[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]

Maybe I came across to be more aggressive with prepping the car while it's still a street car than I really am. First of all, while it is still a street car, I hardly drive it. Mostly because I've been chasing that damn coolant leak lately, but also because it's just my weekend, good weather toy. I haven't had a radio in the car for a year now. But because it's not a dedicated track car yet, there's no reason to yank it off the street.
I'm not going to go crazy on it. I'll probably gut the interior from the front seats back, and start working on some things that aren't going to make a difference for the street. Like a lot of those little brackets and stuff. I know I can't do them all, but when I have an afternoon with nothing to do, I'll find something to remove.

Another big thing is the engine and rear end. I need to sell my 396 (anyone interested?) and get a stock LT1 (anyone got one?) As much as I'm going to miss my lump idle and my 380 ft/lbs of tq from 2200 RPM, I need to learn to drive with a stock engine. I figure when I pull the engine, I can also remove the AC and relocate the battery. I'll leave the ABS and airbags in tact, and wait on the cage.

I would like to get Alan's CF roof to replace my T-tops. (maybe early next year)
Hood pins,
Trunk pin
Remove fog lights
any brackets that I don't need
Remove the insulation out of the carpet that I'm keeping
Now that I'm thinking of it, maybe I'll relocate the battery sooner than later.

I still feel like there's a lot of little things I can do. Stuff that adds up the cost and time. Might as well get some of that stuff out of the way.

Does this make more sense? There's a couple of threads on here from '05 from guys lighting their street cars. Of course they went further than I'd go, but it'll give me an idea of what I can and can't remove.

[Blainefab]

I would like to get Alan's CF roof to replace my T-tops. (maybe early next year)

I've got a query in to Al Fernandez re legality of my carbon roof panel for CMC. By the rule below it looks legal to me, but Al has the last word. Haven't got a response yet, he's been busy.

4.11 Convertible/T-top Cars
Convertible/T-top cars in the eligible models and years are allowed. Convertible cars must have an additional
support bar in the roof of the roll cage running either running from front to back located in the centerline of the
car, or diagonally from the front driver side to rear passenger side. This bar is not required but strongly
recommended for T top cars. Convertible/T-top cars must use driver arm restraints as required by the CCR
unless permanently fixed roof panels have been installed. Convertible cars must run with the top down during
competition and provide suitable means of securing the top in the event of a rollover, or may remove the top
and operating mechanism. T-top cars must remove the T-tops during competition unless permanently fixed
panels have been installed. All OEM structural additions for convertible/T-top cars must remain in place. Hard
top cars may not be made into convertible or T-top cars.

[Steve91T]

I would like to get Alan's CF roof to replace my T-tops. (maybe early next year)

I've got a query in to Al Fernandez re legality of my carbon roof panel for CMC. By the rule below it looks legal to me, but Al has the last word. Haven't got a response yet, he's been busy.

4.11 Convertible/T-top Cars
Convertible/T-top cars in the eligible models and years are allowed. Convertible cars must have an additional
support bar in the roof of the roll cage running either running from front to back located in the centerline of the
car, or diagonally from the front driver side to rear passenger side. This bar is not required but strongly
recommended for T top cars. Convertible/T-top cars must use driver arm restraints as required by the CCR
unless permanently fixed roof panels have been installed. Convertible cars must run with the top down during
competition and provide suitable means of securing the top in the event of a rollover, or may remove the top
and operating mechanism. T-top cars must remove the T-tops during competition unless permanently fixed
panels have been installed. All OEM structural additions for convertible/T-top cars must remain in place. Hard
top cars may not be made into convertible or T-top cars.

The way I read it is as long as you you don't cut out the center, the bar that goes from front to rear, it shouldn't be a problem. I appreciate you checking though. If it's legal, I'll probably place the order after the holidays are over.

This post has been edited by Steve91T: Nov 16 2011, 09:13 PM

[Blainefab]

I would like to get Alan's CF roof to replace my T-tops. (maybe early next year)

I've got a query in to Al Fernandez re legality of my carbon roof panel for CMC. By the rule below it looks legal to me, but Al has the last word. Haven't got a response yet, he's been busy.

4.11 Convertible/T-top Cars
Convertible/T-top cars in the eligible models and years are allowed. Convertible cars must have an additional
support bar in the roof of the roll cage running either running from front to back located in the centerline of the
car, or diagonally from the front driver side to rear passenger side. This bar is not required but strongly
recommended for T top cars. Convertible/T-top cars must use driver arm restraints as required by the CCR
unless permanently fixed roof panels have been installed. Convertible cars must run with the top down during
competition and provide suitable means of securing the top in the event of a rollover, or may remove the top
and operating mechanism. T-top cars must remove the T-tops during competition unless permanently fixed
panels have been installed. All OEM structural additions for convertible/T-top cars must remain in place. Hard
top cars may not be made into convertible or T-top cars.

The way I read it is as long as you you don't cut out the center, the bar that goes from front to rear, it shouldn't be a problem. I appreciate you checking though. If it's legal, I'll probably place the order after the holidays are over.

Al has confirmed that the BlaineFab carbon fiber roof panel is legal for CMC as a replacement for the glass Ttop panels. Also, the aluminum filler plates that I make to fill the holes are legal for CMC. These 2 parts together will provide protection for hands if the car tips over, restore the OEM aerodynamics, and add back in a bit of the rigidity lost with the Ttop vs the hardtop. Weight and CG are not significantly different than a hardtop car.

Cost wise, the Blainefab parts are a lot less expensive than buying a new hardtop roof, cutting it up and glueing it on, but if you have a junk hardtop car and the tools and time to cut the roof off that may be a less expensive solution.

This post has been edited by Blainefab: Dec 6 2011, 11:16 PM

[Steve91T]

I would like to get Alan's CF roof to replace my T-tops. (maybe early next year)

I've got a query in to Al Fernandez re legality of my carbon roof panel for CMC. By the rule below it looks legal to me, but Al has the last word. Haven't got a response yet, he's been busy.

4.11 Convertible/T-top Cars
Convertible/T-top cars in the eligible models and years are allowed. Convertible cars must have an additional
support bar in the roof of the roll cage running either running from front to back located in the centerline of the
car, or diagonally from the front driver side to rear passenger side. This bar is not required but strongly
recommended for T top cars. Convertible/T-top cars must use driver arm restraints as required by the CCR
unless permanently fixed roof panels have been installed. Convertible cars must run with the top down during
competition and provide suitable means of securing the top in the event of a rollover, or may remove the top
and operating mechanism. T-top cars must remove the T-tops during competition unless permanently fixed
panels have been installed. All OEM structural additions for convertible/T-top cars must remain in place. Hard
top cars may not be made into convertible or T-top cars.

The way I read it is as long as you you don't cut out the center, the bar that goes from front to rear, it shouldn't be a problem. I appreciate you checking though. If it's legal, I'll probably place the order after the holidays are over.

Al has confirmed that the BlaineFab carbon fiber roof panel is legal for CMC as a replacement for the glass Ttop panels. Also, the aluminum filler plates that I make to fill the holes are legal for CMC. These 2 parts together will provide protection for hands if the car tips over, restore the OEM aerodynamics, and add back in a bit of the rigidity lost with the Ttop vs the hardtop. Weight and CG are not significantly different than a hardtop car.

Cost wise, the Blainefab parts are a lot less expensive than buying a new hardtop roof, cutting it up and glueing it on, but if you have a junk hardtop car and the tools and time to cut the roof off that may be a less expensive solution.

Thanks for the update. I'll probably get your top next year sometime.