Importing A "race Use Only" Car

[NISMO]

Hey Guys,

I'm considering bringing in a race use only car at this stage to have a bit of fun with and not much more.

However most track days say that your car needs to be street registered.

From experience does anyone know if they'll let me on with a non registered car. The plan is to take it along to SAU trackdays and others like it.

If they won't allow the car, is there other events I can do without getting into an actual race category?

Cheers

Bobby

[benm]

Doesn't need to be street registered, hell at most events these days they barely even pop your bonnet to check anything. If it has 4 wheels a drivers seat and a steering wheel your pretty much right to race.

[Beer Baron]

yeah you don't need street rego to drive on a circuit, but to import a race only car you need PC licence so to be honest if track days are all your interested in a dedicated race car is as waste of time. far better to just race a street rego car. the cost of a PC licence alone is a fair whack if you are only getting it just to import a 'track day' car.

[jrocket]

Hey i was thinking of getting a race only import car too, but i am going to try and get someone with a CAMS license to buy the car for me hence i wont need a license to get the car from a import dealer. Then i will be able to use the car for track days etc that don't require CAMS licenses. I hope to start off having a bit of fun at first at various track days then maybe move into something more serious.

Do ya think it would work getting someone else with a CAMS licence to buy the car for you?

[Beer Baron]

it should work? I'm not sure how legal it is... ask DOTARs if it's legal.

[djr81]

It is probably a damn site easier to buy one of the multitudes of cars already here that have been imported for race use. www.my105.com.au is as good a place as any to have a look.

Edited August 23, 2007 by djr81

[jrocket]

Hmm yeah i been thinking about it. The guys at the import yards are really only interested in selling cars. I want a good cheap race car but unfortunately its a bit expensive to buy the same car here that is currently road registered. I would buy one just as a unregistered wreck or something but there are not that many around. I dont intend to register the car or anything like that so i dont see how it should be a problem getting a CAMS registered person to buy it for me. I mean the car just a peice of equipment. Can't they grind off the engine numbers or something so the car is not able to be readily registered.

Hmm i will see how it goes. I still dont have quite enough money to buy one yet neways.

[NISMO]

thanks guys,

i have my V35 as a daily and don't really want the hassle of rego, insurance etc for a second car (third if you count the wife's)

My cousing owns a trailer fabricating business, and he'll pretty much make me one for free so transporting it is not an issue.

Besides, some of the prices I've seen of some cars in Japan recently are pretty good.

For example, this 180

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=10428

Ultimately I wouldn't mind getting into some sort of regular racing, but building a house ATM so unfotunately no

funds in the short term for regular racing

cheers

Bobby

[Duncan]

no problem buying a car that someone with a CAMS license has imported to australia for you.

second/track only car is a top idea, you don't need to compromise on brakes or tyres (eg runs slicks) like you do for a road car. And you don't have to worry about driving home if you break it.

these cars are so cheap these days its not a lot to buy a track only car, and if you don't need to race it there aren't really any rules you need to worry about.

[NISMO]

no problem buying a car that someone with a CAMS license has imported to australia for you.

second/track only car is a top idea, you don't need to compromise on brakes or tyres (eg runs slicks) like you do for a road car. And you don't have to worry about driving home if you break it.

these cars are so cheap these days its not a lot to buy a track only car, and if you don't need to race it there aren't really any rules you need to worry about.

Exactly all the reasons why I'm thinking about it Duncan. As you said, value wise, you get an awfull lot of car for the money when buying a track only car from Japan especially.

Hopefully once my house is built I'll have a spare 10k to get me started. Cause I'm itching, and really bad at that.

Went past Oran park with my 3 yr old yesterday, and it's just awesome being around track cars. They don't have to be prepped Carrera cup cars, just something that get's you out there.

[Duncan]

Did you stay around for the night racing? that day night meeting is the best racing I've ever done, trying to pick an apex at night is impossible!

[jrocket]

Yeah thats the reason i want a track car really, cos i dont want to mess up my good liner. I have got it looking real good now with a new paint job and other stuff done to it. I dont feel too inclined to smash it up at the track.

A race only car will be awesome cos as mentioned i wont have to worry bout getting home when i burn that clutch out etc or worry bout any vic road rules etc.

My only problem is i can't seem to save up enough money fast enough. I want to buy a race only car, then i need a vehicle to tow it with. At the moment it looks like it will be mid next year before i get to see some racing action .

I wish i could be into the racing etc sooner cos i feel that i am missing out on some serious fun there. Ah well i will get there soon.

[NISMO]

Did you stay around for the night racing? that day night meeting is the best racing I've ever done, trying to pick an apex at night is impossible!

No, had no idea it was on. Man i would have loved to see that.

My 3 yr old wanted to see GTR's so we went out to see some of the guys on the skid pan, but they were on lunch so we watched some of the action on the track. Didn't notice any GTR's in the paddock either.

How did you go?

[benm]

Didn't look too hard, mine was hiding near the dummy grid whilst I watched a couple of races whilst the skidpan group were on lunch

[Duncan]

I wasn't out there, and neither were any of the other GTRs....in fact in our class only 2 commodores turned up at all Off the road atm but will be back soon

jrocket....yeah the race car is cheap but tow car and trailer are not......tow car isn't too bad we bought a navara which is good enough for $5k, but the trailer is a good $4k on that (will never buy a second hand car trailer again). So, $9k for a GTR, $5k for a tow car and $4k for trailer it does start to add up a bit.

The other option is "rally import" you can drive an uncomplied car on the road to race tracks, mechanic, rallies etc. That is how we registered the GTR

[benm]

Any details on the rally rego, I can't seem to find anything?

[NISMO]

I wasn't out there, and neither were any of the other GTRs....in fact in our class only 2 commodores turned up at all Off the road atm but will be back soon

jrocket....yeah the race car is cheap but tow car and trailer are not......tow car isn't too bad we bought a navara which is good enough for $5k, but the trailer is a good $4k on that (will never buy a second hand car trailer again). So, $9k for a GTR, $5k for a tow car and $4k for trailer it does start to add up a bit.

The other option is "rally import" you can drive an uncomplied car on the road to race tracks, mechanic, rallies etc. That is how we registered the GTR

Duncan, if you need a trailer let me know. My cousin has his own workshop and makes everything from box trailers to car trailers, boat trailers and bigger. He's generally much cheaper than most and should do a special price for me. I'll disown him if he doesn't :-)

Rally rego definately sounds the way to go. I've heard that the RTA is really getting tough on race only cars etc. Heard anything?

[Duncan]

well best way to get full details is call CAMS they have a kit.

But basically for a complied car don't bother - just keep rego on it as long as someone will give you a pink slip.

With rally rego you get different plates, can only drive to workshops, practice and competition. Need to call CAMS to register each trip. On the up side annual rego is only $91! You don't need a complied car that meets ADRs for rally rego (so no compliance fee to pay). You do need an annual inspection from an cams authorised inspector to say it is road worthy.

[Duncan]

sorry I missed the post before, yes RTA have got very difficult abotu rally rego, my car was the first one registered under the new system of conditional rego plates - once you have everything passed by CAMS, the CAMS state manager needs to get signed approval from the head of the RTA to approve the rego.

But it can be done and is a lot cheaper than a tow car and trailer.

THanks for the offer bobby, I know who to come to next time....we paid $2k for a second hand one trying to save money, and then somethign like $3k fixing it since including all new brakes and new axles....should have just bought a new one

[benm]

The rally rego is appealing to me because i already have 2 road registered vehicles so the circuit car wont even get used except at the track - paying over $800/yr for this is abit excessive.