race licence though.

justaguy

Studs are limited to 12mm protrusion by the rules but I sur like the looks of those!

tim93x

I am hooked on ice racing

one year I raced a 924 turbo ... rear wheel drive cars on the ice take a bit more "knowledge"/practice/fun to do right ... turbo kick is also not something you want

Honda civic .. vw rabbit/golf ... front wheel drive are great fun

4wd is heavy and works best if you have a bit of snow and not pure clean ice

neons work .. so do BMWs ... 924/944 ... any car that works with in the rules of the group

We have videos and Pictures on the CNYIRA web site of ice racing around Central New York and the favor lake is just a few miles from Watkins Glen :-)

the best advice on a car .. was given .. find a pre-built one ...

the rules/requirements are very dependent on the group and class your car is going to run in

the more ice racing you do, the better your summer driving will be too .. you learn a lot about car control and how to handle a bit of slip

go out and driving .. it is a lot better, then just looking/working on the car during the winter .. seat time on the ice is just as good

It is not that cold in a heated car, racing on the ice ...

Turb-OH Brad

On a low grip surface, it's less about the car than it is about the driver. That isn't to say that you shouldn't prepare your car to the extent of the rules, but a well driven under prepared car will beat out a poorly driven but perfectly prepared car, every time.

The first nut you tighten is the one behind the wheel.

IcemanG17

this sounds like fun.......reminds me of a little "rally" driving a friend and I did in high school...

I had a 1987 "Handling by Lotus" Isuzu Imark...my friend had a 1978 Rabbit automatic.....on the street the I mark flat killed the Rabbit...not even close....

However the dirt was DIFFERENT.....in the dirt the imark was nearly uncontrollable....it would understeer horribly, than snap into oversteer that was very difficult to catch.....the rabbit was sublime in comparison....it was near neutral and very "tossable" on the dirt.... I would imagine ice is similar....

justaguy

Had another great weekend on the ICE

Van

I'd like to try that someday. Looks like fun!