Which car to buy?

Brad,
Your last post clears up what you're looking to do. Don't leave out Blackhawk Farms on your list of tracks. It's a blast (no super long straights to "rest") and better for the family/friends as you come by many more times a race compared to RA. Shorter track. Nice facility too. Basically the same distance from the Twin Cities as RA. There is a race there on October 7-8. Register on MotorsportReg and you can see the entries and the schedule, etc. That site is where most people register for races.

If you have not sat in a formula car, I'd suggest you reach out to Steve Thomson soon. He's got a couple FC cars with MZR engines and sequential boxes in Minneapolis. They won't be here for long (like days) as he's moving his shop. Doing an arrive and drive with him next year will go a long way in helping you decide what to do. He has run top drivers in his cars, including Jordon Taylor and RC Enerson. Not to mention being a 2 time June Sprints winner himself.

Jim

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Originally Posted by Allemay

Half the fun of this is tinkering with the car although it's not particularly good for my marriage! I'll have a lot of time for reading and learning on here since I broke the news to my wife last night that I'm buying a racecar and won't be having sex for the new couple of months.

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Whaddayamean? Where else are you going to get helpers in the garage and the drivers for your race team's karting operation? :kiss:

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Originally Posted by Jim Nash

Brad,
Your last post clears up what you're looking to do. Don't leave out Blackhawk Farms on your list of tracks. It's a blast (no super long straights to "rest") and better for the family/friends as you come by many more times a race compared to RA. Shorter track. Nice facility too. Basically the same distance from the Twin Cities as RA. There is a race there on October 7-8. Register on MotorsportReg and you can see the entries and the schedule, etc. That site is where most people register for races.

If you have not sat in a formula car, I'd suggest you reach out to Steve Thomson soon. He's got a couple FC cars with MZR engines and sequential boxes in Minneapolis. They won't be here for long (like days) as he's moving his shop. Doing an arrive and drive with him next year will go a long way in helping you decide what to do. He has run top drivers in his cars, including Jordon Taylor and RC Enerson. Not to mention being a 2 time June Sprints winner himself.

Jim

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Thanks Jim. Super helpful.

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Originally Posted by Allemay

I can tell from a lot of the responses that you guys are taking the competition a little more seriously than I plan to.

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That's how I started out. I'm still mid-pack at best but found out hanging onto faster guys and trying to figure out how to get around slower ones is A LOT more fun than lapping around by myself. Depending, of course, on how much I can trust those other drivers - choose the right group and you'll become a racer in spite of yourself.

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Originally Posted by TimH

That's how I started out. I'm still mid-pack at best but found out hanging onto faster guys and trying to figure out how to get around slower ones is A LOT more fun than lapping around by myself. Depending, of course, on how much I can trust those other drivers - choose the right group and you'll become a racer in spite of yourself.

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And Tim’s a good guy to run with

It might be a benefit to ask which cars would be physically a good fit for a healthy sized driver.

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Originally Posted by jrh3

It might be a benefit to ask which cars would be physically a good fit for a healthy sized driver.

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I like the way you phrased that!

I am one of the Radical dealers in the country and the rebuild cost range that you stated here is VERY inaccurate. The range you stated is almost double. Plus an incredible detail you didn't state is the Radical engine reliability vs these other. If you do the normal basic care that you're supposed to with the Radical engines then 99% chance they go the full life unlike most of other sports racers.

For you in MN specifically there is a big group of guys with Radicals that race together specifically at Brainerd which is fantastic for you. You'll have a bunch of the same cars to run with, learn from and have fun community with. Many of these folks are customers of mine on the parts side of things and I can put you in touch with them if needed. There is also big community in WI that are running at blackhawk and road america, and obviously massive community in IL.

Outside of the MN gang, there is obviously Radical Cup which runs at Road America every year on the Indy Car weekend. Over the last 4 years we have had 5-6 hours of track time on this event, Road America, Indy Car event and if you're not fit more track time than you can literally physically handle, pretty phenomenal combination. Here you will have 30-40 Radicals in the field to run with. SCCA wants to build up the P2 class and recognizes they need to get the 1500+ radicals in this country involved, they have already made rules changes to make the cars more competitive with more changes coming. These cars are also eligible for NASA and we run them alot in there and win overall in the Super Unlimited class.

The other huge detail that nobody else comes close to is factory/dealer support with Radical. In North America alone there is 10 dealers plus 2 in Canada. Between Group-A Racing (Me), Stradale & Spring Mountain there is over 2 million dollars of parts inventory in the country. So when you need something we have you covered. Unlike most of these other cars which never did have great supply and so many of them don't exist anymore, so good luck with that scavenger hunt. Plus outside the parts support is the tech support amongst the dealers, plus Radical now has full time employees state side just for USA customer tech help when needed.

