FWD TRACK RACER

[fuoriserie]

Has anyone thought about a Front wheel drive track car? a kind of fwd Ariel Atom with the handling of a Peugeot 205 Gti?, a cheaper kit price with a basic steel tube chassis. What do you think ?

I wonder if their would be a market for a bare basics fwd track car.

I'm interested on this concept....

Italo

[Incorrigible]

surely it would be a similar kit price to a Atom style car though

I can't see the attraction of FWD

[joospeed]

or .. how about using the FWD package at the *back* of the car for proper fun now we're on to something

[dern]

Incorrigible said:

I can't see the attraction of FWD

Ditto but a lot of people are raised on it so maybe there's a market.

Mark

[Incorrigible]

dern said:

Incorrigible said: I can't see the attraction of FWD Ditto but a lot of people are raised on it so maybe there's a market.

can only give my opinion though

And, as has already been pointed out, if you're building from scratch why not bung it in the back as a mid engined car

[ferg]

The Onyx cars are supposed to be great handlers........
but bldy ugly!

[dern]

Incorrigible said:

And, as has already been pointed out, if you're building from scratch why not bung it in the back as a mid engined car

Completely agree, can't see the point of fwd except for cost effective transport for the masses.

[fuoriserie]

Ferg
I agree with you on that, great handling cars but the styling is unique.....

It has been pointed out, that a lot of people have been brought up with fwd driving, now combine that with a bare steel tube chassis, very light and rigid, and then just bolt directly your 205 gti, Clio Williams, V-tec Honda and so on, you would have a basic sportscar, cheaper to build and use at the track.

You could still have the famous lift oversteer dialed in if you dont have a 205 gti sunspension, and have a great little sortscar for peanuts.

It would be your basic meccano build, just bolt on your new engine and sunspension on a new racing chassis, with minimal bodywork to cover the engine, and then go racing or out for a drive..........

I guess that maybe you could take more than 200/300 kg of weight from any econo hatch, and that will really push the performance of any fwd car.

I believe the styling could make the difference, and the ease of build.

A few week ends to take out the engine and components and install them on your new chassis and then take out your cheap racing toy.

Very basic and a lowcost kit for the poor like me !!!!


Italo

[spartan_andy]

like the sound of that cheap and chearful track blaster

[ferg]

dern said:

Can't see the point of fwd except for cost effective transport for the masses.

Reasonable point Mark, but price can be everything sometimes.

I used to race NASA Autograss in Class 1s where the only car available was untuned 1000cc Minis. For £25 license, £3 meeting entry (at the gate for anyone)and £1 driver signing on fee it was a superb fun-per-pound ratio. Maybe handling needn't be the be-all and end-all of fun in any any car if funds simply don't allow it. Locosts are seen by many to be cheap, but a simple frame and a front drive donor would be MUCH cheaper to build than trying to find old RWD cars.

[fuoriserie]

I think that Onyx have found a new niche, if only they would work more on the styling they would have a winner on their hands.

Cheap, stylish and easy to build, and then go out and have fun on the road and the track

I really believe it to be the next niche, we just need new products in 2005................hhhmmm, maybe Stoneleigh?

[weed]

N offense intended, but, I tracked Golf GTIs for 15 years.
Got pretty good at it.
Then I bought a Birkin and learned what real driving is all about.
Then I added an old M3.
If you don't prefer rear drive, then your idea has good merit.

m

[spartan_andy]

Italo, perhaps you should offer your services to Onyx.

Lets face it you certainly couldn't do any worse

But having seen some of your designs you will do alot better

[fuoriserie]

Weed

You own one of my favourite sports cars, the M3, trashed an M3 cabrio with hard- top for a whole day, 320hp let loose on some italian Highway for a few hours, but polished my driving skills quite a bit on the way,( tried it also for an hour on the Monza circuit and it was awesome !!) petrol bill was really expensive , but worth the one time exhilarating and intoxicatingly fast drive.

Fantastict car! unfortunately I don't have the money to buy and mantain such a car, wish I could but my finance is not in the same league as the car.............

That is why I'm looking for a cheaper kit, for the many like me with little money to invest in cars, but wish the same to get some fun and inexpensive track/road racing.

Andy

Thanks for the compliments, but something is cooking..............................I will be in Stoneleigh 05........can't say more yet but watch this space...........

[spartan_andy]

Italo, Look forward to seeing you there just let me know where u are and ill be there.

[fuoriserie]

I'll get in touch Andy, and we could all meet at a certain stand...............I will tell you for sure in a month or so............it will be fun.....

Italo

[spartan_andy]

Italo just to let you know ive changed jobs so my email has changed too will change my profile accordingly

[fuoriserie]

Just found this on the net while surfing for some info on the Onyx

www.davebence.co.uk

This guy is really doing a nice build up of the Firefox, and the site is really informative.