By David S. Wallens
Feb 2, 2022
The Nonnamaker family–longtime GRM partners–has been racing for some 50 years.
The team’s current ChampCar Porsche effort showcases why they keep coming back for more.
(Also, watch the whole video because Will Nonnamaker shares a strong life lesson at the end.)
2/3/22 1:52 p.m.
I love crapcan endurance racing. It's the few times a year a bunch of my buddies and family get together from geographically separated areas to hang out, go racing, have a few brews, and catch up. We operate on a small budget, use junkyard engines, and rockauto parts to keep this thing together.
2/4/22 10:30 a.m.
It's getting nearly impossible to find rides in crapcan racing anymore. Seems like seven or eight people looking for a seat, and one team looking for a driver.
2/4/22 11:14 a.m.
It's because racing isn't about cheap old cars anymore. Not when entry fee is $2000 or more Consumables & other expenses add another $3-4-5000 and a $7000 car probably isn't competitive.
Recent fresh rebuilds are becoming more the norm then engines out of the junkyard. Yearly expenses rival a serious SCCA National runoff race.
That's fine. But suddenly it's serious, no longer just fun. Putting goofy themes on the car isn't a very good disguise for the budget involved either.
I have to say GRM's $2000 challenge is the best racing for the buck. I just wish there was a way to have wheel to wheel racing too.
2/4/22 2:37 p.m.
That's the true spirit that attracted me to it. In their defense the early rules were written exactly that way. Luckily there are still people who still do it that way.
I'm now past the point where I can count on focusing for hours with the intensity racing demands.
I wonder if they would ever consider the same principles for short sprint races that don't use so much consumables and wear on the car. Maybe as an opening event? A short 20 minute "race" where a guy could dip his toe in the water so to speak or demonstrate his car's potential to entrants/ drivers?
2/5/22 10:55 a.m.
I would have to disagree with that. I have been running lemons for 12 years now, and am literally working for them this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park (I'm on break at this moment). There are plenty of low budget cars here, and we have a ton of fun. Finding a seat is getting a little more difficult, but you can certainly find one if you look hard enough. Yes there are fast cars here, yes the budget tends to be higher than it was 12 years ago. However, it's still relatively affordable as wheel-to-weel racing goes and it's an absolute blast.
2/5/22 11:02 a.m.
I want to see endurance electric car racing.
2/5/22 11:36 a.m.
Man. I have not had the same experience as the guys above. Is it really hard to find a seat in a budget Enduro?
I built a cheap old car which cost $4700 to get to it's first race. Yeah we weren't fighting for the win, but to say we couldn't compete would be inaccurate.
Expenses are split 4 ways, entry fees are $1200-1400... Nissan quest engine from a junkyard... By 3rd race we achieved 2nd in class in a very close battle.
What you guys are saying is history is alive and well in Lucky Dog Racing League.
2/6/22 4:10 a.m.
Yes it still can be done cheaper than Running SCCA /club racing for example when you consider it on a track time base. But on an absolute lowest cost SCCA/club type is still cheaper. Endurance racing consume sets of tires brake pads, etc. per weekend. While with SCCA you are racing for 20-30 minutes at a time a couple of sessions per day. Your tires, Brakes consumables can last the season not a 1/2 a weekend.
OK that's rough and dirty. Exceptions, exceptions exceptions. Fair enough?
The real attraction is the ease for newbies to go racing at Endurance events compared to SCCA /club sprint events.
Not only does the endurance events have arrive and drive deals. They generally are led by guys with previous knowledge and most likely the mechanical ability to put a successful (finishing) car on the grid.
Here are other advantages to club racing over endurance. New/newish cars, promotional opportunities like factory sponsorship. Marketing.
Faster speeds with 5-600 horsepower as compared to 200ish horsepower?
Also the simplicity of one driver presumably with more experience . Starting with 2 drivers schools, regional racing, Then National racing, before the National runoffs.
As you can tell I has the knowledge and experience to be successful. What I lack anymore is the ability to run at the limit for hours. Age will do that. But I still can run for 20 minutes or so.
Not just old Geezers like me who want one more race in the sun. But also rich kids who daddy's money keeps out the rif - raf. ( except for the handful of Back markers and old Geezers)
That's SCCA's weakness. It started as a rich boys hobby and wants to remain there. They are completely happy with the Rif-Raf putting silly themes on or running old cars.
2/6/22 4:25 a.m.
Finding that cheap old non worn out car, is the first task. Then to pay for all the required safety stuff is the least expensive way to go endurance racing.
That counts on luck. And as every gambler knows sooner or later your luck runs out.
The winners know the way to win is never count on luck. Have fresh parts every time you go racing. With systems simplified so repairs take an absolute minimum of time.
None of that is cheap but winning attracts those with money. I doubt many ( if any ) are making a living off of putting together a team. No the money is going to the organizers. But I'm sure even they are primarily doing it because they like it.
2/6/22 4:27 a.m.
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