Want To Race - What Are My Options

[stomper]

Hey guys,

I have been a member for a few years now, and am the owner of a '93 33 GTST running a 26/30.

I am looking to retire the car from road use at the end of this year and look to race it after an overhaul and strip down.

Problem is, having been trying to research the options and subsequent restrictions/regulations prior to having the old girl apart, I am left masssively overwelmed with the various options.

Being new to competetive motorsport, and based in Sydney, I am looking for a good NSW based series that i can spend some time. I have had a look through the CAMS website along with the irace series, but am strugggling to get a balanced view of what is out there and how i should proceed with my build.

Ideally I would like a an event that allows the most scope in terms of car/engine design and selection - however am open to all options as long as the competition is good. Maybe time attack is a better way forward....?

So over to you guys - constructive suggestions please.....

Mike

[Marlin]

Hey Mike, I'm sure the NSW blokes will chime in re what and where you can run it in, but I'm going to leave you with just one suggestion, when you "overhaul" the car for track use, dry sump it. The up front expense will more that pay for itself financially, not to mention how much more relaxing going racing is when you don't need to worry about the things dumping their guts everywhere.

And yes, get it to Superlap!

[Duncan]

hmm -1 for superlap but we can discuss elsewhere I guess - seems like very poor value and very low chance of a good result without spending in the hundreds of thousands. might be worth going to watch if you are OK with the 60 per person admission price

anyway.....other than that....depends what you are looking for in "racing". If you haven't done any supersprints you need to get out there asap and try a few. the one on last weekend had about 14 cars on the track, released 2 at a time. You aren't really meant to "race" each other, the goal is the quickest single lap. But it does give you a good idea of going around close to other cars.

If you want to race race it depends on where you sit in the "having fun" to "I am the next shumaker" scale. At the having fun end you should start with MRA who run race meets under AASA at wakefield (don't think they do EC). They are cheap, open rules and have a class for skylines (combined sedans). There are a few guys on here building MRA style cars at the moment like Ryan (BOZ22N) and Andrew (zebra), both have 33 gtst, and Chris (evil_weevil) is racing here too in an mx5. Also I think Stu (bezerkr32) is intending on running his v8 r32 gtst here.

From there irace muscle class is the next place to go, I have run with them once at the start of the year and was pretty happy. A bit more expensive and a bit more serious. Greg (stretch), Stu (R32 Stuart), Brad (Risking) run in this regularly.

If you want to get into the serious side of racing you need to get into the CAMS NSW champs. There are 5 rounds this year and the first one is at Eastern Creek so head along and have a look (and a chat to competitors) if you are thinking about going this way. But keep in mind there are lots of rules and very serious competitors (spending 000,000s of dollars in sports sedans and race cars. Even some of the production car guys are spending 80-100k to build cars now.

In cams you have 4 choices:

3E - Production Cars. Basically no mods allowed, certainly not rb30. So not a great choice for your car. This is where I race.

3J - Improved production. Hate anything younger than 1986. They have a specific rule for turbo cars to make sure they can't be competitive - you need to run a 36mm restrictor in the intake - this will very effectively limit every turbo car to 350hp/250kw (at the motor!). 1 turbo car won the series about 5 years ago but it cost them a fortune.

3D - Sports Sedans. Definately an option as long as you don't expect to win outright. There are basically no restictions on what a 2wd car can do, but as a result the front running cars are full space frame 6l chevs with tricky aero and enourmous tyres. these guys are quicker than v8 supertaxis and spend as much. There are different rules for 4wd and I am (slowly) building a car to these but they are more restrictive (eg must retain full factory chasis, must retain standard block). Dave (lofty) has a spectacular 32 gtr that is racing in this (same car that won IPRA a few years back, upspecced)

2F - Production Sports cars. I don't really know these guys but they may be the best option for a 33 gtst. They call it "production" sports but there are significant mods allowed. You should talk to the PSCA to understand more. Stuart (Noddy) runs his 33 gtst under 2F in QLD. no 4wd but that doesn't matter to you I guess

cams regs are here http://www.camsmanual.com.au/02_race.asp but I found them hard to understand until I had spoken to a few people in each category so I would suggest that first

[Marlin]

Meh, come to Superlap. Sure, it's not as cheap as a sprint meeting, and won't suit those who like to stand atop the podium, but the atmosphere and being on track while the world's quickest will be worth the price alone.

