Car prep for racing

[whp1983]

So having done quite a few track days now, had a good few hours of race driver training, past my ARDS, got my national B licence I’m looking to enter a series in next year or two.

But where to go with help to prep car- I’m ok with basic mechanics but certainly not weld in roll cage, fire extinguisher etc etc..

Any recommendations for places that do this? (Take road car and make it meet all MSA regs?)

[Steve H]

Probably best to start with what area you are in, what car you have and what series you're looking at entering

[HustleRussell]

You are doing it the wrong way around

1- choose a championship / series which is easily within your budget
2- find out which make / model is competitive in that championship / series
3- buy a ready built example which is already running competitively in that championship / series

This is more often than not the sensible approach. Silly people including myself kid themselves that they can prep a better car from scratch for similar money or less, and enjoy the ‘journey’, however the path is long and fraught with peril.

[andye30m3]

for your first race car I'd be tempted to try and buy something which fits into the series you want to race it in, will probably be cheaper, keep some cash for fixing a few bits.

Guy who does a few bits on my car tells me very few people sell very good race cars. they're either for sale because somethings knackered or they've know its going up for sale at the end of the year so run the last year on a shoe string with a attitude of that will get it to the end of the year.

Getting a car MSA compliant other than the welding of the cage isn't all that difficult, however making it competitive can take a lot longer hence buying a built car may work out better.