Tuscan Championship Car as Track Day toy.

[jasandjules]

How feasible is it?

[phil green griff]

jasandjules said:

How feasible is it?

Why bother? theres plenty of others out there which will be a lot quicker and cheaper to run.

[RetroWheels]

phil green griff said:

jasandjules said:

How feasible is it?

Why bother? theres plenty of others out there which will be a lot quicker and cheaper to run.

Not sure about that Phil
There probably are some track day/race cars out there, which a "lot quicker" than a Tuscan Challenge car -but to be honest , i can't think of many.
And quite a few that are cheaper to run.
But im intrigued to know which cars have the benefit of both attributes ?

Some Kit based cars can provide mega Horsepower in a tubular steel chassis ,clothed in lightweight fibreglass bodywork - not unlike a TVR , but how many have the strength,integrity and racing development of a Challenge car.

There are a couple of Tuscans on avertised on PH at present which at circa 15k ea (the 18k 2 seater has been previously advertised at 15k)represent ludicrous value.

Edited by RetroWheels on Sunday 1st April 22:04

[R TOY]

If you want a quick and cheap trackday car buy a ......... lotus eliseimo Tho see by your profile that you used to have one.

[teamholdenracing]

phil green griff said:

jasandjules said:

How feasible is it?

Why bother? theres plenty of others out there which will be a lot quicker and cheaper to run.

Can you name a few? Because unless you are talking about single seaters or Radical type cars I can't think of any which are faster or cheaper.

[bertbert]

teamholdenracing said:

phil green griff said:

jasandjules said:

How feasible is it?

Why bother? theres plenty of others out there which will be a lot quicker and cheaper to run.

Can you name a few? Because unless you are talking about single seaters or Radical type cars I can't think of any which are faster or cheaper.

Not that sure about relative prices or speed, but a Rad clubsport is way cheaper that 15k and pretty quick. Mind you I'd quite like a Tuscan race car to put alongside the Rad in the gge.

Bert

[teamholdenracing]

....which is why I said 'unless you are talking about Radicals'....

[Wilder]

No contest, get a Radical.

[bertbert]

teamholdenracing said:

....which is why I said 'unless you are talking about Radicals'....

Doh. Memo to self, read the exam paper all through first!
Bert

PS still quite like the idea of a Tuscan race car for track days!

[hui]

bertbert said:

..... still quite like the idea of a Tuscan race car for track days!

Why not RACE a Tuscan race car????!!

Mrs Hui

[jasandjules]

A Radical is an option, as is an Ultima Spyder. But I have had TVRs for a number of years, and I guess something makes me sort of want to stick with them.

As for Racing them, a nice idea, but I wouldn't have the funds really. The car would simply be to track every couple of months (as much to avoid having to use the Chimaera on the track, I keep her for road use) so basically as a toy.

Anyone have ideas about running costs etc??

[coach]

Have a chat with Grant Crouch, TVRCC Registrar, he runs one as a road going track weapon and is reputed to be able to pedal it well enough not to be intimate with the surrounding scenery

Details on the TVRCC Web Page or chat with the club office and they will put you in contact

If he cant help, he will probably be able to point you in the direction of someone who can

Coach

[Guillotine]

Driven all of the above on trackdays etc...

Radical = stupidly fast but unsatisfying. (the cars so fast it blows everything away...even if your cr@p) I soon got bored with the pure speed. Breaks down alot (SR8). real adrenalin rush tho.
Noble (M400) = fast, comfortable and safe. if you can't afford a 911GT3 RS, this is for you. Cheque book speed, will make you fast even if you ain't. excellent car but breaks down...alot (or atleast they used to).
GT3RS = fantastic at everything. If I had £80k and didn't mind people gobbing on my car...Does break down, don't believe the hype.
Ultima = NEARLY tempted me away from the Griff, even got as far as getting the Mrs' approval. fantastic with a rouse V8 or similar but useless on the road.I love them!
Elise/Exige = bang for buck best alrounder. Too lightweight for my tastes.
Caterfield = best bang for buck on track, again useless on the road.

Griff (mine) best allrounder IMHO 9tho the air-con has now gone?

