PRO Class Challenge cars

I'll second what Pat said. This year we had plans to bring two cars. The Q45 did well last year so we're​ just addressing some of its shortcomings. We also planned on a Ranger with a Cadillac 472. We sat down and figured a budget on the truck. It came to $1960 before we turned a wrench. We decided that was a lot of risk to maybe end up not meeting budget. We scraped that build.

I see sub $2000 cars all the time that with just a little work would place top 20. Problem is people want to build the winner first time. It's hard to get to top 10 much less make the podium on your first time out. Just my 2 cents.

In reply to Stampie:

Well that certainly makes me feel better! LOL. I finished in the top 20 last year.... well I finished 20th at least. With a car that I built with essentially no technical skills and my only tools being pretty much a bent Phillips head screwdriver and half a pair of pliers 4 about $900.

But you know what? I had a blast and I'm coming back this year. And I will avenge my loss to Stampy in our personal challenge I will Echo the sentiment of Pat and Stampy. Don't try to out-think yourself and build a winner the first time you try. Build something you enjoy and go have a good time. It's a lot better than fantasizing on the board and never showing up with anything. Just the experience and fun and camaraderie of the event is worth more than getting on the podium. Not that I'll ever know anything about getting on the podium LOL.

wvumtnbkr,I musta got excited your right.

I am no stranger to racing on a budget,one whole season if I didn't finish 10th or better I didn't earn enough money to come back the next week, and when I finally won the Championship race I was Outed For an illegal distrubetor(that Hurt) I once said Racin' Ain't Fun, Racin' is Work, Winning is Fun. and some got on me for that but it's how I feel. Now I am Going to show with Jeremy's Fiero and it should be "fun" But you can't win without a lot of work.

Now about that Frame..... PS I got a real JOB ,Might even get ahead enough to actually afford to do this.

From what I understand Jeremy's Fiero parking lot build will be a real contender for someone who knows what they're doing and isn't limiting themself to building a car in 24 Sleepless hours. sounds like a winner

I am currently in the "Bought then Rebuilt" realm of hot Challenger/Hot Rod/Toy.

I've got a former SCCA ASedan car that was converted to the older NASA CMC2 ruleset (if it were running it would be giving up enough torque to be rolling chicane at best.

My intent is to put it on a very healthy diet, replace the short block with a used runner, install a new cam and tune the carb. I will be selling some unnecessary components to offset the budget and I expect a grand total near $1750 on the OE wheels.

The car will be used as a repeat Challenge car for the next three to four years. It will also pull duty at autocrosses, rallycrosses and the drag strip because I want to. It's MY toy, I'm going to play with it!

I'm certain I can spend more on it. But I'm not rushing out to do it!

I have made 7 trips to the challenge. I have never made a top flight car, 6th being my highest placement. It is a blast even in something that is not crazy performance wise. This year I am bringing two cars, one that will be created in the parking lot and one that will be finished in advance. Either car will not run in the top 10 but i will have a great time with both.

The fiero will make a great challenger with a little work.

6th in a car built in the parking lot in less than 24 hours is pretty damn Top Flite in my book.

Looking back on my first event last year I enjoyed Thursday night wandering the parking lot is probably the most fun. Second would be Saturday night by the pool swapping lies.

For those that don't want to make the time or financial commitment to build a car, I would certainly recommend just coming to spectate and be a part of the event. It is a very unique Motor Sports Experience

Ovid_and_Flem wrote: Looking back on my first event last year I enjoyed Thursday night wandering the parking lot is probably the most fun. Second would be Saturday night by the pool swapping lies. For those that don't want to make the time or financial commitment to build a car, I would certainly recommend just coming to spectate and be a part of the event. It is a very unique Motor Sports Experience

So many people AT THE CHALLENGE have missed out on the poolside bench race.

It is by far the best part.

In reply to QuasiMofo:

Right. Plus, you never know WHO might show up!

SVreX wrote: In reply to QuasiMofo: Right. Plus, you never know WHO might show up!

Like a big mofo. Or me. I'm not a big mofo. I am just a big berkeleyer

GTXVette wrote: Maybe I should Say I am Sorry But I won't. I also won't Spend 2--3 Grand On a Car that Can Only Be Used ONCE A YEAR. No I Can't Afford That, No My Mind Is Not Wired Like That.

A couple years ago, I abandoned my plans for my Challenge build, for these reasons. I had bought a FIAT X1/9 from this forum, and was going to stuff a sport-bike engine in its butt. I realized pretty quickly that I was in over my head. And even if I COULD have pulled it off, I couldn't justify the time, effort, and $$$ for a Challenge Only toy.

Then I remembered I had another car in the shop that was purchased here for $2000, and the deal included enough spares that I could easily hit the recoup limit.

Plus, I could run it as-is in SCCA Improved Touring, and have a fun little auto-x car as well.

As a Challenge car, it would be painfully slow at the strip, but could possibly do quite well in the auto-x. And with some time and effort, could be made to look a bit prettier for the concourse.

Options are out there for Challenge money, that won't limit you to just that event.

Unfortunately for me, my schedule means I will probably never make the Challenge.

""

Since the Fiero has been brought up I have to share the selfie I took with it a couple of months back. It was amazing visiting pimpm3's junkyard and skunkworks all in one day.

Just got home from work, wow, I forgot it could be allright, but 10 Hr.Days are long and you only got to do it 4 times a week,so the week is half over.If it Hadn't been for Leslie I would never have thought about doing Factory work but last year he took me up to Briggs and Stratton In Wisconson, and I have never meet a Happier bunch of People, So Thanks Les. Hey jeremy checks almost in the Mail,They hold back a week.Lol

GTXVette wrote: Just got home from work, wow, I forgot it could be allright, but 10 Hr.Days are long and you only got to do it 4 times a week,so the week is half over.If it Hadn't been for Leslie I would never have thought about doing Factory work but last year he took me up to Briggs and Stratton In Wisconson, and I have never meet a Happier bunch of People, So Thanks Les. Hey jeremy checks almost in the Mail,They hold back a week.Lol

Denso saved my life.

In reply to QuasiMofo: That is a heck of a statement, This place builds things like liquid oxygen containers down to portable oxygen pumps for seniors, Damn My feet hurt!