Toyota MR2

 

haven't read all of the posts....but buy a C5 Z06 for 30k, drop $20k into modding the **** out of it and you'll be set. Lots of power, great handling, fun to drive to and from event. Plus you won't have to worry about not having any low end power!

 

Not always true, constantly Vettes taking Top time of the day where I autoX!

 

There is also the Pontiac Solstice GXP. Light and nimble car. Has a stiff suspensin setup from the factory plus it's a turbo car. Or you could drop all 50k on a Mallet Solstice and have a nice sleeper car for the street and one fast and fun car for the track.
http://www.mallettcars.com/solstice-conversion.htm

 

Yes mine would fit the bill quite nicely. You'd have other 30k left as well!

-Joe

 

Of course you could always opt to build a TTOD AX car for $15,000. But most people think Porsche 914's are ugly.

 

Quite true- can't believe no one mentioned them. For 30k you'd be flying in a 914, and depending on where you are there will be many more PCA AX options. They can be brutally fast... Of course they are the mortal enemy for some of us.

 

We arent your enemy we are just faster than you 911 guys in most AX events. You can always have revenge on the track where HP is king.

The huge weight advantage of 914's over 911's puts them at a distinct advantage in AX events. Some of those highly modified 914's are in 1600 to 1700 lb range. My six cylinder 914 only weighs 1800 lbs and I can still pull another 50 lbs off the car.

Oh and of course our engines are located in the right place.

 

We arent your enemy we are just faster than you 911 guys in most AX events. You can always have revenge on the track where HP is king.

The huge weight advantage of 914's over 911's puts them at a distinct advantage in AX events. Some of those highly modified 914's are in 1600 to 1700 lb range. My six cylinder 914 only weighs 1800 lbs and I can still pull another 50 lbs off the car.

Oh and of course our engines are located in the right place.

 

Them's fighting words, Grant- I'd say SOME 914s are faster than us 911s guys at SOME events.

Have we run together at any of the local stuff recently? Let's see- at Altamont I had a full 2 seconds on Andrew Blyholder and the rest of the field, and I've been close 2nd to him at the other 3 recent ones.

So yea, SOME 914s are fast. But then they should be- Andrews car is trailered, has zero glass or interior, runs a race gas mix, and sits on slicks. And Sunday I lost to him by .1 seconds on a twisty track in a car with full interior, glass, running on pump gas, on DOT tires, and driven to the event. My car weighs 2150 lbs now, full steel body and glass. If I didn't want to play fair it would be fiberglass with no windows and 1800 lbs.

But I figure it's more fun to run with the handy-cap and keep it interesting! I’ll say 914s are VERY quick for the money, and quick period, but don’t go talking too much trash. 911s can still be very competitive at most courses, and will crush 914s as the courses open up and look more like big tracks. I’ll keep my motor where it is, thanks (even if it is wrong!).

 

I'm truly saying all this in jest. ...and I just cant help but give you a hard time as you have about 100 to 125 hp more than Andrew (even with his new 2.3 liter motor). ...Now who has the handicap? Having AX higher HP cars I can say there is no margin for error driving a 914 - if youre off power for a split second or lose momentum the high HP cars will eat you alive regardless if you trailered your car to the event.

I dont think I have run against you in my new car (I have only run 2 AX's in the car so far - I set TTOD at LPR AX and with my co driver set TTOD at Redwood Region AX event). I was at Santa Rosa on Saturday. My 914-6 was running poorly (carbs sputtering below 5000 RPM) and the time was about a second off Andrews time on Saturday. I think there were 4 914's in top 5 Saturday. Once I get twin plug ignition installed and dyno tune the carbs the car should be about as fast as Andrews car. However my car is really more highly strung (no torque) and better suited for track driving. I also run DOT tires and dont have fancy suspension like the real fast cars.

There is going to be an onslaught of fast 914's later this year. 4 more new 914's that will emerge at GGR events in the next two months. 3 of them are going to be far more capable than Andrews car and mine. That should make things much more fun for all of us shooting for TTOD.

 

Interesting...

I totally agree that I've got 100+ hp Andrew. But then I've got a car, where as he's got more of a large go-cart. Besides, with his weight advantage we're not that far off on lbs/hp.

Were you ahead or behind Bill on Saturday? I think I was just ahead, and I think my friend Steve, in another 911, was just behind- you were ahead of Steve? Sunday I got the balance in a little better and found about a second... It was a fun weekend. Why didn't you bring the new one out?

I had no idea that there was to be a 914 assault later this year. Sounds like it's going to get interesting... Who's bringing the new metal? I don't plan to bring a knife to a gunfight- you saw that the 911s for sale. I'll see you on the track later this year .

 

Here's one that is almost finished:

 

Exige/Elise
S2000
or Mini Cooper

all seem like fun cars