Jas0nn

I'm starting to think about dipping my toe, err wallet, into wheel-to-wheel racing. Seems like everyone's advice is to either buy an already prepped car, or build a car to the specs of a specific class. But for this not-too-bright guy, those class specs can sometime be a little confusing. Excluding spec 944 for a moment, what kind of class would you guys suggest for someone from the northeast who wants to spend <$30k on the car itself. Club Racing? NASA? SCCA? Any and all advice is appreciated ...

At the moment, I have a 78 911 SC running a 3.4L PMO carb'd motor (crankfire ignition), big torsion bars and sways, and an RSR-look widebody. My guess is that this car would be pushed into a class (because of the changes) where it would be otherwise outgunned should my driving skills ever become somewhat competitive. But if I could simply put some money into prepping this car, that would be ideal ...

Current weight is around 2,450 pounds

gums

Do not build a car.
Buy a car.
There are lots available.
Go to the next Club Race and look around, see what appeals to you.
Do not screw up your current car and frustrate yourself.

stuttgart46

I agree with Gums.
Spec Boxster is a lot of fun for the $.
Good luck.

67King

You don't dip, you SUBMERGE. Go to the PCA website and download the rulebook. Spend some time reading over it, and it'll start to make sense. If I could go back, I'd start wiht an SP2, rather than a Turbo, FWIW.

Van

Or look for a good D or E class 911 and do PCA - great racing and you can probably get a car in your budget.

AlpharettaRK

Given your budget, which is very reasonable - you would be hard-pressed to build a competitive car in any class for that much. The worst deal on a ready-to-go racer will be far cheaper than building it yourself, as those of us who have built it themselves will attest! If for you part of the entertainment factor is working on it then build one.
And I always felt that starting out at least I wanted to crash slower, so I have stayed in and enjoyed SP2.
CHeers
Randy

J richard

^^^^
A wealth of wisdom right there
As hard as it will be to resist messing with your car resist you must....

Sean F

Sure. Just put another $100k in and you'll do just fine in the land of GT monsters. Buy a spec boxster and don't look back. There's some good racing developing in the NE in spec box.

Tim Webb

Spec Miata. Reasonably cheap. Large fields. Know quantity. Learn racecraft and momentum.

jrgordonsenior

For under $30k you can find a well prepped Spec Boxster that someone spent $45k building. They are several available out West and I'm sure in Texas. Go drive one, you won't look back. At Laguna last month a friend let his Father, who races a nicely prepped 964, take his 996 race car out for a session. The Father was blown away how well the car handled and felt. He has now put his 964 on the market and is building a 996 race car. As I said, go drive a Spec Box or 996 race car. You won't be disappointed....

tonypai

Figure out what organization you want to run, PCA, NASA, SCCA. Take a look at their classes and see what type of car will fit where. Cup Car can run PCA and in NASA GTS series. Spec Miata can run NASA and SCCA but not PCA.

Good luck!

FrankyV

To confirm what the others have said here, buy don't build. Someone recently offered me a D class 911 ready to go with a PCA logbook for $15k.

Frank 993 C4S

Don't build Spec Boxsters are very good value for the money.

Steward B.

A good E class 911 sold this spring in Minnesota for $16k. The seller simply wanted to get it out of his garage because he had moved on to his next hobby. The buyer is VERY happy with the car.
Having built two race cars from street cars (I'm apparently a slow learner), I can tell you that buying someone else's car, which they have poured money into, is a much better plan
Find a good 911 E class PCA car.

Gary R.

Or he can spend $50K and convert it back to D!