Vintage Racing Set Back

Sigh, it was a bitter sweet weekend.

I was all excited and hoping a friends lift would fit my humble garage and that would allow me to get myself a 2nd GT6 and start the long road to Vintage Racing.

Sadly, my ceiling is shorter then I initially suspected.

So, I'll have to wait.

Looks like the GT6 and I will take in some AutoX fun this yr.

Gives me an excuse to spend money and have fun.

I have a nice set of 13" wheels which need some new rubber.

A.

I have two cars (MGB and race-Sprite)packed into a one-car gararge space right now, and it's no fun. I feel like I have to move everything at least twice to get around in the place.

Our solution is that we are out shopping for a bigger place. We just looked at a nice place with a 3-car garage (of course, she's already figured out that if I have 3 spaces, I'll buy 6 cars).

Hang in there....I waited 30+ years for a bigger garage and I'm still not there yet.

Anyway, you have one nice GT6. That's a lot more than a lot of folks can say!

We are not moving anytime soon.

So when I do get racing, it'll mean a big truck and enclosed trailer. Darn.

A.

My small single car garage is a real pain when working on the cars. I rent another garage nearby for the street Healey and race spares.

When not wrenching on the cars with every tool and replacement part spread across the floor it can be enjoyable. It's fine for just storing a car, any work done must be completely pre-planned.

Good luck finding a bigger place Nials, I hear it's a buyers market out there.<a href=""><a href="">

yeah, I will no longer worry about the problem till I have the cash is hand.

I figure I would rent storage too.

This summer I'm going to just enjoy the 1 car I have :)

If it is just roof above the garage you could climb up there and see if there is any room to raise the roof for a lift at all. Slim chance but who knows.

http://www.gt6.ca/08/0729/

Don't think I'd have much luck.

I won't make you guys crazy by posting a picture of my shop/barn. And it will just keep getting better as I take out the old milking stanchions and have even more room.

Andre, you hit the proverbial nail on the head ... enjoy the car you have. Your GT-6 is a beautiful car and there's plenty of time in the future for a "youngster" like you to vintage race. Besides, in a few years when all the geezers racing now get too old to race, great cars will be plentiful and cheap! He-He-He.

(Incidentally, I meant no disrespect to the geezers. I'm one. But getting old and having to sell your toys is inevitable at some point).

But I want to race with the current ranks.

Thats what makes it all so frustrating.

On a positive side, my wife and I have been meaning discussions about this.

We have been looking at houses, but nothing interests us.

So, I may simply get into a rental option for the car storage down the road.

Time will tell.

A.

Is there anything above the garage but roof joists?

It is often possible to cut out enough of the ceiling to get another car up in there. I spoke with a Corvette racer about this exact problem once about my garage. What he did was simply cut out a central opening in the ceiling, cut the joists (not all at once!) and reconfigure them in such a way he was able to create enough of an opening to get the car tall enough. Shouldn't be that hard with something the size of a GT6. IIRC this guy was some kind of engineer so it wasn't a big deal for him to redesign the joists but he said it isn't something so hard the average joe couldn't do it. Consult with someone in the building trade (architect or engineer).

Also don't be afraid to consider adding on to the front or back of the garage as another solution. Rental garages just aren't that convenient; the car you want is always a drive away and the expense of renting quickly eats up the cost of any improvements at home base.

Maybe I'll get up there this weekend. Cut a hole in the dry wall and take a peak.

I had considered the reconfiguration.

Expansion is not an option...

Wait a min...

Even if I were to cut into the cieling. I'd still be SOL.

The garage door opener and what not would have to removed or tossed out.

Hmm need to buy the neighbours house :)

Andre, I've seen garage door tracks reconfigured to go straight up to accomodate this. I'm sure somehow the opener can be worked in somehow.

Well I'll have too look this weekend.

Both the rails and the opener track would have to taken right up to 12ft just to clear the roof of the 2nd car.

If the 2x4's are in there to simply support the dry wall ceiling I might be able to remove the works and change the layout.

It will be interesting too see what they have done.

A.

12 feet? Why so high? The deck for the second car only has to be high enough to clear the bottom car. Given the height of a Triumph (which I do know... ), I can't see the total height being more than 8 feet... 9 tops.

16" for the garage door hardware. Cars are 48" at least.

Another 8-10" for the lift ramp stuff.

http://www.gt6.ca/09/0304/slides/DSCN4486.html

And that's still a tight fit.

Working on some layout ideas.

http://backyardbuddy.com/album/slides/w.pervis2_edited.jpg

A.

Andre, I don't know much about construction techniques and structural design, but from the picture of your garage I can tell its's a "hip roof" design with a cosmetic gable facing the street over the front half of your side. It's probably trusses. But regardless, it could be tricky. What are the snow loads on the roof? Would the entire car fit within the cosmetic gable? Because if you need to start cutting into the hip roof section it could get really tricky . I assume somebody else owns the other half of the structure. Are you friendly with them now? (They might not appreciate their neighbor tampering with the structural design of a shared structure). If you're serious about doing it, probably a couple calls to the local building inspector and the condo association would be prudent at this stage.

The houses are for the most part separate and its all freehold.

No point in worrying till I get some looks.

I'll cut a few small holes and stick my camera up there :)

A.

Andre, you can only work on one car at a time anyway. My garage is tight so I keep he race car on the trailer when I don't have to work on it. When I do, like this weekend when I start the engine swap/season prep, one of the other cars gets to sleep by itself.

mike

This not helping! :)

That is one thought, just park the damn thing on an open trailer and get on with it.

We'll see.

Yep... just throw a cover on it and be done... best not to get terribly emotional about it anyway...

Yeah if I'm going to park a car in the drive way its better to wait till I'm ready to race.

Damn that Group 44 GT6 looks sexy.

A.