FS: Van Diemen RF96 FB (F1000)

[carnut169]

96 Van Diemen FC/ Custom chassis
George Dean 2007 GSXR and harness (1 race weekend)
Wet-Sump baffled oil pan
Custom Stainless headers
Chase Cam with 520 line camera helmet Cam housing, 2g card and Lanc. New built in G-force display.
AIM XG Log: Water & oil temp, Air/Fuel, Oil press, rpm, volts, speed, logger temp, fuel press
SPA Design dual oil & water temp gauge
Power Commander 3usb
Innovate LC-3
Stock GSXR Dash
Aeroquip fuel pump and pressure regulator
Taylor/ TRE Quaife Limited Slip diff
Ohlins TT44
Hyperco perch on monoshock
Coast Fab muffler
Averill Front wing/ box
Jongbloed 8 & 10” wheels
C&R Aluminum Radiators
Setrab Oil Cooler
Comprent adjustable rear bar
Wired transponder
B&M switched fan
Odyssey Battery
Gi Pro TRE/ Gear Position display
Gyrodynamics diffuser
Taylor Aluminum Tripod joints
Fresh ATL fuel cell
Bead seat (5’11, 170lbs)

Spares:

Complete stock Van Diemen Nose box/ wing
Pennon 98+ style composite box with Averill wings to fit
Front wing pole
Complete dual rear wing and support (high speed elements)
Monoshock assembly
07 GSXR starter
1 complete front upright/ rotor/ brake assembly
1 complete rear upright/ rotor/ brake assembly
Complete front suspension: upper & lower a-arms L&R, pushrods L&R, steering rack, toe rods.
Complete rear suspension but lower rears need to be modified by Pat Prince- the ones on the car are custom. Pat does have the jig.
Extra tripod housings (5 or so) ss inserts, and boots
All suspension mounts/ brackets
Shifter cables
1 extra set of Jongbloed 8 & 10”
2 sets of OZ 6 & 8”
1 (2) piece shock cover and 1 one piece shock cover
13, 14, 15, 17 front sprockets
42-49t rear sprockets, many with split design
Gyrodynamics diffuser in need of repair
Lens covers for camera housing (helmet cam)
Beville washers (bag)
Misc wings
2 Van Diemen Radiators
3 Almost new oil coolers

Special tools/ Set up:

MK Technologies scale platform and Longacre scales
Nitrogen tank
Front and rear quick lifts (Gyrodynamics)
Ohlins Shock tool
RK Chain tool
Comprent Flag alignment system
Chassis stands
Chassis table

History:

This 96 Van Diemen started it’s life in the Pro-Series, 1997 driven by no other than Greg LeMond (well known professional cyclist) who drove the car for one season. I even have a matchbox style model of my car! The sponsor company (Autoconnect/ Manheim) put the car on tour as a display piece at various auctions. The final visit on the tour was The Atlanta Auto Auction which is where I was employed at the time. I made an offer on the car and raced it as a FC for several years with success. Won rookie of the year in 2002. Ready for a change, I decided to enlist the help of Crutchfield Racing to build a bike powered FS. In 05-06 we designed, tested and developed the FS. At the same time a group of racers and I were meeting and creating the FB class. Come the end of 2006 SCCA gave FB National Status and in January of 2007 this car became the 1st FB to race in the SCCA. It’s also the 1st officially homologated FB.
This car is not “home-built” as both Crutchfield Racing and Comprent have done all of the welding and fabrication. Over two years of racing we have refined this car into a top notch National level car.

Results:

1/6/07 Sebring National, P1, 1st ever FB to race
3/25/07 Road Atlanta National, P1, beat two Stohr F1000’s driven by Ken Tyrell and Tom Shelton
4/28/07 Roebling Road SARRC, P1, qualified and finished 4th of 25 in group
4/29/07 Roebling Road SARRC, P1[
6/2/07 Road Atlanta SARRC, P1
6/3/07 Road Atlanta National, P1
7/8/07 Barber, P1, Beat 2nd place Stohr by 28 seconds
11/10/07 Road Atlanta ARRC, sad day… motor blew. Qualified 7th out of 44 in group.

[


Finished 2007 SARRC Champion and Southeast National FB points leader

5/24/08 Carolina Motorsports Park, P1, beating a Stohr and Van Diemen conversion
5/25/08 Carolina Motorsports Park, P1, beating a Stohr[


10 FB Races: 9 wins, 1 DNF.


After the ARRC the car was rebuilt from the ground up sparing no expense. A new George Dean 07 GSXR was installed. Comprent redesigned the shifter, the engine mounts (now can adapt any year motor), and built a custom stainless header/ exhaust. New radiators, oil coolers, and a data system were also installed. A SPA dual gauge, hard aluminum coolant lines, and braided bleeder lines also were made. All bodywork was professionally painted Mercedes 744 (silver) and the frame was powder coated gloss black. Even the interior aluminum panels were powder coated silver to match. Other small things like the fire system handle and misc hardware/ rod ends were also replaced. The car has a Innovate LC-1 wide band Lambda sensor and the AIM system logs air/fuel, fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature and water temperature. Also logger temp, rpm, speed, g-forces. With these two devices the user can adjust the fuel via the Power Commander to maximize hp. Driver can keep up with gear position via the Gipro (also contains a TRE) and record everything with the Chasecam system. Brake balance and rear sway are also cockpit adjustable. Before the ARRC Stimola rebuilt the Ohlin’s and Taylor rebuilt the Quaife.

