[test driver]

mopar358, on 30 October 2011 - 05:41 AM, said:

My post is to all but Tony Ave specifically, For Australia the GT2 class with the Camaro and Mustang body with a control engine ( probably the CT525 LS3 based engine) seems to have potential.. The sport sedan class is populated by incredibly beautifully engineered cars with Tony Ave built Mustang typical of the competitive cars. The class is long running but not well enough supported to have mainstream support. The diversity in the field from Audis, Alfa Romeos, Opel Calibra Aston Martin and Jaguar all powered by 6 Litre engines primarily Chev with a couple of Dodge R5P7s and C and D Fords provides an exciting spectacle but not close racing. Tony mentioned using a GT2 chassis and tyres at $600.00 (what tyres and what size) I feel that a single design Chassis with a choice of two body styles with a control engine, gearbox(Tex 101a) and a common rearend either a Cambered 9 inch or Quickchange, would be a great development class for the V8 supercar class at a fraction of the cost of the undersubscribed Porsche Carrera Cup. Making the car Fast, reliable and easy to engineer and repair. What are the disadvantages of the Late model based chassis with a Panhard bar over the more typical Transam Watts linkage. They both use a three link rear end ?? and as Tony said can be purchased for sub 30K. Please discuss.

We are currently refining the TA2 class rules to be pretty much essentially what you are describing. In our case over here, it is a Howe (probably) center section ASA type chassis with most of the parts spec'd out, with price limits on things like calipers, shocks, rotors, etc. The engine rules allow a few different things, but most popular has been the LS1 ASA engines, making about 500 HP (or so). Since the LS1 is no longer in production, a LS3 version is being considered. I have built a couple of these from older ASA cars ( actually just sort of gone through them to be honest) and they are quite fun to drive, an excellent alternative to racing a full on Trans Am car if you don't have the budget. Right now there is a very cool looking Camaro body available, and we hope to have a Mustang and Challenger version out by 2013. As to the tires, they are a 15 inch bias ply, and only 600 per set.

Now, the used cars out there run about 25K or so, but as I understand it Bob Stretch and Greg Rodgers are offering brand new turn key cars for 80 to 85K.

Let me add I think all of this is a great idea, and I have some good friends who run them. But, if you are not willing to do whatever it takes, your going to lose whether driving a 10,000 car or a 300,000 car. That means putting racing first, ahead of weddings, graduations, family gatherings/vacations, and, especially, common sense.

Tony

[test driver]

Just an update regarding an older post/idea about how 'cheaper/spec' engines would "save" GT1 racing. In Central America we used to have over a dozen cars competing, now for 2011 they instituted a 'spec' engine built by Phil Harper, or at least gave it such a weight advantage it is the only competitve option. The series now has 4 cars running.....

Tony

[rydermike]

The TA2/ASA style cars may in fact be found as low as $15,000 for an older one I recently bought one by Howe specifically made for roadracing (GTA Chassis #37) with only 17 races in it's logbook , came with a ton of spares . they guy was really motivated and I got it as well as the parts for $12K , now the car has been parked since 2006 so we need to go thru it , and the motor only had one race , complete with dyno sheets and all. And tires being the #2 expense after engines in many classes are $160 each (430 compound 10/27-15) Just check out racing junk and you would be quite suprides how many are out there , with early 2000's being very reasonable cost wise. Howe can sell you a complete race ready Camaro for 67-85,000 depending on options you choose.