Topic: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

I'm actually reluctant to share this, but I think it'd be a while before I'd be able to put it together for real...

I'm thinking start with a Toyota Previa or no-name Van. They're mid-engined and body-on frame. Easy to find for cheap, and some were manual-transmissioned:
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1218311550.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ct … 84866.html

Then remove most of the body.

And add a crappy clapped out boat hull, upside-down.
http://ventura.craigslist.org/boa/1226939124.html

Probably wouldn't weigh very much. You could cut/re-glass as needed pretty easily, maybe add a scoop or two for the engine/brakes/whatever.

Obviously, you'd need to reinforce the hull and mount it intelligently (so it doesn't break loose and cut you in half if you wreck)...but if you put a single-seat dragster cage around the driver, you'd essentially have a LMP1 lookalike.

...maybe call it Captain Gorton Racing. Dress in full rain gear and hand out fish-sticks everywhere you go.

There are those who call me...Judge Tim
Previously: Der Uberbird! BMW 633CSi
"When life gives you Lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you crap, don't make a beverage out of it."

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

hahaha, nice

Proudly pissing off Pick 'n Pull employees since 1991
Team The Homer

1981 Ford Fairmont Durango

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

That's a freakishly weird idea.  Catchy, but weird to say the least.  I can bet you would probably be the first.

"Sharp as Bear Claws and Slicker Than Goose Shit"
Lab Rats Motorsports
1990 VW Jetta
Charlotte, NC

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

I don't see any weaknesses in that plan!

5 (edited by Jer 2009-06-18 10:51 AM)

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

What could possibly go wrong?!

Jer / Schumacher Taxi Service
2010 Spring CMP I.O.E. winner
2010 Sebring overall winner
1996 Miata, 1991 BMW E30, 1987 coROLLa (retired), 1984 Citation (retired), 1993 Miata (retired)

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

They raced one on Top Gear, though the seemed to like the Renault Espace a bit better.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/minivan-madness/

Team Formula BMW
#23 Pink Pig

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

gmatus wrote:

They raced one on Top Gear, though the seemed to like the Renault Espace a bit better.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/minivan-madness/

Perhaps they don't like the Espace that much after all...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpD06P7kiI

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

Do it. My team talked about doing the exact same thing last year, but it seemed like a daunting amount of work, so we came up with an even worse idea.

Driving While Awesome #44
Porsche 944
BMW 325e

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

Wouldn't the Lemons Prototypes require their own class?

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

OverStimulated wrote:
gmatus wrote:

They raced one on Top Gear, though the seemed to like the Renault Espace a bit better.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/minivan-madness/

Perhaps they don't like the Espace that much after all...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpD06P7kiI

Bastards! I found a Mitsubishi Van Wagon on Craigslist and thought...."nah, that'd be mad!"

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pts/1226254901.html

Once upon a time we came across a Dodge Caravan (still Mitsu motor days) with a 5-speed transmission. So they *are* out there.....

-=Tom

-=HFC Tom

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

Didn't they do that on Monster Garage?

Pit Crew Revenge Racing   Rolling chicanelimo,95Lamdspeeder,Gimp Pimp Cadi,300zx Car show kaboom!! 90 Wagovan, mazda v8 Lemons LOGO TATTOO!  Aces 84 Cadi Eldo Briattz I O E WINNER
Class C win with LemonOdy Cannonball Run Whambulance !EX K Captain
Lemons Trophy Truck ShaGuar Baby!

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

I was thinking a 90/91 Isuzu amigo 4x4 and pull the body off the frame then drop on a mid 50s era jeep willys body on it and cage it up. Drop the whole rig about 6 inchs and put Toyota 1ton dully wheels on all four corners so you have 8 wheels total (getto run flats) and slap on a turbo from a Isuzu Impulse and you should have good reliability with 4 wheel drive great brakes not bad handling and plenty of grip. my idea got totally shot down by the group. They have NO imagination.