Thoughts on what car (Page 1 of 2)

With limited mechanical abilities, I'd say to go for the newest car you can find.  70's cars are OLD and any part on the car can and will crap out during the race.  If you buy a 90's crap box, you will be more likely to be racing than repairing.  A good choice is a Crown Vic Police Interceptor.  They are run forever.

A Toyota is most likely to keep chugging around the track with minimal mechanical work. You can get early '90s Camrys cheap that have been treated pretty well. They're not fast, and the suspension is mush, but they'll keep going.

Look through the forums to get an idea of what the judges don't like. There are a few models that get run so often that the judges are sick of seeing them -- spec Miatas and BMW e30's seem to top that list.

In the end, though, you have to decide on what's best for your team. Epic Fail Racing is half IT techs, so the complex (and likely to fail) electrical systems in a late 80's Porsche seemed like a fun challenge. When we're done wrenching on it, we'll attack it with a soldering iron. Should be fun to drive, too -- one of our main drivers refused to let me run a Chevette, Gremlin, or Camry because he wants the option of attacking the turns.

For me its a quality of life statement.   I have never been a sideline player. If we  get in it will probably be a one time event hopefully 2 events.  This is a  bucket list item in the real sense.  I have asked friends family and colleagues to help and they are all in.   We will meet as a full group in January.  To finalize drivers crew, car theme design etc.   We know we don't have the experince to compete with the seasoned drivers. If we could finish the race with out to many incidents and we have fun doing it. It would be perfect.

Crown vic  good idea what about wieght? lots of them in public auctions

Camry  food for thought lots on craigslist

The Crown Vic is heavy but they don't blow up. They are filled with heavy-duty cooling because the duty cycles put on them in service with PD's require it. That's good for Lemons. It probably won't win the race for you, but you stand a better-than-average chance of running the whole race without mechanical failure. Take it from somebody who has now done 3 of these and has blown up 2 engines in the process: I'd give my left nut to get an MR2 to run for 14 or 15 hours without it pulling the mechanical equivalent of coughing up a lung. If I wasn't already so invested in 4AGE parts by now, I'd swap to a P71 Crown Vic in a heartbeat. If this is really a bucket list thing for your guys, then you want all of them to get a good turn in on the track, which means you need a reliable lap-churner. There's basically nothing better for that than the P71.

Camry's suck on so many levels, and even worse for this race. Unless you find a low-mile one, then it might be okay for awhile. But it's still not the warhorse that the P71 is. Good luck.

PS If you're in the Bay Area you should pick up that Volvo that's listed for $1 and find someone to help you swap in a 302 Ford V8. That's a go-er, too.

Don't let the race idea fool you, Lemons is more of an addiction.

The P71 does sounds good  But would it get accepted as it's a pretty common vehicle.  It looks like race organizers are looking for more exotic cars to bring in fans and increase competition.   There also seems to be limited sapce at races.

I would also agree that 24 hours of Lemons seems to be an obsession

What about a Thunderbird or Camaro

Stay away from Chevys like the plague. 

On getting in...  It's not all about the car.  It's about being different and making a statement.  If you say you are 4 guys who have a car and would like to race, you go to the bottom of the list.  That describes everyone.  Come up with a good theme, make sure your application is complete (all drivers information is filled out - with 5 or 6 drivers preferred), don't sound like you are going to flake out, and you increase you odds of getting in. 

Bad: "We are four poor construction workers who have always wanted to race.  If accepted, we are going to find a $500 car and start building."

Good:  "The six of us have been long time friends who are always looking for different ways to entertain ourselves.  In the past we have entered demo derbys and lawnmower races.  We have a '73 Fury station wagon that we pulled out of the weeds and are in the process of building into a crapcan racer.  Our team concept is irresposible fathers and plan on not paying our child support in order to raise funds for the entry fee.  We are going to have 5 or 6 full size child maniquens in the car and attach an infant seat to the roof complete with crying doll."

I'd suggest buying a car that has already been prepped for Lemons or for the banger class at the loacl roundy round track (assuming it has a good cage)

200# of lobster?  which race is this?  Thanks, friend!

Team JB Weld has done very well with their GP. They are in Dallas, I think you can find them on CulbGP.com.

For car reliability, fix/replace anything that is suspect. If you don't, you know when you'll be fixing it? During the race. It's no fun chasing parts while the race is on.

Radiator, water pump, belt tensioner, idler pullies, change'em. If they make a 160 degree thermostat, get one. Go to the  junkyard and get a transmission cooler off of a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Flush it out before installing. Bring spares, alternator, PS pump, PS pressure hose, rack and pinion, tierods(inner and outer), radiator hoses, CV axles, etc. Anything can break, so bring everything you can.

Reinforce the front motor mount, it's gonna get a workout.

Gauges for water and tranny temps are good. An oil pressure one is also a good thing. Gauges don't count towards the $500. Got that info straight from Jay.

Tires, get 4 new ones. The Dunlop Star Spec Z1 works very well. So do the Falken Azenas. There are plenty of tire threads on here to read up on.

You do not know how much fun it is to race $500 crap cans. It's hard to find the right words to describe it. Racing is a drug for which there is no cure. The next race is just a fix. You'll be living your regular everyday life with the racing bug popping up to ask, "When is the next race? How do I make the car better? How much money is in the bank account? I need to buy(fill in the blank) for the next race."

Good luck with it !!!

Not Enough.

Except MR2s