$40,000obo for all of the above

Getting out of racing? No! I've just spent way to much $$ on the winter rebuild and have a bit of racing debt that I'd like to get rid of. I may buy a kart and race that for a while, or rent a few times a year to race SCCA. Might not sell the car and rent it for a few events... we will see.

If anyone is looking to get into FB this is a chance to buy a nearly new car with an unheard of amount of spares and equipment for less than anything on the market.
Buy it and go race tomorrow.

[formulasuper]

So, you did get the ride with Ganassi?

[carnut169]

LOL, I wish. Has he started recruiting 40 year olds?

No, just looking to re-group and I'd hate to have a great car sit out for a year or so. FB is going to be fantastic in 09. I've got some debt that needs to go... racing related debt is something I said I'd never do.

If it does sell I'll have some cash to play with and would consider several options- #1 being a pair of 125 shifters to use in the local kart series + SCCA autocross. I could actually race rather than watch. Plus, by buying two karts I could bring a friend along.

Once things turn around at work I'd get my big car fix via rentals like the one 10/Tenths has... and I'd be a better driver with the amount of seat time I'd get in the kart.

I will be racing at Barber, anyone interested is more than welcome to come check it out. The 96 is a larger, more comfortable chassis. I'm also willing to sell the car without tools or spares for $34,000 (but you'd be crazy to pass on all those spares!). Keep in mind that nearly every component in the car has no more than 2 race weekends, most just the one.

If it does not sell I may consider rental for local events (national or regional).

[rickjohnson356]

Can your daughter reach the pedals yet?

She was standing in your car and then 'driving' the lawn mower. So what is next for her?

On the way to F1 in about 18 years?

[carnut169]

At 5 you can start racing karts....

[formulasuper]

Hey Sean old buddy, old friend, put me first on the list to share that extra 125 shifter. I've got lots of practice from driving my home conversion vintage 185 Suzuki shifter kart. Seriously!

[Stan Clayton]

Sean must be serious...here it is on eBay: Sean's RF96 FB.

[carnut169]

Like people have been saying, it is the worst time to sell a race car. I'm definately not in a fire sale situation and won't be giving the car away... it's too good for that.

Worst-case scenario, I'll keep it and just run a couple events myself next year. Complete recovery without a bunch of races is possible within the next 12 months.


One other idea that crossed my mind is renting for 1/2 of a double weekend...

We will see. There are several FBs on the market and they are all good cars. Hope they all end up with owners that run them in 09.

[Tom Sprecher]

If you need any help, like financially or a place to stay, please let me know. That's what friends are for.

You stepped in it this time, didn't you?

[Purple Frog]

I'll pay the race entry, race gas, and beer budget, if you let me drive one of the races at a double. Can we put a little purple on the car though?

[carnut169]

If you need any help, like financially or a place to stay, please let me know. That's what friends are for.

You stepped in it this time, didn't you?

Ok bubba. We're even.

Oh... I could use a back rub, come on over.

[Chris McNitt]

Is there a phone number I can call you at? If you prefer not to post it, you can call me at 830 221 8739 or email at cmcnitt@email.com

thanks
Chris

[RussMcB]

Chris, you are going to be very happy if you get Sean's car. It is fast, gorgeous & competitive, plus it may very well appreciate in value. If you buy it, you have to promise to bring it back to the ARRC in November. It will drive itself around Road Atlanta.

[carnut169]

Car & spares are....... sold.



One journey comes to an end while others begin....

New owner will be racing at Barber with my support.

[Richard Dziak]

Deleted ...see post below.

[Richard Dziak]

Looks like whoever got this car got a real beauty.

Congrats to the new owner/driver.

Congrats to Sean.......

"Life is good"

Hopefully we can hear a little from the new driver of location and what tracks he will debut the new ride.

[Chris McNitt]

Hi guys, I'm the proud new owner of Sean's car. I just started road racing this year, I bought Jay Novak's F500 and had a good year. After I run Barber with Sean, I'll run Texas Motor Speedway in mid Sept. I am in the Southwest division and live in south Texas. No real plan after that except I want to run Sebring and Homestead in Jan. I ran the Sprints this year with the F500 and had a blast, so I mostly hope to make some of the bigger races. I'm looking forward to meeting all you F1000 guys and would appreciate any and all advice!!

Chris

[Stan Clayton]

Congrats Chirs...you have a piece of history there!

[carnut169]

Got you hooked up with the killer avatar Chris....


You will find this board to be the best source of knowledge on the planet.

[VehDyn]

Congrats. I hope to see you soo once I find some more money to race. Good luck!

[rickb99]

Congratulations Chris and Sean. Sounds like a 'deal' that was perfectly timed for both of you

As Stan said, you have a piece of history there, Chris. In 40 years when the SCCA is racing anti-gravity cars powered by hydrogen, that will be a classic example of what those old guys could do when FB technology came along!

Have FUN ! ! !