Spec Ft86 racer in the future?

[blackhawkdown]

Im a noob, please enlighten me on what is SPEC racing?

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

Im a noob, please enlighten me on what is SPEC racing?

One type of car all of which run with pretty much identical modifications.


At OP: The TCA class of the Pirelli Worlc Challenge may be a good place to look for possible specifications for a spec series. The SCCA governs the class and has made the Scion FR-S one of the cars legal for the class. No one is running one yet and as far as I have been able to determine no one has one in the works yet. However, the rules are in place including the allowable mods. If a spec class was set up with the same rules then you could see some cross over from club and pro racing.

Right now the class is dominated by Civic Si, Kia Forte Koup and Mazda MX-5. Maybe if someone prepares a car Scion USA will pull the support from that horribly unreliable GTS class FR-S and put it behind a team of TCA class FR-S.

[phastafrican]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

Im a noob, please enlighten me on what is SPEC racing?

Here's a simple summary of the most common spec class in the country. Feel free to take a look at the rules as well for some more insight.
http://www.nasaproracing.com/proracing/sm.html

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by phastafrican

...the simple fact is, a spec series is unlikely to happen at the club level until 5-7 years after a car is launched when it's value falls significantly on 1st year models.

This.

Club racers really, really do not like starting with cars costing one thin dime more than they need to. Think $5K, maybe $10K if the car has a number of useful mods and spares.

[blackhawkdown]

this sounds like it would be a fun race program to get into. sounds cheap anyways.

[n8dog11914]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

this sounds like it would be a fun race program to get into. sounds cheap anyways.

Unfortunately, nothing is cheap in racing! I race Lemons and even that is a minimum $500 per person per race.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

this sounds like it would be a fun race program to get into. sounds cheap anyways.

What is your relative "cheap" definition?

Spec Miata is "cheap". It's 15k if you want to be a backmarker or 40k if you want to be somewhat in the front. That doesn't include maintenance, upkeep, and a truck + trailer to tow your racecar around. It's quite a bit more expensive than you think.

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by CSG David

What is your relative "cheap" definition?

Spec Miata is "cheap". It's 15k if you want to be a backmarker or 40k if you want to be somewhat in the front. That doesn't include maintenance, upkeep, and a truck + trailer to tow your racecar around. It's quite a bit more expensive than you think.

Yeah and "Spec" is about the most loosely thrown around term.
Spec Miata is a poor example as you can have some dudes out there running a 40k Miata and a 15k miata.

SRF is much better example of "spec" racing, when you have sealed motors and very very specific rules where someone putting a hole in an air filter raises red flags.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

Yeah and "Spec" is about the most loosely thrown around term.
Spec Miata is a poor example as you can have some dudes out there running a 40k Miata and a 15k miata.

SRF is much better example of "spec" racing, when you have sealed motors and very very specific rules where someone putting a hole in an air filter raises red flags.

It's funny watching a Spec Miata with a tuned ECU. That car pulls on everybody else. LOL!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by CSG David

What is your relative "cheap" definition?

Spec Miata is "cheap". It's 15k if you want to be a backmarker or 40k if you want to be somewhat in the front. That doesn't include maintenance, upkeep, and a truck + trailer to tow your racecar around. It's quite a bit more expensive than you think.

People considering getting into this hobby in a serious way, whether as a trackday enthusiast or if they're going racing, would do well to find someone who has been going at it for a few years the way they intend to, and then ask them "What is your total, all-in, per track/race day cost?" Then, "Do you do your own work or pay others to do it for you; if it's the latter, what is their hourly rate?" After making the necessary adjustments you'll have a ballpark idea of what you're in for financially. Based upon my experience, it's likely to be a shocking number, but only because the prospective track rat hasn't previously come up against all that is involved.

[mav1178]

http://www.toyota-motorsport.com/mot...st_2014_00.pdf

Here's a starting checklist for a spec-86 series.

Oh wait, it's already happening in Europe. Blah.

-alex

[gramicci101]

19% German Value Added Tax.

Ouch. Germany gets screwed.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by mav1178

http://www.toyota-motorsport.com/mot...st_2014_00.pdf

Here's a starting checklist for a spec-86 series.

Oh wait, it's already happening in Europe. Blah.

-alex

In 86 Cup, we're already thinking of ideas of bringing a Spec class together for TA purposes but not W2W. W2W is a whole other ball game...

[mav1178]

http://www.toyota-motorsport.com/mot...s_2013_car.pdf

Basically this car is a standard FRS, with:

• Full FIA cage
• Car lift support brackets
• Hood quick release system
• TMG exhaust
• Ohlins TTX36 coilovers
• Project Mu 999 pads
• Steel-braided lines
• Brake ducts
• OZ 17" racing wheels
• Pirelli DH slicks 245/620-17
• FIA-approved bucket seat
• 6-point harness
• racing wheel
• FIA-approved fire extinguisher system

For any "spec series" racer, this is a checklist of what you should have on your car to start. For the asking price over a normal GT86 (around 29K Euros for a GT86 or BRZ), ~€10k isn't a lot considering the above list of mods that will make your car track-ready.

I mean, for that markup you're getting a full cage, seats, AND Ohlins TTX! Times like this, I wish I lived in Europe.

-alex