In my very humble opinion of course!

[phunky_monkey]

I'm of the same opinion Ben. I'm going to do poorly, but to be apart of the event is enough for me. if I'm going to make the trip up to watch, I may as well bring the car and drive!

[fatz]

im going to the races on the weekend

ladies day

garenteed to be fun!

[stomper]

hmm -1 for superlap but we can discuss elsewhere I guess - seems like very poor value and very low chance of a good result without spending in the hundreds of thousands. might be worth going to watch if you are OK with the 60 per person admission price

anyway.....other than that....depends what you are looking for in "racing". If you haven't done any supersprints you need to get out there asap and try a few. the one on last weekend had about 14 cars on the track, released 2 at a time. You aren't really meant to "race" each other, the goal is the quickest single lap. But it does give you a good idea of going around close to other cars.

If you want to race race it depends on where you sit in the "having fun" to "I am the next shumaker" scale. At the having fun end you should start with MRA who run race meets under AASA at wakefield (don't think they do EC). They are cheap, open rules and have a class for skylines (combined sedans). There are a few guys on here building MRA style cars at the moment like Ryan (BOZ22N) and Andrew (zebra), both have 33 gtst, and Chris (evil_weevil) is racing here too in an mx5. Also I think Stu (bezerkr32) is intending on running his v8 r32 gtst here.

From there irace muscle class is the next place to go, I have run with them once at the start of the year and was pretty happy. A bit more expensive and a bit more serious. Greg (stretch), Stu (R32 Stuart), Brad (Risking) run in this regularly.

If you want to get into the serious side of racing you need to get into the CAMS NSW champs. There are 5 rounds this year and the first one is at Eastern Creek so head along and have a look (and a chat to competitors) if you are thinking about going this way. But keep in mind there are lots of rules and very serious competitors (spending 000,000s of dollars in sports sedans and race cars. Even some of the production car guys are spending 80-100k to build cars now.

In cams you have 4 choices:

3E - Production Cars. Basically no mods allowed, certainly not rb30. So not a great choice for your car. This is where I race.

3J - Improved production. Hate anything younger than 1986. They have a specific rule for turbo cars to make sure they can't be competitive - you need to run a 36mm restrictor in the intake - this will very effectively limit every turbo car to 350hp/250kw (at the motor!). 1 turbo car won the series about 5 years ago but it cost them a fortune.

3D - Sports Sedans. Definately an option as long as you don't expect to win outright. There are basically no restictions on what a 2wd car can do, but as a result the front running cars are full space frame 6l chevs with tricky aero and enourmous tyres. these guys are quicker than v8 supertaxis and spend as much. There are different rules for 4wd and I am (slowly) building a car to these but they are more restrictive (eg must retain full factory chasis, must retain standard block). Dave (lofty) has a spectacular 32 gtr that is racing in this (same car that won IPRA a few years back, upspecced)

2F - Production Sports cars. I don't really know these guys but they may be the best option for a 33 gtst. They call it "production" sports but there are significant mods allowed. You should talk to the PSCA to understand more. Stuart (Noddy) runs his 33 gtst under 2F in QLD. no 4wd but that doesn't matter to you I guess

cams regs are here http://www.camsmanual.com.au/02_race.asp but I found them hard to understand until I had spoken to a few people in each category so I would suggest that first

Hi Duncan,

Thanks for your info!

So MRA seems like a go in regards to re-building the car to a set of "relaxed" regs. Although they specify CAMS as the overriding authority.

Any of the MRA guys give me any tips in tracking down the relevant regulations for combined sedans class A??

