[Steve91T]

And I don't think it's going to be in an F-body.

I've got a 97 SS with tons of mods. It's an absolute blast on the track, but rather expensive. Tires, brakes, fuel, and not to mention opti sparks (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . I love HPDE's, and I still have tons to learn, but I am dreaming of wheel to wheel racing. I've been doing HPDE's on and off for 12 years now, and I'm very comfortable in the experienced groups.

I've been thinking for years about Spec E30. It seems to be in my price range, but the cars, to me, are boring. I know everyone raves about how much fun the series is, but it doesn't excite me.

Spec Miata is another boring car, just more expensive.

FFR challenge would be fun, but out of my price range.

I've lately been thinking about Legends cars. Either that or the Thunder Roadsters. I've heard they are a blast to drive, relatively inexpensive to maintain, and if you crash, it's a lot easier to fix than an old street car. I live in VA, as you guys know, Charlotte, only 3 hrs away, is home to racing. The legends cars were born here, and has the largest turnout. Seems like you can get a legends car for less than $10K used. That's more or less the cost of a Spec E30.

I also know they can and do race them on road courses. I'm not sure what I think of the small circle tracks, but I'm sure they'd be fun.

Anyway, what do you guys think?

This is something I'm looking at doing in about 2 years. I'm going to be heading to pilot training for the Air National Guard sometime early next year, but after that, I'll have some free time again. It'll give me time to save up the money.

Thanks guys,
Steve

[Steve91T]

Wow, I just found out that TR's never really took off. They only race them at a couple of different tracks. And I know that Legends cars are mostly circle track, which would be fun, but I'd rather do road racing.

I might have to look further into Spec E30. It's just that I've been for a ride in several, and while anything on the race track is fun, it just seems like the car is boring.

I know Alan said some good things about them, but could you guys see yourselves racing them? I also don't know anything about SSM, it's something I think I'll look into.

I just really like the idea of a purpose built race car. Like someone said, if you crash it, you unbolt the damaged parts, and bolt new ones on. They are made for this.

I am mechanically inclined, but I can't weld. Someday I want to learn, but it's going to have to wait.


One thing that I did notice is the Legends cars are racing all over the place, all the time. Of course this is circle track stuff, but it's racing.

What do you guys think about circle track racing? Have any of you done it? I remember when I was a teenager, my dad used to bring me and my brother to the Legends car races at Charlotte during the 90's. They were a lot of fun to watch, and I'm sure even more fun to race.

[Xscream]

Wow, I just found out that TR's never really took off. They only race them at a couple of different tracks. And I know that Legends cars are mostly circle track, which would be fun, but I'd rather do road racing.

One thing that I did notice is the Legends cars are racing all over the place, all the time. Of course this is circle track stuff, but it's racing.

What do you guys think about circle track racing? Have any of you done it? I remember when I was a teenager, my dad used to bring me and my brother to the Legends car races at Charlotte during the 90's. They were a lot of fun to watch, and I'm sure even more fun to race.

I raced Legends for three years in the mid-west. You assumption is right, they are primary used for circle track but there are a lot of people that do run them on the road course. The Thunder Roasters were interesting and thought they would have been better received. There are two areas of these cars I am concerned about, engines and tires (what a shock, hu?).

In road racing and even the longer circle track races, the FJ motors just don't hold together well. 600 racing several years ago developed a water cooled head for the Thunder Roasters in an attempt to help the temp/engine life issue. It was assumed they would be allowed in Legends but that never happened. Before there were two engine programs, sealed and open motors. The sealed motors now can only be rebuilt by US Legends Cars. While you can still run a unsealed 1216 motor and have it re-built by anyone, engines are harder and harder to find, the prices are going up (when I started a rebuild was 1k, I've been hearing 3-4k for a freshen up now) and if you do well at a national event, it will be coming apart.

The tire rule favors those who shave tires down, run them for one race and have them destroyed. The series states once two consecutive wear bars are shown, the tires are destroyed - but they were legal in the event. Guys are literally putting tires on every night. I ran 16 races on my right sides before I replaced them in 2005. I don't think this is prevalent everywhere, but be aware, at a competitive track or national event, this will happen.

If you were going to go circle track racing again, the expense of the car, parts, and tires is almost identical to a big 8 car. Gas is the only expense that is greater. Granted, if you buy a big 8 car, you can't switch it from road course to circle track at will. They were a blast to drive, but parts have gotten a lot more expensive and motors are no longer cheap - that's why I got into them.

This post has been edited by Xscream: Sep 19 2011, 02:40 PM

[Steve91T]

Wow, I just found out that TR's never really took off. They only race them at a couple of different tracks. And I know that Legends cars are mostly circle track, which would be fun, but I'd rather do road racing.

One thing that I did notice is the Legends cars are racing all over the place, all the time. Of course this is circle track stuff, but it's racing.

