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Help please, I want to use a kit car for track only work.
edde - 15/8/05 at 10:22 PM

I'm hopeing somoen here can help me seems this forum bigger than any other kit car forum I've found yet.

I have a Williams Clio at the moment spec up for racing but since I'm worried about crashing into something and damaging it plus the cars expensive to insure (I'm only 22) I want to trailer it to track days least then its off the road and there no bills. However the cars way to heavy to tow behind my diesel Clio so I thourght about a kit car. Nothing realy matters realy so long as its safe no MOT or insurance etc.
However I'm unsure what to do I'm not after a nice looking car since its for track work only but it needs to be quick and light.
The only possible problem is I've got big feet so I'd need spacious pedals and I'm 6 4 but slim.

Can anyone offer me any advice or help etc. Budget constrails arn't to huge realy I'd like to pay under £5k though since I can use any extra for track days.
I know there the race series for locost but at the moment I don't think I'm at that level of skill.

Many thanks for any help.

G.Man - 15/8/05 at 10:26 PM

I am 6'5" and the MNR vort-x was the best fit for me

edde - 15/8/05 at 11:02 PM

How reliable are kit cars etc for track work and how quick are they unfortuntly the Williams is quite a fast car anyway about 16 seconds to 100 and its excells on bend it just takes forevr to do the simple things.
I'm not affraid to get my hands dirty and I cna do most stuff on a car however i don't want to be spending all my time fixing it.
I'm guessing a bite enginesd car would be my best bet since I don't need a reverse and its lighter hence quicker on bends.

alister667 - 16/8/05 at 07:03 AM

quote:
Originally posted by edde
How reliable are kit cars etc for track work and how quick are they unfortuntly the Williams is quite a fast car anyway about 16 seconds to 100 and its excells on bend it just takes forevr to do the simple things.
I'm not affraid to get my hands dirty and I cna do most stuff on a car however i don't want to be spending all my time fixing it.
I'm guessing a bite enginesd car would be my best bet since I don't need a reverse and its lighter hence quicker on bends.


No offence but a Bike engined seven is another world. I have a fairly bog standard Fireblade engined MK Indy and on my last track day but one I went past 1 Ferrari (360 Modena), 3 Porsches (inc a GT3 RS race car!), about 6 TVRs (big cerberas 5.something litre engines), Imprezas and Evos. I'd highly recommend a bike engined car as a track machine. They will go round a corner better than anything short of a single seater and will brake much later too.
A blade engine will eat up track time too without a worry, I've found mine to be very reliable, as have most blade folks I know.

All the best.

Ali

britishtrident - 16/8/05 at 08:00 AM

If you are going to tow why not buy a car that fits into a class for proper sprints & hillclimbs.
The end of every season is a good time to buy find the right car and get exactly as it finished the last meeting --- oK it wil need a winter rebuild but don't buy over the winter as many people have bought cars only to find the best bits had been swapped out by the seller.

bimbleuk - 16/8/05 at 08:58 AM

I'm 6'2" with long legs n size twelve feet. my choice was a RAW Striker as they are very compact but still have very good driver leg and feet space.

I have used the following on track,

Corolla GTi
Celica Sports M
MR2 supercharger
MR2 turbo
Elise S1
Elise S160
Striker

With proper prep they were all good on track but only the Elise and Striker were able to to stand up to a full days abuse. The Elise repair costs are fairly high so that leaves the kit car as my choice for a track day toy.

[Edited on 16/8/05 by bimbleuk]

Hellfire - 16/8/05 at 11:33 AM

I reckon a bike engined MK would be just what you're after.

Our blade engined MK was driven 50 odd miles or so to trackday and then thrashed mercilessly for a full day and driven back home again. No need for trailers

For power to weight, you'd struggle to find anything better than a BEC with a budget of 5K

Whereabouts in the country are you? If you're anywhere near MK, get yourself over one Saturday and we'll take you for a spin

[Edited on 16-8-05 by Hellfire]

Hellfire - 16/8/05 at 11:48 AM

quote:
Originally posted by snoopy
have a look at some of the videos HERE
and they may give you some idea of what they are like


Mercilessly using our site for your promotions... whatever will you think of next

edde - 17/8/05 at 05:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
If you are going to tow why not buy a car that fits into a class for proper sprints & hillclimbs.
The end of every season is a good time to buy find the right car and get exactly as it finished the last meeting --- oK it wil need a winter rebuild but don't buy over the winter as many people have bought cars only to find the best bits had been swapped out by the seller.

When is the end of the season? How much would I be looking at? Also I've seen some of the Clio race cas and there always bent on one way or another when people buy then hence why I prefere in some ways my road car converted to track use. Is this the same with kit cars?

bimbleuk
How does the elise compare to the striker I was very impressed with the one at the recient track day we were dead even on the track

Hellfire
Thanks for the offer where abouts in the UK is MK I'm from near Chester in the North west area.

Thanks for the replied though.

Hellfire - 17/8/05 at 08:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by edde

Hellfire
Thanks for the offer where abouts in the UK is MK I'm from near Chester in the North west area.


... and the problem is exactly? Only 120 miles or so... 2-3 hours tops! We won't hold your funny accent against you

edde - 17/8/05 at 08:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
quote:
Originally posted by edde

Hellfire
Thanks for the offer where abouts in the UK is MK I'm from near Chester in the North west area.


... and the problem is exactly? Only 120 miles or so... 2-3 hours tops! We won't hold your funny accent against you

Arr I've sorted out a tow car for the moment so I'm not in a rush for a new car. However a kit car is the sort of future car I should be looking for.
I'll have to do some more research on the forum and at track days as to what I'm looking for or should look out for.
Thanks for the help though.