kedwards

I think you will have a little extra body work to do each week, but if that's OK...

BTW, my father-in-law is the car owner of a 1st gen. Integra that races in Maine. I don't think they have a claim rule, but I think his purchase price (nearly race-ready) was under $300, not that that helps you...

Honda318dx

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kedwards &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think you will have a little extra body work to do each week, but if that's OK...

BTW, my father-in-law is the car owner of a 1st gen. Integra that races in Maine. I don't think they have a claim rule, but I think his purchase price (nearly race-ready) was under $300, not that that helps you...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly, its cheap! I don't mind bodywork, it often involves just a dent puller and hammer for this class

I sent an e-mail to Old Dominion Speedway big wigs, explaining how others with import cars want to get involved, but "can't" with current rules.. Any of us can find a prettymuch "free" civic/accord/integra that just needs bodywork, so who cares if its going to crinkled up anyways

Willard

7.2 Locked transaxle is not allowed. Posi-Traction Transaxle is not allowed.

8.2 A “spec” tire for the U-CAR division is in the process of being selected. Tires must be DOT approved passenger car tires with a minimum aspect ratio of “60”. Low profile or high performance tires will not be allowed. Tires may not be treated with any chemical substance. All four tires must be the same size. Tires may not be softer than “58” durometer.

9.1 Frame and suspension must be stock. No modifications are allowed.

9.2 The camber and caster adjustment plates and mechanisms must be stock.

15.3 No protests will be accepted in the UCAR division.

15.4 Race winners will start last in the next race that they compete in.

I like this group.
I just hope that the powers to be enforce the rules.

Track rat

Ya know, this thread brings the reality that a rising pro road racer has to ponder down to our level. I hate it, but it is a fact that:

Oval racing PAYS!! (granted, you might only break even at the amateur level, but it pays)

Road racing just COSTS!! (who among us has ever won enough to cover the entry fee?, forget breaking even!)

Lowes Motor Speedway is launching a 'crashcar series' for the 1/4 mile Legends oval that you could actually make money running. The rules are pretty good.

As long as I can afford to keep pissin' money away for 4-5 road races a year, I'll keep doing it 'cause I enjoy it so much, but I certainly don't blame a guy for looking at giving roundy round a shot. Good luck Corey!

Catch 22

The closest roundy track to me has a thing like this for older family 4 door cars like Caprices and such. Car has to be bone stock and run street tires, gutted with a cage, race seat, and belts. No 4 banger stuff.
But yeah, people go to watch and it pays to win. Something we road racers hardly ever see.

My vote would be for the Dodge Omni as well.

B18CXr

CJ-

let me know when your ready to make an offer, I'm sure if you take off the badge it'll pass tech

Scot

Looks like fun to me!!!!

this road course stuff is damned expensive...

+ $900 for tires that last 3 weekends until they are too slow.
+ $150 for brake pads
+ $100 for gas to tow to the track (on average)
+ $100 for gas at the track (gas is expensive these days)
+ $250 for track time
+ $100 for other **** for the car....(oil, filters, brake fluid)

=$1000 per weekend not including repairs or hotel........ all for about 2.5 hours of track time.....it is fun, but not sure $400 an hour fun.....for $400 an hour you can probably get a decent hooker.???


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So, I'm going to build a UCAR (U Can Afford Racing) for the local 3/8 mile speedway.. Problem is, what is the best car to start out with?? I went to one of these races Saturday night, and was amazed at the amount of fun you can have for a 25$ entry fee..

Help me find a good car to start out with..

Must be:
Domestic
FWD
4 Cylinder
NO DOHC and 4 Valve per cylinder heads
CHEAP!!!
Factory Camber Adjustment would be great

Most of the cars I saw were of the Escort GT Version.. Problem is that the cars seem to chew off right front tires VERY fast because they arn't allowed any suspension changes from stock..

Here are the rules for the class. I can easily build a car for under 800$ and race it every Saturday night without breaking the bank.

http://208.35.150.184/results/UCAR_Rules_Regs.htm</TD></TR></TABLE>

Honda318dx

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18CXr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">CJ-

let me know when your ready to make an offer, I'm sure if you take off the badge it'll pass tech

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Turbo, even old is a no no

I'm so excited about this, I "might" already have a sponsor that wants a car that will actually get seen by people watching.. Even Sat night events bring 1,000+ to the track

nonsense

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Oval racing PAYS!! (granted, you might only break even at the amateur level, but it pays)

Road racing just COSTS!! (who among us has ever won enough to cover the entry fee?, forget breaking even!)</TD></TR></TABLE>

I guess some people would rather pay to road race than be payed to oval race .... me included (although I can't afford to yet it still doesn't make me want to go into oval racing). I have enough no-talent morons trying to run me off the road on my way to and from work every day, I don't need to give them more of a reason to drive into me.

LBHgti

Me and a buddy just put together a dirt oval car....Factory stock class. He works for a tow yard so he gets **** cheap. Came home with an 86 Monte Carlo he got for $50, wrecked. We had some 3/16 plate so we torched the frame at the crunches and welded it back together with the plates on both sides of the frame to make it sort of straight, beat the sheetmetal sort of straight and sprayed everything $8/gallon paint from home depot. Found some good tires at the junkyard (all different sizes) for $10 each w/ rims. Fired up the ol' 305 and it ran good. We found a cage in an old wrecked up train race car, so we torched the roof off of that and torched out the cage. Torched the roof off the Monte Carlo, dropped in the cage, welded the **** out it and welded the roof back on. Stole the bilsteins off the 96 suburban tow vehicle (they actually fit), stole the gas tank out of my boat, duct taped some numbers on the side and we had ourselves a good ol' fashioned saturday night "git-r-done" racecar. All this took place 2 days before the first race. We got to the track at about 4:00pm, twisted 2 wires together and touched the 3rd one (we couldn't find a switch for the starter....or the ignition) and proceded to trade paint with 20 other cars for a respectable 4th place finish. I'm driving next weekend. Total cost of the car : less than $200, entry fee was $40. Most fun I've had in a long time.

Honda318dx

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nonsense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I guess some people would rather pay to road race than be payed to oval race .... me included (although I can't afford to yet it still doesn't make me want to go into oval racing). I have enough no-talent morons trying to run me off the road on my way to and from work every day, I don't need to give them more of a reason to drive into me. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't knock it until you try it, I once had this mentality...

Sliced Beard

My suggestion may make a few laugh but it is a VERY competitive car if worked correctly.

Get a Ford Pinto. they have factory camber adjustment and the engines can be built pretty potent. (they are essentially half what a 4.6l mustang engine is) you can get some high compression pistons and all sorts of stuff for them. I saw one down at Roebling Road last weekend pulling 1:29-1:32's

that is pretty quick if you ask me.

SoloSol

Arent pintos RWD? This is a front wheel drive series. Though your right Ive seen some really fast pintos.

Sliced Beard

doh, forgot about that.....they are RWD

oh btw Omni GLH's are only Turbo.....hence the GLH designation

it is kinda like the GST or GSX designation on the Eclipse

94accordsedan

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Scot &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">=$1000 per weekend not including repairs or hotel........ all for about 2.5 hours of track time.....it is fun, but not sure $400 an hour fun.....for $400 an hour you can probably get a decent hooker.???
</TD></TR></TABLE>

You'd probably get one with all her teeth intact, less than 10 diseases and just maybe worthwhile to look at and not a man.

Knestis

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DirtySol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...oh btw Omni GLH's are only Turbo..... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope. The GLH came out hot in the heels of the Rabbit GTI, with a 2.2 NA engine. The GLH turbo came a couple of years later, and was called, uh, the "GLH Turbo."

The biggest problem with the GLH is going to be the fact that they were carbed, and had all kinds of nasty piggybacked polution fixes on them. If it were me, I wouldn't take off even one vacuum hose without an ex-factory tech on my side - it won't ever run right again, if you do.

On the other hand, I think it had a pretty good gearbox.

K

TeamSlowdotOrg

It had a good gearbox for that motor, but then they went and put the same one next to the 2.2 turbo motor...d'oh.

I vote Omni too. The GLH would be good but they don't make much more power than the later TBI cars.

emwavey

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DirtySol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
it is kinda like the GST or GSX designation on the Eclipse </TD></TR></TABLE>

I've been thinking about what other cars would be eligible... and this just jogged my memory. In case it hasn't been mentioned Dodge offered their own version of the Eclipse, the (in quotes) "laser". I think they offered this model between 90 and 94.

Honda318dx

Only problem is....

A Omni GLH is going to be very hard to find running, as compared to a honda civic/accord, or Toyota, or nissan sentra... You can actually find those cars, still running, for like, Free...

Honda318dx

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by emwavey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I've been thinking about what other cars would be eligible... and this just jogged my memory. In case it hasn't been mentioned Dodge offered their own version of the Eclipse, the (in quotes) "laser". I think they offered this model between 90 and 94.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is what a friend of mine runs at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford VA.. You can tell its heavier then the Escort GT cars though.. It does ok, but there isn't ANY camber adjustment in that car.

One thing that would be good, a NON strut car. As you gut these cars they get VERY light, and with Strut cars, you camber turns positive as it raises up, which isn't good at all! You arn't allowed to run any camber adjustment from stock on those cars

577HondaPrelude

go to the track this weekend and see what the front runners are using for their cars?

Is this dirt track or asphalt?

Honda318dx

Paved track, 3/8m
I can't this weekend, crewing for King Rat in the 12 hour..

Mostly Escorts are the ones being run... To be honest, its actually kinda hard to tell what type of car some of these are.

vtecvoodoo

My first car was a 90 Ford Escort GT. Put about 50k on it and never had a single problem. I drove it hard, too. Like "Hey, i'm 16, I play my stereo too loud, and I am fast" hard

George Knighton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To be honest, its actually kinda hard to tell what type of car some of these are.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It does sound more like a demolition derby.

asoduk

After years of turning left as well as right, I made it to the local oval track last summer. I must say that I was impressed. On an average Saturday they get in the neighborhood of 5000 spectators: most are either drinking, smoking, or screaming for their favorite driver to pass more cars in the austrailian pursuit....
But, its really a good time. I've walked through the pits and seen the cars they run. I would be interested in the compact division, where they get about 60 cars/weekend. The car I would want to race is a NEON. There are always a ton of cavaliers and escorts, but when neons show up they are always front-runners.
The other thing I've thought about is actually putting more than a couple hundred bucks into the car. Around here, they all go for power, but with too much power the track has the right to buy your engine, or else you're DQed for the season. But why not get some better tires? They won't allow "hoosier type" tires, but how about azenis or toyo? and then...if you can weld, the whole car can be stiffened with some creative welds. we aren't allowed to make camber adjustments beyond stock except the right front wheel, so alignment won't do much good beyond that wheel.
I think this idea of low buck racing is great if you want some fender to fender action. Oh yeah...did I mention they run a figure-8 feature twice each year??? sounds like a riot to me!