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View Full Version : Potential New Racer - Howdy



DBryan
05-26-2013, 06:25 PM
Hello all. I have been looking at getting into racing for about two years. I will continue dreaming about it for a few more years because mid August I will be moving to and living in Germany for the next 3-4 years (Military). But, I could potentially pull the trigger on a racecar in the next year or so while I'm over there (if logistically possible).

Previous Experience: I have zero friends who race and have absolutely zero experience. I have never even been on a racetrack. I plan on attending some HPDE events in the Southeast June thru July with my C5Z06 (bonestock). Four years ago I began building my FFR MK3.1 Roadster and I absolutely loved building it. It was finished a year ago and was a great experience that I would love to do again with my son. I originally had put in an order for a Challenge car but at the time my interests were more geared towards customization rather than racing and I didn't want to go with a stock 302 and 2.73 gears so I changed the order to a Roadster. Its cool, because I put WAY too much money into that thing (some of which I regret) and would never want to scrub with anyone on the track.

My Interests: I don't want to race anything less than 8 cylinders but don't have the deep wallet for AI/AIX/ST2/ST3. I have spent hundreds of hours researching CMC. Also briefly thought about Spec Miata but that would hold my interest for about one season then I'd be looking for V8 thunder. CMC seems really cool, except there are so many different platforms and rules to create parity between them. Since I built the Roadster, I feel I am very familiar with the foxbody drivetrain and FFR Challenge chassis thus is very attractive here. Also, the fact that there is only one platform and less disparity in the rules is also another attractive feature.

5 years ago when I almost ordered the Challenge car, the rules kept me from going that route. However, ultimately the current rules have creeped into allowing gears and the trickflow top end kit along with some brake options. Kinda funny how it worked out, because my Roadster has a trickflow top end kit and 3.27 gears with Cobra Brakes. So anyways...

Questions:
1. How many FFRC cars on average show up to race against in Texas? How many CMC?
2. Would be awesome if my TF top end will swap over to an FFRC....Any chance this is possible?
3. I seen what seemed to be a competitive FFRC built forsale for about $28500....is this about what it costs to build?
4. Anyone have an idea what their operating costs per year are versus CMC?

I obviously have plenty of time to sort things out. But right now its CMC vs FFR. I have read a couple posts regarding a diminishing FFRC groups running. This concerns me because I want to run in a class against like platforms and not in ST2. But again, I only have perceptions to go off of. I'm sure even if I was on the track in ST2 I'd be having a ball either way, but in my mind, I think I would rather race against like platforms. Again just my pre-conceived perceptions of what I think I want.

Thanks in advance.

mhoward1
05-27-2013, 05:14 PM
I don't know much about the groups in Texas but in the SE and Mid-A we have a decent group. About the same size as CMC, and when all of us from the East Coast Series (ECS) show up we have quite a few. I am also friends with Chris Ferraro, the CMC national champion and he and I have quite a bit of fun on track with he being slightly quicker, or at least we use to. With the upgrades we (the FFRC cars) have gotten significantly faster than the CMC and AI cars. We have had a few conversations over campfires and dinners at the track about each series and the best parts of each.

Operation cost are roughly the same, but the FFRC cars are a bit cheaper on many parts and a heck of a lot cheaper in consumables due to the 500-700 lbs difference. They go through tire 3X as fast, and brakes 2X as fast. He is actually competing in Spec Iron this year because the racing is closer than CMC due to the spec being a lot tighter and closer.

As for your TF package, you would need to look at each part number to see if they match. The upgrade kit is VERY specific.

Ed Gaven
06-10-2013, 08:21 PM
While you are doing your research, I recommend you take advantage of being posted to Germany. The BMW club runs a terrific program at the fabled Nurburgring. You can do it in a rental car. once you do it, you will always want to go back. I hope to get an afternoon there this August. Contact the US BMW club for info.I used a 316, and got into the ten and change lap times. All the best, Ed Gaven