What do you guys think about circle track racing? Have any of you done it? I remember when I was a teenager, my dad used to bring me and my brother to the Legends car races at Charlotte during the 90's. They were a lot of fun to watch, and I'm sure even more fun to race.

I raced Legends for three years in the mid-west. You assumption is right, they are primary used for circle track but there are a lot of people that do run them on the road course. The Thunder Roasters were interesting and thought they would have been better received. There are two areas of these cars I am concerned about, engines and tires (what a shock, hu?).

In road racing and even the longer circle track races, the FJ motors just don't hold together well. 600 racing several years ago developed a water cooled head for the Thunder Roasters in an attempt to help the temp/engine life issue. It was assumed they would be allowed in Legends but that never happened. Before there were two engine programs, sealed and open motors. The sealed motors now can only be rebuilt by US Legends Cars. While you can still run a unsealed 1216 motor and have it re-built by anyone, engines are harder and harder to find, the prices are going up (when I started a rebuild was 1k, I've been hearing 3-4k for a freshen up now) and if you do well at a national event, it will be coming apart.

The tire rule favors those who shave tires down, run them for one race and have them destroyed. The series states once two consecutive wear bars are shown, the tires are destroyed - but they were legal in the event. Guys are literally putting tires on every night. I ran 16 races on my right sides before I replaced them in 2005. I don't think this is prevalent everywhere, but be aware, at a competitive track or national event, this will happen.

If you were going to go circle track racing again, the expense of the car, parts, and tires is almost identical to a big 8 car. Gas is the only expense that is greater. Granted, if you buy a big 8 car, you can't switch it from road course to circle track at will. They were a blast to drive, but parts have gotten a lot more expensive and motors are no longer cheap - that's why I got into them.

Wow, well that's some great info. I really appreciate your thoughts. Disappointing though. Maybe I'll just race radio controlled cars (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'm still going to look into CMC or AI cars, although I feel they are still going to be too expensive for me. Spec E30 is huge out here, and I'll look into SSM. As much as I can't stand the sounds that Miata's make, I bet they would be fun to race.

What other spec style racing have people on here done?

[Steve91T]

Wow, I just found out that TR's never really took off. They only race them at a couple of different tracks. And I know that Legends cars are mostly circle track, which would be fun, but I'd rather do road racing.

One thing that I did notice is the Legends cars are racing all over the place, all the time. Of course this is circle track stuff, but it's racing.

What do you guys think about circle track racing? Have any of you done it? I remember when I was a teenager, my dad used to bring me and my brother to the Legends car races at Charlotte during the 90's. They were a lot of fun to watch, and I'm sure even more fun to race.

I raced Legends for three years in the mid-west. You assumption is right, they are primary used for circle track but there are a lot of people that do run them on the road course. The Thunder Roasters were interesting and thought they would have been better received. There are two areas of these cars I am concerned about, engines and tires (what a shock, hu?).

In road racing and even the longer circle track races, the FJ motors just don't hold together well. 600 racing several years ago developed a water cooled head for the Thunder Roasters in an attempt to help the temp/engine life issue. It was assumed they would be allowed in Legends but that never happened. Before there were two engine programs, sealed and open motors. The sealed motors now can only be rebuilt by US Legends Cars. While you can still run a unsealed 1216 motor and have it re-built by anyone, engines are harder and harder to find, the prices are going up (when I started a rebuild was 1k, I've been hearing 3-4k for a freshen up now) and if you do well at a national event, it will be coming apart.

The tire rule favors those who shave tires down, run them for one race and have them destroyed. The series states once two consecutive wear bars are shown, the tires are destroyed - but they were legal in the event. Guys are literally putting tires on every night. I ran 16 races on my right sides before I replaced them in 2005. I don't think this is prevalent everywhere, but be aware, at a competitive track or national event, this will happen.

If you were going to go circle track racing again, the expense of the car, parts, and tires is almost identical to a big 8 car. Gas is the only expense that is greater. Granted, if you buy a big 8 car, you can't switch it from road course to circle track at will. They were a blast to drive, but parts have gotten a lot more expensive and motors are no longer cheap - that's why I got into them.

Wow, well that's some great info. I really appreciate your thoughts. Disappointing though. Maybe I'll just race radio controlled cars (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'm still going to look into CMC or AI cars, although I feel they are still going to be too expensive for me. Spec E30 is huge out here, and I'll look into SSM. As much as I can't stand the sounds that Miata's make, I bet they would be fun to race.

What other spec style racing have people on here done?

Check out this video I found. I was just at VIR, and this little Spec E30 was roughly 6 seconds faster than in my 430 HP Camaro. Of course I'm an amateur and on street tires, and he's a pro driver. Still impressive. But what is that 3rd gen Camaro that passes down the back stretch at about the 1:45 mark? Is that a CMC or AI car? He's flying!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdoSnKdgEXk