Bought a track car! Woot!
Thread Starter
!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,133
Likes: 2
From: Miami
Bought a track car! Woot! After the sale of my SS, about a year ago, I thought it would be great to get into sanctioned events and off the street for my car thrills. My best friend and I began discussing purchasing a track car together, as we've both become road race aficionados after having gone to race school.
Initially, we put a deposit on a horribly maintained track prep 944 and backed out on the sale (luckily so). I then tried turning another horribly maintained '88 5.0 Stang into a trackable car- lost cause and I sold it. Both of the above were spur of the moment decisions which cost me a pretty penny for not doing proper due diligance beforehand.
So, over the course of the year, we've searched, looked at cars, decided which platform to commit to (an LS1 F-bod was in the running until 3 days ago), but this nice, pristine car had caught our eye a few months ago, and it looked like if we didn't act on it, it would be sold out from under us. The roll cage was a work of art, and it was pretty much ready for track lapping. Turn-key is a great way to go. So we pulled the trigger today and we now own this nice 944 (not an LS1, but, heck, I'm back in the game).
Initially, we put a deposit on a horribly maintained track prep 944 and backed out on the sale (luckily so). I then tried turning another horribly maintained '88 5.0 Stang into a trackable car- lost cause and I sold it. Both of the above were spur of the moment decisions which cost me a pretty penny for not doing proper due diligance beforehand.
So, over the course of the year, we've searched, looked at cars, decided which platform to commit to (an LS1 F-bod was in the running until 3 days ago), but this nice, pristine car had caught our eye a few months ago, and it looked like if we didn't act on it, it would be sold out from under us. The roll cage was a work of art, and it was pretty much ready for track lapping. Turn-key is a great way to go. So we pulled the trigger today and we now own this nice 944 (not an LS1, but, heck, I'm back in the game).
Thread Starter
!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,133
Likes: 2
From: Miami
Originally Posted by Rescue Ranger
sweet man. those are one of my absolute favorite cars. where did you go to racing school? I'm thinking of going to skip barber this summer for the 1/2 week course.
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awesome, how did u come to be involved in road racing? Just signed up for certain events? This summer I'm picking up a Miata to use up at Limerock (i live close by) and keep the z28 for my street car.. im just tryin to meet as many people as possible who are involved
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!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,133
Likes: 2
From: Miami
I got into it last year, as I needed to find an outlet for my speed addiction (streetracing came to an end with the birth of my son). I started watching lots of Grand Am races and Speeed World Challenge races, and my bud convinced me to join him at Skip.
I was going to track the SS, but it would have still been my street car. This did not solve my inability to keep from streetracing, so the SS had to go.
I got a stealthy Saab 9-2x (rebadged WRX wagon) to keep a low profile on the street.
It's obviously much slower than the SS, but it handles and brakes very well, and the AWD is very predictable. This car is seeing some track time in March at Homestead, but I vowed to my wife that I wouldn't spend a lot of money again on a street car anytime soon, so all it has is Hawk HP Plus pads, some Motul and S.S. brake lines, along with a slightly larger rear sway bar with some poly bushings in the stock end links.
So, over the past year, since Skip, my bud and I have attended a few R.R. events, looked around, asked a lot of questions, have made friends with people who race cars, and we ended up deciding to purchase a track specific car, with the intent of only lapping for 2006 via www.chinmotorsports.com schedule, then, we'd look into campaigning the car in 2007 in some sort of series.
We thought about continuing with Skip's lapping days, but at about a grand each session, and the ever looming $4K crash deductable, we decided a purchase of a car would make more sense.
So, long story short, we bought this car.
I was going to track the SS, but it would have still been my street car. This did not solve my inability to keep from streetracing, so the SS had to go.
I got a stealthy Saab 9-2x (rebadged WRX wagon) to keep a low profile on the street.
It's obviously much slower than the SS, but it handles and brakes very well, and the AWD is very predictable. This car is seeing some track time in March at Homestead, but I vowed to my wife that I wouldn't spend a lot of money again on a street car anytime soon, so all it has is Hawk HP Plus pads, some Motul and S.S. brake lines, along with a slightly larger rear sway bar with some poly bushings in the stock end links.
