Stripped out track cars vs. long drives to tracks
Discussion
For a car driven on the road as well, fully stripping including dash and heater/air con have been a step too far for quite a few people. You’ll grow to hate driving it.
I’ve stripped the rear of my M3 and have solid mounts and bushes everywhere, but I’ve kept the front carpets and all the dash, I drove it to the ring and back quite comfortably, and I’m used to Mercs as my daily drivers. The end of August at the ring was 30+ degrees for 4 days and if it wasn’t for my air con I’d have had a really bad time. I’ve seen people without air con cutting open their roofs for an emergency air intake in the car park.
I’ve stripped the rear of my M3 and have solid mounts and bushes everywhere, but I’ve kept the front carpets and all the dash, I drove it to the ring and back quite comfortably, and I’m used to Mercs as my daily drivers. The end of August at the ring was 30+ degrees for 4 days and if it wasn’t for my air con I’d have had a really bad time. I’ve seen people without air con cutting open their roofs for an emergency air intake in the car park.
I've done 2.5-3 hour hauls fairly regularly in my completely stripped E30 (Dash is still in - but no sound deadening, carpets or roof lining. Fixed buckets, harnesses etc). Even without stopping sometimes. It's obviously not ideal but I find it bearable. A lot of the noise is the transmission noise so finding the speed sweet spot on the motorway where there a minimal torque differential through the gearbox and diff to maintain a speed helps!
HustleRussell said:
And if you’re going to go down the trailer route the track car doesn’t even need to be road legal, carry the shopping, keep you dry etc etc so it frees you up to buy a more track focused car (Caterham)
This is very true but for myself and friends this would ruin some of the fun as we tend to have 2hr drive to many tracks and a Nurburgring trip once a year so the drive to and from the destinations is part of the fun.Ahbefive said:
This is very true but for myself and friends this would ruin some of the fun as we tend to have 2hr drive to many tracks and a Nurburgring trip once a year so the drive to and from the destinations is part of the fun.
If you're stuck on a motorway, then getting there in anything isn't much fun. If you're not, then a caterham is still fun.. plenty of folks buy them as roadcars. Just sayin' 
How much are you thinking of stripping out? I wouldn't have thought you'd save much weight if you've already taken out rear bench etc - It's only an old Renault so probably not much weight in sound deadening or thick insulated trim panels ? Unless time attacking, there's not much to be gained for the sanity sacrifice during the schlep to/from track day or Scotland - a bit of noise/rawness but that's about it. Just lose half a stone and brake a touch later ;-)
upsidedownmark said:
If you're stuck on a motorway, then getting there in anything isn't much fun. If you're not, then a caterham is still fun.. plenty of folks buy them as roadcars. Just sayin'
sure, but a track day is normally booked ahead. early start and late finish in the wind/rain/cold because the track is 2hrs away?now a wet track is different
I've driven my Indy to a few, doesn't bother me even if I have to memorise the route as a Sat Nav is impractical for it. I have no roof or windscreen, no air con or heater, a small fuel tank, and can only take a small tool roll with me.
However, the fear of binning it or something major breaking on track so I would be stuck with a recovery lorry for the way home puts me off from doing this on a regular basis. I'd much rather have a trailer, then I can sit in comfort in my Volvo and thrash the knackers off the Indy on the track as I can always get it home. Plus side is that I can take a bigger tool box, spare wheels, and go all out with slicks.
However, the fear of binning it or something major breaking on track so I would be stuck with a recovery lorry for the way home puts me off from doing this on a regular basis. I'd much rather have a trailer, then I can sit in comfort in my Volvo and thrash the knackers off the Indy on the track as I can always get it home. Plus side is that I can take a bigger tool box, spare wheels, and go all out with slicks.
My M3 was completely stripped at one point and it wound me up for the saving of about 5kg. Refitted door cards and front speakers so I could listen to music. Decided I'd rather lose that weight than the car. Absolutely fine now imho.
Solid mounted rear end/everything else poly. Buckets, harnesses, cage, loud LS3, no aircon, big semi slicks, stiff suspension etc.
Done NC500, driven to the ring and spa etc. The perfect "compromise."
Solid mounted rear end/everything else poly. Buckets, harnesses, cage, loud LS3, no aircon, big semi slicks, stiff suspension etc.
Done NC500, driven to the ring and spa etc. The perfect "compromise."
Did it for 3 years with my last track car (e36 328) & had no issues at all, left in the AC & stereo but everything else was out.
Even did 2 x Spa/Ring double headers fully kitted out with spares, wheels & tools with no issues at all.
The key for me was leaving the above & exhaust stock so I was comfortable with chooonz & not too noisy.
Even did 2 x Spa/Ring double headers fully kitted out with spares, wheels & tools with no issues at all.
The key for me was leaving the above & exhaust stock so I was comfortable with chooonz & not too noisy.
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