[QUOTE]My problem is that I'm using a expensive street car that I don't want to turn into a race car (2004 GT-3) so my goal is to do what John Gordon has just done and get a used Cup car. The GT-3 is so awesome and I have done rather well with it (to toot my own horn) so I don't want to step backward into an older car. After all I'm doing this for fun so I want a car that is well develop and doesn't require a lot of maintience (for a race car) and the Cup fits that bill.
...Uh you may want to re-think this strategy. A used cup car is usually in need of a motor refresh. $20k is the number my mech has thrown around. Unless you're happy running @ the back of your class (and who among us is), you'll need to throw in some grip for whatever mods the car is lacking. OTOH...you can get an older well sorted car in the 30-50k range, have money left over for tires, registration fees, nice hotels when you're @ Laguna and Sears. I tracked my 993 and I never understood what the gummers were talking about regarding a visceral feel for an older 911. Now I know. My brother and put 11k miles on the motor before it let go. I've already got 1k on the rebuild since September. My motor went from an 3.0sc to 3.2ss for 13k. I've still got money to go racing, and if I throw it into a wall, I'm not out 100 large, 50 maybe, but not 100. BTW, JGordon will need to have someone help him set that car up, it was sketchy looking in some areas of the track this w/e.
Todd...if I were you, I'd run the Racer's Clinic in April, complete it w/o incident and plead your case to Jeff M. FWIW, I was able to run the small Tribute after 1 clinic. MAKE SURE you have ALL the required safety equipment and cutoffs AND THEY WORK! before the class. I thought I knew how to race before taking that class having done 5 PCA races before, but they really teach you alot. Alot about the mentality everyone has (or should have) when W2W. Best of luck and we'll see you in the grid.
