Topic: SLK 230 contender, have some Q's
New jack round' here. Picked up a 99 mercedes for scrap price because it's got 157,000 miles and no keys, dead battery, and more squirrels under the hood than in the woods behind my house. Dash lights are said to be light up like Christmas, and the power steering fluid looks like banana pudding. (If you have any clue how red liquid turned solid yellow.. please do tell.)
I read most of the forums, rules, shenanigans etc. I've come up with a few questions I have about my potential bid at entering a race.
I'm a one man circus currently. I intend to fund / build a car by myself. Logistically the only thing I can't handle in my home work shop / garage is the roll cage. I'm not made of money, and I have to do this in my spare time. So I'm going with the "if you build it they will come" theory.
That brings me to a few questions.
1.) This is a 99 SLK 230, I can't quite figure out how to design a roll cage that terminates before the rear wheel arches. They are literally right behind the seats! Are there any exceptions to this rule, and does anybody have photos of the 1 SLK that competed in the Lemons race previously? (OR can you have them contact me?)
2.) I'm way too tall for a car this size. I suspect with the roof on the car, even with a seat mounted to the floor I'd still be dangerously close to the top of the roll bar with my helmet. a.) Are there many Lemons racers that run a topless car around? I only took notice of a few in the highlight reels on youtube. b.) Are there any real disadvantages to running say a spring or summer race with a topless car?
3.) I guess this should have been question #1.. Who here thinks a car like this could actually rank in a race with a decent driver? People tell me this car is too under powered and too heavy.. but I'm overly optimistic about everything in life. Set me straight before I dive into an empty pool.
Thanks for any advice, perhaps I'll be seeing you in the future!