Good starter Race Car?

tatawaki · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 10:18 AM

I'm just toying with the idea of building a race car, so I can do some amateur racing. I'm wondering which car would be a good platform to start from ( i was thinking 325)

I would be building this car over the course of a few years. my budget wouldn't be too much (about 2-3k/year +car)

suggestions/opinions?

thanks,
Jeremy

Dado · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 11:27 AM

an e30 would be your best bet.

J Clark · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 01:26 PM

if ur not set on bmw, a 240sx or miata might be worth looking into for a cheap racer.

V-Viper · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 01:31 PM

I'll say a miata. Fun little cars.

tatawaki · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 01:36 PM

I've driven miata's, they're fun yes... but I would like something with a bit more torque. I originally wanted to do a E36, however thinking of the cash flow, E30 would be better. only downside is I'll have to learn the in's and out's of a E30, as well as figure what can be done to them.

will have to figure out weak points as well...

L8APX · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 01:52 PM

125cc shifter cart.

SG_M3 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 01:53 PM

Are you wanting to race a bmw? Or any car?

A spec miata would be great, amazing racing.

czm3 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 03:30 PM

Even though the e30 is cheaper to buy, the e36 will be cheaper to maintain. Just some food for thought.

Yop · #9 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 05:04 PM

how about a 2002? would be fun, also old GTis are good

euro4life · #10 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 10:24 PM

Spec Miata or spec E30 although a Kart would be a good idea...

tatawaki · #11 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SG_M3

Are you wanting to race a bmw? Or any car?

A spec miata would be great, amazing racing.

I would prefer BMW's but am also open to other cars.

edit: maybe it's time to turn my daily driver into a weekend RACE Car...lol hmm....

SG_M3 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 08:35 AM

IMO, the e36 325 is the car to have right now. You can run JP cca, and ITS scca racing.

Jed · #13 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SG_M3

IMO, the e36 325 is the car to have right now. You can run JP cca, and ITS scca racing.

Just need to be careful how you build that 325 though if you do dual purpose. JP allows some modifications (such as camshafts) that aren't allowable in ITS.

SG_M3 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 01:34 PM

Thats why you build an ITS car, that can run in JP. All ITS cars can be run in JP, but not all JP cars can run in ITS.

Blackwidow · #15 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L8APX

125cc shifter cart.

I'm looking to get into racing too.

Do you guys think that carting is the best platform to learn on?

I'm not looking to be the next MS, I just want to have fun going fast without cops.

Carting seems like a good affordable way to start, but eventually I want to race passenger cars, do the dynamics of carts and cars differ greatly?