Tuscan = An animal, tru boys own fun for the track. You need skill and b@lls to get anything out of one. An absolute belter (didn't get me out of the Griff...but tempted me enough to build my own!) driving one of these quick gets you lots of qudos at the track.

anything with less thyan a V8 IS only a toy IMHO, but I love TVRs and the Griff in particular. The Tussie has won me over with its combination of power, noise, ability and its brutal/powerfull looks.

andy
tvrmonster

all IMHO ofcourse

Edited by Guillotine on Monday 2nd April 18:18

[jasandjules]

Andy, was the Tuscan a Race Car or the standard road car? How did you find it if it was the Championship car? I won't be driving them too hard for a while, and I would certainly also be looking for some tuition, so a two seater version is a must.

AS said, this is simply for the track day experiences, I will keep the 5.0 Chimaera for road fun, and the passat for the boring drives.

So if a Radical will conk out a lot, I won't be too happy.. Hell, if any of them will conk out a lot I won't be impressed given I will only be driving them maybe 6 times a year. An Ultima whilst a road car would also be kept purely for a track car - though the better half is "reasonably" happy with either an Ultima or the Tuscan challenge car, at this point in time, but we will be moving as I need a bigger garage....

Edited by jasandjules on Monday 2nd April 21:19

[teamHOLDENracing]

jasandjules said:

Andy, was the Tuscan a Race Car or the standard road car? How did you find it if it was the Championship car?

AS said, this is simply for the track day experiences, I will keep the 5.0 Chimaera for road fun, and the passat for the boring drives.

So if a Radical will conk out a lot, I won't be too happy.. Hell, if any of them will conk out a lot I won't be impressed given I will only be driving them maybe 6 times a year. An Ultima whilst a road car would also be kept purely for a track car.

When you say a Tuscan, do you mean a road Tuscan (as in the 'Swordfish' car) with a Speed 6 engine, or the Tuscan Challenge car, which has only ever been a race car?

Any car that is used infrequently but is then thrashed will be prone to failures unless you put the effort in between track sessions. My race cars have the equivalent of a minor service every track outing (i.e. between qualifying and the race) and a major service between race weekends.

[bertbert]

My Rad clubsport has been very reliable.
Bert

[YI8TVR]

teamHOLDENracing said:

jasandjules said:

Andy, was the Tuscan a Race Car or the standard road car? How did you find it if it was the Championship car?

AS said, this is simply for the track day experiences, I will keep the 5.0 Chimaera for road fun, and the passat for the boring drives.

So if a Radical will conk out a lot, I won't be too happy.. Hell, if any of them will conk out a lot I won't be impressed given I will only be driving them maybe 6 times a year. An Ultima whilst a road car would also be kept purely for a track car.

When you say a Tuscan, do you mean a road Tuscan (as in the 'Swordfish' car) with a Speed 6 engine, or the Tuscan Challenge car, which has only ever been a race car?

Any car that is used infrequently but is then thrashed will be prone to failures unless you put the effort in between track sessions. My race cars have the equivalent of a minor service every track outing (i.e. between qualifying and the race) and a major service between race weekends.

I think Andy's Rather cheap quip saying anything less than an 8 is a toy answers your question.

Reason I got a six Andy is a 6 has fewer parts to turn which equals more power plus less to go wrong. So stick that in yer pipe

Cadwell the night after....

[993phill]

doing just this converstion on an ex tuscan challenge car at the moment
about 85% finished
if you want any info email me
ps . they dont call them challenge cars for nothing

[jasandjules]

teamHOLDENracing said:

[When you say a Tuscan, do you mean a road Tuscan (as in the 'Swordfish' car) with a Speed 6 engine, or the Tuscan Challenge car, which has only ever been a race car?

I mean as the race car.

They seem pretty cheap at the moment for what you get. So what are the running costs? ( I don't do servicing etc.. myself so am I looking at £300 a time after a track day to service one?).

993 - That sounds ominous !!

Edited by jasandjules on Tuesday 3rd April 08:02

[teamholdenracing]

Race cars need attention. In a 20 minute race nuts and bolts undo themselves. Bolts connecting the prop to the diff for example. The brake calipers have no dust seals. There are no cooling fans. The cars take an enormous amount of strain when driven to the limit on slicks, and that is why they are checked over (every critical nut and bolt on the car) after every single track session. The front hubs need changing periodically as they can shear off, resulting in loss of steering and brakes.

If you are not able to look after the car yourself then you will need a specialist who can.
The cars are absolutely incredible and rewarding to drive, but anyone considering ownership should do so with their eyes open. And have access to someone who knows what they are doing with them