JP66

Just day dreaming. I have been planning to try my hand at racing next summer with Spec Miatas because I don't want to give up my DE Porsche that I can drive to and from the track meaning I don't need a trailer and a tow vehicle.

Just wondering though does anyone at all race their street legal Porsche in a PCA club race. The rules seem to imply it's possible:

Thundermoose

The major issue as I understand it is that a race car is dangerous to driver under street conditions - I.e roll cage without helmet.

HoBoJoe

Fixed it for you.

wgn

Yes, the roll cage is generally the problem and is required for PCA. It's a safety issue in a street car, not something most people want to deal with in their street cars (entry/exit is "a bit" compromised), and installing the cage destroys a lot of the street car niceties anyway.

I'm aware of one club in northern CA that allows cars in their race group with approved four point roll protection: Checkered Flag Racing. I raced with them for 2 years with a four point roll bar before admitting there was no chance my car would ever return to the street and installing a full cage. It's a small club with a great group of people; I still race with them.

Reality: if you start racing, you will quickly find that it's much more practical to have a trailer anyway (easier to haul all the crap you suddenly "need" at the track, and good insurance against breakdowns). Then you'll modify the car so that you don't want to drive it on the street. Then you'll start looking at all the weight you can save by gutting it. And the money you'll save just in maintenance and consumables with a Spec Miata vs. your Porsche will fund the trailer. Might just want to plan ahead....

sbelles

The last guy I knew that drove his car to PCA races quit about five years ago when he totaled the car.

Frank 993 C4S

I know a guy that races his street car in J and GTB1. Yes it can be done but both street and track performance are compromised.

Mahler9th

I drive my race car on the street occasionally. I simply install the headlights and change from slicks to DOT stickies.

I know one of our Spec 911 racers that until a few years ago drove his car to multiple events per year. He mounted his race rubber on a roof top carrier.

Back in the day you could do a PCA Club Race with just a roll bar in some classes. One of my friends did this in his 944 Turbo S daily driver. He was fast-- at one race he was right near a 962 (or was it a 935) on the grid.

All manner of things are possible, and can make sense under the right circumstances.

JP66

Hah, have you been talking to Simon Kirkby? That's exactly what he said

Gotta work on learning more basics this summer then take a Racing School and get licensed . . . so really plenty of time to dream about what ifs!


It is a shame though. Would be great just to show up next spring with my R, switch tires, and run around the track in the PCA Sprint as an I class. Maybe by then I can find a nice Spec Boxster to rent . . .

fbirch

I have an e36 race car that I drive to and from the track, which is only 20 min from home. It's street legal, but not a street car by any stretch. The mods that are necessary to make it legal and competitive for racing also make it highly compromised for road use.

JP66

Yeah, really the answer is to win the lottery and be able to afford a cool street DE Porsche and have enough money to buy a second Porsche for racing.

HoBoJoe

Sell the R, build a spec box, and buy a 944/986/996 for the street. I sold my 987.2 S to fund the SPB, I'll pick up another street Porsche when time (and money) allows.

JP66

Thanks! You really make me smile from ear to ear 'cuz I think WE think exactly the same way. You're like the little guy sitting on my shoulder arguing with the other guy on the opposite shoulder. (I won't say which color your wearing ), but point is there's always "more than one way to skin a cat".

EDIT: looking at your sign off makes me realize I need to start adding my info. Truthfully I can now say 99 996, 2011 997, and 2012 981 . . . so what's next . . . I do LOVE LOVE LOVE the R though, and I really do believe it will become a "classic" someday, but I'm living today . . .

garrett376

I have a street legal 02 996 that I run J-class with (and ran GTB1 a few times until I got it legal for J) and occasionally drive it to work to circulate the fluids and literally blow out the spider webs.

LuigiVampa

Just to parrot what many people here have said - it would be a compromise.

I have a 944 that was a great DE car with a half cage. I was going to race it but than bought my Cayman.

To drive around with a full cage is the biggest problem as you can kill yourself in an accident. The second issue is emissions in most regions, if you have taken the cats out and tuned your engine.

I drive my 944 around, pictured below, and get pulled over a lot - mainly out of curiosity. No tickets thus far - knock on wood!

The only time the Cayman has seen the streets is during a car show at my daughter's high school where I took "best import". My car was louder than the several muscle cars in attendance!

HoBoJoe

The little guy's sitting on my shoulder won because my wife was actually included on the pro race car side. It helps that all my track friends have a SPB, at my last DE there were enough to have a full race class.