Mike

[Beer Baron]

if going into a cams series prod sports would be the go for your car for sure. I used to run a friends car in prod sports a few years back now when it was basically a playground for guys with GT3 cup cars who weren't quite serious enough for Porsche Cup. It's now a much more diverse category and has a good mix of cars. Like duncan says don't let the "production" part of the name fool you. There are plenty of mods allowed to ensure fast, competitive racing. Not a cheap category if you want to be up the front outright though. but good fields if you just want to have fun.

[evil_weevil]

MRA is fun!

all you need is a full cage. then get it AASA log booked. You'll need at a minimum the level 2 AASA licence which is around $60 a year. you'll need to do an OLT at wakie for that - easy as - speed of the streets day.

MRA has a whole heap of different cars....mx5's, commodores, utes, falcons, torana's, kingswoods, protons, swifts, wrx's, bmw's, silvias - if its got a cage - it'll be there!

thats me going slowly down the straight in the middle of the pack LOL

normally around 250 - 270 a round which I think is the cheapest out there.

the car itself pretty much needs a full cams approved roll cage, normal stuff also like harness, suit, gloves, shoes, helmet, fire extinguisher.

My MX5 was built to CAMS 2F spec prod sports, but thats too expensive for me to race in at the moment so MRA it is.

Some guys race in MRA and Irace also - Irace may have a few more rules and regs but pretty easy to understand and follow

[Sir Lord Van Von Vader'ham]

this is a great little thread.

I've been building a HR31 for DA (well Super Drift.. ) and have just found out that it been cancelled for 2010.

So i've decided to get into some sprints but have the regs to be a little confusing, MRA sounds like the place to be!

someone should sticky this.

[evil_weevil]

http://www.mraseries.com.au/

[stomper]

Cheers to all that have contributed their opinions so far.

I need to have a look at the CAMS production sports regs and see what i can do with the old girl......hers hoping that the packet i spent on my dirty 30 is not going to be mothballed......

Mike

[stomper]

So i have been busy downloading the reg from CAMS, and have the 2F and 3D regs in front if me.

My problem is that whilst 2F may be less (a loose term) expensive to be competetive than 3D - the thought of airway restrictors makes my skin crawl.

So whilst getting flogged every race by the 6L boys my be painfull, the lower restrictions - or more oportunity to develop the car seems better. Also looks like i can run the 26/30 in that class no problem.

Two questiosn remain:

1. Is the above a fair statement based on everyones experience?

2. What is the implications in racing in MRA if i were to build to CAMS 3D rather than 2F??

Cheers guys!

[evil_weevil]

AFAIK - you'll be in the combined sedans class anyway so whether its a 3D or a 2F car - you'll be fine. If your wanting to be in the championship for MRA you'll be in the over 2L class. then its just slicks or treaded class.

Hoever, it does say "All cars must comply with the relevant CAMS category rules that the car was built too"

[Roy]

Seriously, if you want door to door then Historics NC are what i think works well. Cool cars that you can do so many levels of motorsport in SAFELY. Helps when you only have an 800kg 150hp car, you dont get into too much trouble too quickly

[Duncan]

yeah sorry I had never read the 2F rules - they require a 34mm restrictor just like 3J so I personally would not consider it. Not sure what Noddy is up to perhaps he just skipped that line in the rules

[stomper]

Well thats settled ( although i have the same question in with the guys that administer the MRA series). 2011 will be the year for a 3D regs built R33 with a 26/30 in it!!!

Now i need to learn how to stitch/seam weld........

[rotort]

not sure if noddy has run in 2f, he has deffinitly run in Sport sedans at morgan park and in time attack. but he does alot of super sprints and street sprints as well as drifting.

[JimmyRickard]

Sorry to bump an old thread but just had some questions about running in 3E.

My car has the following mods:

• Standard engine with -7's (260kw atw)
• pod filters
• ecu
• suspension
• Half cage (soon to be completed)

What sort of mods are/aren't allowed? Are brakes free? Engine internals? Tuning?

Anything I need to know before completing the cage?

Any help would be appreciated

[Risking]

I'd suggest forgetting 3E production cars and just go and race MRA and irace meetings.

Flexible rules, relaxed racing much easier to begin with that trying to knock a car together for the production car category.