Challenge tips

New guy here, very interested in competing in a 20xx chalenge. The problem I have is I'm not sure what would be best for a first timer.

Something I build up ( seen a few cheap Fox bodies around) something odd and fun ( saw a Hillman minx for sale along with a mercedes 560sel cheap) or just something reliable with a manual that I can kick hard in the daddybags.

Any tips?

Of those, I like the merc. If it runs alright then bring as is. I say that having never been to the challenge and planning to go this year with a built rx7.

1 tip, have fun. Seriously. Challenge was ruled this year by about 6 cars making up an arbitrary class to itself. I imagine it will happen again.

2 judges seem to like weird E36 M3 and brilliant engineering. I believe concours was won once by a dodge aries with washing machine flares. It has also been won, or at least placed extremely well by....something that was once a Volkswagen beetle, something else that was once a beetle, a camaro painted like gran turismo, a zamboni and a turbo jeep cherokee. The same jeep crushed autox.

3...seriously, just have fun. If my erstwhile 2012 car wont make it, my 2016 entry, and my first challenge car will go to- a 400$ corolla wagon i use as my dd that i bought from another forum member. Sure, theres competition. A lot. Andy nelson, pat, the hongs, they're geniuses. But, they're fun.

Bring something that runs, ask questions lots of questions, have fun, and don't worry about coming in last.

Make a "race" car out of something that shouldn't be a race car. Miata, 3 series, Camaro, mustang, civics just get boring to see after awhile.

Fun is the only reason I'm doing it, I guess I should have added that to my original post. Not being last would be great lol but its not really a concern

As long as your car runs you won't be last. Best thing you can do is take whatever vehicle you plan to compete with to a few local autocrosses and 1/4 mile test-n-tune nights (before the Challenge). You get a little experience with the car and ensure that everything works.

I'd suggest working on a car that you like. It's a lot easier to put a lot of time and energy into a project where you actually like the car vs. one that's just a car.

And you WILL be sacrificing other things when you do this. BTDT.

If I were to do it again, I'm pretty sure it would be another Alfa. Maybe a Miata. Not many other cars I like enough to make the sacrifice it takes to build it.

Just buy something last minute and build it in the parking lot. That's the easy path to challenge success. I suggest a fiero or a mark 8.

pimpm3 wrote: Just buy something last minute and build it in the parking lot. That's the easy path to challenge success. I suggest a fiero or a mark 8.

Even better if you can sell it for a profit when you are done. Done right, a fly-race-drive home could make some good money. Fun vacation that way.

finish your work with enough time to test things in advance of the event. also, take something that'll make it through the entire deal without breaking. i lost an oil pan gasket on my first and only drag run and had to shut it down. had i spent $20 and changed the questionable gasket before i put the questionable engine into the car. had i not popped the gasket, i'd have been able to make 10+ runs and keep tuning my carb, and have no doubt that once i got dialed in i could have got it fueled close enough to crack open the bottle and knock enough off my ET to get a top 4 drag time. for a first timer i'd honestly take something that needs nothing or just cosmetics the first year just to experience it. some people are content doing this every year and going for the experience(see the aristocrats) and some people are in a pursuit to get a high finish and build something from the ground up.

now i'm in the neverending pursuit of going faster and wishing i had time to dial things in before the event. i literally drove the car around the block 2 times before loading it on the trailer and heading to florida.

I seriously considered buying something down there actually

My hail damaged, 25 year old, nearly stock car with a 4 cam, 300 hp V8 with only 68k miles finished one place higher than Pat's cooler but untested V8 Z car.

I put on 2,500 miles around town before driving it 1,000 miles to the event and 1,000 miles home.

Antihero wrote: I seriously considered buying something down there actually

This has beena formula for several. Given the concentration pf grm members in the area, and rust free pickings, its not a bad plan.

JohnRW1621 wrote: My hail damaged, 25 year old, nearly stock car with a 4 cam, 300 hp V8 with only 68k miles finished one place higher than Pat's cooler but untested V8 Z car. I put on 2,500 miles around town before driving it 1,000 miles to the event and 1,000 miles home.

I personally feel a Q45 could easily be a top 5 car with the least amount of work. Add 100 shot of nitrous, stiffer lower springs, Hoosiers instead of street tires, and actually remove weight from the car. Don't be shocked when you see a NASCAR themed Q45 at the challenge.

My list of bad ideas is large.

pimpm3 wrote: Just buy something last minute and build it in the parking lot. That's the easy path to challenge success. I suggest a fiero or a mark 8.

Maybe a mark 8 definitely not a fiero.

Andy Neuman wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: My hail damaged, 25 year old, nearly stock car with a 4 cam, 300 hp V8 with only 68k miles finished one place higher than Pat's cooler but untested V8 Z car. I put on 2,500 miles around town before driving it 1,000 miles to the event and 1,000 miles home.

I personally feel a Q45 could easily be a top 5 car with the least amount of work. Add 100 shot of nitrous, stiffer lower springs, Hoosiers instead of street tires, and actually remove weight from the car. Don't be shocked when you see a NASCAR themed Q45 at the challenge.

This I want to see!

The easy answer is the Answer (Miata to the rest of the world). Fastest autocross time last year, second and third overall. Pretty easy to build and very fun to drive.

In reply to Andy Neuman:

I support your ideas in any way I can!

I have said that I was the highest placing finisher at stock ride height.

I wanted to do more what you did with the Stripper Lexus but upon seeing the Q45 in person, after buying it sight unseen, I couldn't bear to tear into it.
I had a nitrous opportunity but couldn't aquire it cheap enough to fit in budget considering that I focused my budget to reliability and was not willing to sell off interior.

It has crossed my mind to return with a third completely different Q45 starting with a rougher example and focus more on function!

My advice would be buy something you like, in decent shape and make it fun. Worry about fast, nice and even faster later. Get down there, check it out, steal ideas from others and have a good time. Use all those great ideas and all of the ideas you came up with on your own to make the car competitive the next year. But definitely go with something you like.

A couple years ago, I almost bought a Miata to challenge for all of the reasons stated above...easy to make fast, handle, huge aftermarket, etc. But, I don't like them. I couldn't see myself staying motivated to put the hours in on a car that I really wasn't that into.

Hope to see you in Gainesville in the fall! Keep us posted on your progress.

If you intend to keep it after the challenge, build it with whatever you plan to do to it afterwards in mind. The only challenge car I had that stuck around long after the event was turned into a rallycross car

eastsidemav wrote: If you intend to keep it after the challenge, build it with whatever you plan to do to it afterwards in mind. The only challenge car I had that stuck around long after the event was turned into a rallycross car

so true. that's kept me from building a couple off the wall things that would be useless afterward.

Gah....missed a dodge omni glh for $1050

Finally, a thread about just the tips.

Last year was my first and I wish I had put less effort into the car for the first year. I didn't finish until late and my test and tune was hitting a cloverleaf near my house. That said I was happy with my 21st place finish. This year I plan on working a lot less but with last year's experience hopefully also do a lot better.