So, over the past year, since Skip, my bud and I have attended a few R.R. events, looked around, asked a lot of questions, have made friends with people who race cars, and we ended up deciding to purchase a track specific car, with the intent of only lapping for 2006 via www.chinmotorsports.com schedule, then, we'd look into campaigning the car in 2007 in some sort of series.
We thought about continuing with Skip's lapping days, but at about a grand each session, and the ever looming $4K crash deductable, we decided a purchase of a car would make more sense.
So, long story short, we bought this car.
Thread Starter
!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,133
Likes: 2
From: Miami
BTW, a Miata makes a lot of sense as a platform to get into. We couldn't pull the trigger on a few nice SPEC cars we saw a few months ago.
Last edited by SouthFL.02.SS; Feb 26, 2006 at 02:55 PM.
Thread Starter
!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Miami
Originally Posted by mitchntx
Should have checked out NASA and their Camaro/Mustang Challenge.
I built a '96 Firebird for about $7000 and ran it all year last year on 2 sets of brake pads and 6 tires.
I built a '96 Firebird for about $7000 and ran it all year last year on 2 sets of brake pads and 6 tires.
We'll probably do this next year: http://44cupflorida.com/
Thread Starter
!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,133
Likes: 2
From: Miami
Originally Posted by triumphman
Congrats, nice find, a very clean car with super craftsmanship.should be a fun summer!!
I rode in on last year and was fun. 
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 408
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From: Mechanicsville, Va
This is what I want to do. I had a 89 mustang gt that I autocross and wanted to make into a open track car. But with a high milage car I had to replace almost everything so I decided to sell it. I just picked up my new car yesterday a 1995 firebird formula its a lt1 6speed. Will this car be a good dd and open track car. And what else do I have to do make it more track ready? I dont mean to steal the tread just trying to get some more info.
Thanks Brandon
Thanks Brandon
Thread Starter
!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,133
Likes: 2
From: Miami
^ Call Sam Strano at www.stranoparts.com and tell him what you have in mind (tell him Carlos from ls1tech sent you his way). He'll consult with you as to what to do for brakes, suspension and tire. Cooling items will help too. Make a spreadsheet or list of all your priority items (he'll help you prioritize what's needed), then start checking things off.
Also, if you're going to see a lot of track time, a roll cage is not a bad idea, as well as a seat and harness.
To paraphrase Mr. Strano, he prioritized items for my potential F-bod project in this order:
1. Shocks- Koni SA
2. Sway Bars- I'da bought his hollow sway bars
3. Springs- Hotchkis 525 front/140 rear
4. Pan Hard Bar- UMI Performance
5. LCA's- For streetable, go with Poly/Sherical Rod end combo - UMI
6. Tq. Arm- Tranny mounted (SLP is not bad).
Brakes
For track duty: HAWK HT-10 front/ HP Plus Rear
For streetable track duty: HAWK HP Plus all around
Get some Motul brake fluid or any other high performance fluid, along with some Stainless Steel brake lines for pedal feel/response.
He sells most of the above items, so it's a great way to both get tech advice and all your parts in one place.
Also, if you're going to see a lot of track time, a roll cage is not a bad idea, as well as a seat and harness.
To paraphrase Mr. Strano, he prioritized items for my potential F-bod project in this order:
1. Shocks- Koni SA
2. Sway Bars- I'da bought his hollow sway bars
3. Springs- Hotchkis 525 front/140 rear
4. Pan Hard Bar- UMI Performance
5. LCA's- For streetable, go with Poly/Sherical Rod end combo - UMI
6. Tq. Arm- Tranny mounted (SLP is not bad).
Brakes
For track duty: HAWK HT-10 front/ HP Plus Rear
For streetable track duty: HAWK HP Plus all around
Get some Motul brake fluid or any other high performance fluid, along with some Stainless Steel brake lines for pedal feel/response.
He sells most of the above items, so it's a great way to both get tech advice and all your parts in one place.
Last edited by SouthFL.02.SS; Mar 2, 2006 at 09:31 AM.
Thread Starter
!LS1 11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,133
Likes: 2
From: Miami
Originally Posted by sycotic_reject
that's a beutiful Porsche you got there, I'm wanting to get into that kind of action once i have free money aka no tickets! lol
Originally Posted by Killer_Bluebird
That is a sweet car. Congrats! I rode in on last year and was fun.
It looks like we're going to concentrate on doing NASA HPDE events at Summit Point for the rest of 2006.