NASA TT, kit cars?

Reading through the rules, it states already unclassed kit cars/purpose built race cars will default to TTU until individually reviewed by the NASA TT director.

I'm strongly considering building an Exocet next winter and I'd eventually like to get in to TT. Obviously it would get murdered in the higher unlimited classes until reclassified lower. I figure even a well built, NA NB1 engine with driver is going to put the car around 10:1 lb:HP ratio.

Thoughts?

Being competitive wouldn't necessarily be necessary, but getting slaughtered is never any fun either.

build what you want, drive what you want. Look at "competition" as a chance to drive it in anger, but to do so in a place where you're not endangering others. Whether or not you get a plastic trophy is irrelevant.

(Says someone who was never into sports and competition, anyway. YMMV.)

HPDE's are also a chance to drive in anger, which I do participate in.

I really want an Exocet for the "Fun" of it, open cockpit, better weight:power ratio and the ability to use big crazy wings for fun.

Just curious if anyone had any insight on it's ability to be competitive as well.

Exocars is creating a 'race' version for a possible spec class. I imagine once the final formula is out NASA will have a better idea where to place the car in TT.

He said he didn't want to get slaughtered, so he is halfway I think.

I always build a car to the rulebook/class. Something as stupid as an extra weld somewhere can knock you out of a class into something uncompetitive. Getting passed all day on track and losing every competition would get old to me real fast (unless it was my driving holding me back, not the car).

Yeah, I did some more research last night. If I want a car to use for HPDE and TT, the best thing to do would be not to build an Exocet, and build the Miata for TTE/D/C..........the $8k the Exocet race kit would cost would essentially take care of my build for any of those classes I think.

Where as the $8k for the kit would leave me in TTU unless I could a reclassification and I'd still need lots of power and HUGE aero to have a shot at being competitive.

Looks like I may have just killed my idea to build an Exocet.

My thoughts:

Don't put the cart before the horse. You have to go through the HPDE levels to get licensed etc before you can even run TT/PTE etc. You need to consider the costs at that point of entry fees, tires, travel etc not just the car build how realistic is that going to be

If guys can run v8 and turbo miatas in TT why can't you in one of the power/weight classes?

I expect once Exocets start showing up more frequently more people are going to build them. I don't mind being a pioneer on that front. My guess is when I let the TTE/PTE guys drive my eventual Exocet at a Miata Challenge event there will be some guys who will think it is a lot more fun

If you read the rules, an Exocet gets sent to TTU........the land of Unlimited GT-Rs and such. You have to actually show up and compete for the NASA TT Director to CONSIDER a reclassification, and that may or may not happen.

I'm not worried about entry fees and such. But again, a ridiculous Exocet build in TTU is going to need to run 275/35/15 Hoo-Hoos, with lots of boost and aero to even think about possibly being competitive.

Essentially what I was saying with my last post, is that instead of spending $25k on TT build that will likely put me in class I can't be competitive in (not that I could afford a $25k build anyway), I think I'd rather take the money for an Exocet kit and build a competitive TTE/TTD/TTC Miata and enjoy a reliable and relatively cheap to HPDE and TT car.

Instead of a monster of a car that is going to cost so much to run I wouldn't be able to afford to nearly as much. Again, not like I have the cash for that kind of build anyway.

If something dramatic changed in money situation, or if I did TT in a Miata and decided I didn't like it, or care about being competitive. A ridiculous Exocet build could still happen in the future.

I've still got to get a trailer and a tow rig as well.