Find Me A Track Car...

[Simon Mac]

So I'm thinking of taking the plunge and buying something that needs a trailer.

 

Options:

 

- Basic S1/S2 that's maybe a little tired around the edges, upgrading as things as I go.

- S1/S2 That's had the normal track focussed mods already done to it.

- Caterham/Westfield

- Atom (It's an itch I've wanted to scratch for years)

- Ginetta and enter a season with their turnkey GRDC package.

- Something completely different.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Zyp]

You can have my bloody Exige if you can get it to work....

[Simon Mac]

Oh what's up with it

[Zyp]

Don't know yet., but it has it's very own Chrimbo tree lights on the dash every now and then...

Central having it for a week while I'm on holiday.

 

Sorry, thread hijack!

 

Track car, eh?

From your list, an Atom would be great fun.

[quantum2000]

Caterham would get my vote 

[PeteB]

311?

[matlockscot]

A bit left field, but have a look at a Sports 2000 Duratec. I used to race them and have done a few track days and there is nothing that can touch it for lap times. Standard Ford Duratec engine lasts forever so dead cheap to run and you can buy one for less than £20k, track day it and then race it if you fancy.

[Simon Mac]

@Pete B:

 

The problem (other than the price of a 311) is that it will be too quick for me right now.

 

The Exige V6 already feels like you are cheating on Lotus track day, and I can't say I'm serious enough (yet) having done only a handful of trackdays to really feel the need for something faster. 

 

If anything I think I'd have more fun in something I felt far less precious about, especially as I concentrated on getting better lines / improving my own ability, with the inevitable cone rash that will happen along the way

 

 

@Matlockscot.

 

Does sound like a lot of fun. But ideally I would like 2 seats so I could take friends along. I'd also be worried that LoT wouldn't let me play with their "No Radicals" policy.  Certainly something to bear in mind for the future.

 

@Quantum

 

Yep it's sort of where I think I might end up. Though (and I'm sure I'll get shot for saying this) I don't like the look of the Caterhams. Maybe that's a plus though as to my eyes any cone damage would be an improvement

[DeanB]

If you are definitely trailering it and you want to play on LOT track days why not an Elise Trophy race car?

You could get plenty of tuition (I prefer to call it coaching) and if you fancy having a crack at racing all you would need is to pass your test and get a licence (dead easy).

 

 

As an aside I agree LOT might not let a sports 2000 play and if the 311 would be too quick then a sports 2000 would be also but they look fabulous! They are proper cars.

[Simon Mac]

Hmm a non road legal car Dean...

 

Something like this ?

 

http://classifieds.seloc.org/ads/elise-s1-motorsport/

 

 

On the other hand a road legal Westie for around the £10k mark leaves a lot left in the pot for actually doing the track days

 

http://forum.wscc.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic/120541-20-227bhp-zetec-westfield-seiw-2008-6500miles/

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[Simon Mac]

Have to admit this is tugging at my heartstrings though:

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ariel/atom/high-spec-ariel-atom-2-245-full-carbon-options-and-wings/5992633?v=c

[DeanB]

Simon that motorsport car looks fantastic but it is very high spec and so will require a lot of maintenance, it isn't eligible for the elise trophy so trying out racing isn't on the cards and as you point out it's 25 grand.

There is an s1 trophy car for sale on seloc - I think it's £15 or £16 grand and the guy selling it is the guy I bought my engine from. He seemed like a good egg to me and he's local. It might be worth a conversation?

[Simon Mac]

Dean I think it might be this one :

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/99229870@N04/25833248371/in/photostream/

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http://classifieds.seloc.org/ads/s1-elise-trophy-car/

 

It's done a lot of track time, which I'll admit makes me a little nervous. What would the pro's be vs buying something standard if a little tatty bodywork wise, then spending the difference on some targeted upgrades?

 

 

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[@ndy]

My S1 will be up for sale in October once the sprint season is over

 

Comes with some spares and 2nd set of wheels and tyres

 

@ndy

[scatty]

Caterham would get my vote...

 

Although an Atom... Mmmmm, you don't see many and they are kinda cool....

 

Although both would be crap if it ever rained, what fun going round all day in the wet and having wet pants....

 

In which case an s1 would tick all boxes...

 

 

**** but I'd like you to get an atom******