As others have stated $30K is a very low budget to buy a sports racer. But I have 2 cars cars available that are really, really good cars and well below market deals that if you stretch just a bit over this, I can get you setup up with pretty modern great cars. Both these sellers purchased brand new cars with one of them moving up from SR3 to SR10.

Can PM, E-Mail or call for more info, I think I have done enough of a Radical infomercial in this thread ;)

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Originally Posted by Allemay

Hi Guys/Gals,

I'm new to this site and the whole sports racer thing. I've been trying to read everything I can find but still have some questions. I rand dirt modifieds for years and then a 1996 Firebird in the Chump Car series for a few more years.

I want to get something like the West WR1000 or Stohr WF1. I'm sure there are other similar cars that I'm not familiar with but that's generally what I'm trying to find. I definitely want the motorcycle powerplant. In particular I want something that can be refreshed for $6k and not the $15k-$20k it seem like the Radical guys all spend.

I'm concerned about parts availability and cost for some of these cars. I know a lot of the manufacturers are no longer in business so that concerns me. Are there companies out there that cater to these cars? I wouldn't have a clue where to order suspension components for any of these cars or how to work on one, although I'm very handy and have swapped dozens of motors and transmissions. Are there manuals for these cars that can help with setups?

Also, I'm in MN and Brainerd International Raceway and Road America are my two closest tracks. It looks like SCCA has events at both these tracks but I can't tell from the schedules if a class where this type of car would be allowed is included in the weekend.

I'd like to keep the cost of the car around $30k. It doesn't need to be top of the line, just want to get on track again.

I'm getting frustrated and hope some of you can help me out.

Thanks,
Brad

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I just wanted to say a final "Thank you" to everyone that took the time to respond with their advice. I didn't end up where I thought I would when I initially started searching for a car. After sitting in several different cars I've purchased a SRF3. Having a cockpit I could fit in and large groups of cars at the tracks I will frequent made it a pretty easy decision in the end. Plus, everyone I spoke with from my region in the SRF class was super friendly and helpful.

I want to say a special thanks to Steve, Jim, David, and Sven who let me sit in their cars and met with me or talked to me numerous times. This is a really great group and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the track after a fun winter of upgrading the car.

Brad

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Originally Posted by Allemay

... I've purchased a SRF3. ....after a fun winter of upgrading the car.

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Make sure you are 'updating' the car rather than 'upgrading'.

Remember, unless the rules explicitly allow something, it's not allowed. Especially on a spec car.

Have fun !

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Originally Posted by Allemay

Hi Guys/Gals,

I'm new to this site and the whole sports racer thing. I've been trying to read everything I can find but still have some questions. I rand dirt modifieds for years and then a 1996 Firebird in the Chump Car series for a few more years.

I want to get something like the West WR1000 or Stohr WF1. I'm sure there are other similar cars that I'm not familiar with but that's generally what I'm trying to find. I definitely want the motorcycle powerplant. In particular I want something that can be refreshed for $6k and not the $15k-$20k it seem like the Radical guys all spend.

I'm concerned about parts availability and cost for some of these cars. I know a lot of the manufacturers are no longer in business so that concerns me. Are there companies out there that cater to these cars? I wouldn't have a clue where to order suspension components for any of these cars or how to work on one, although I'm very handy and have swapped dozens of motors and transmissions. Are there manuals for these cars that can help with setups?

Also, I'm in MN and Brainerd International Raceway and Road America are my two closest tracks. It looks like SCCA has events at both these tracks but I can't tell from the schedules if a class where this type of car would be allowed is included in the weekend.

I'd like to keep the cost of the car around $30k. It doesn't need to be top of the line, just want to get on track again.

I'm getting frustrated and hope some of you can help me out.

Thanks,
Brad

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Hi Brad,

I don't know if you saw my ad here on the forum, but if you haven't, it's listed in P1/P2 cars for sale. It's a very well sorted Stohr 01D that really IS ready to race, and has a great history over the last 5 years. It has an annual tech that is good into March 2024. I have it listed for $35K, but feel free to make an offer. I'm considering renting it for a local race, with the rental fee applied to the sale price if you want to buy it.

Tom K 203-948-1413

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Originally Posted by VDF1

Hi Brad,

I don't know if you saw my ad here on the forum, but if you haven't, it's listed in P1/P2 cars for sale. It's a very well sorted Stohr 01D that really IS ready to race, and has a great history over the last 5 years. It has an annual tech that is good into March 2024. I have it listed for $35K, but feel free to make an offer. I'm considering renting it for a local race, with the rental fee applied to the sale price if you want to buy it.

Tom K 203-948-1413

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He purchased a SRF3.

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Originally Posted by Allemay

Right now I just want to get back on the track and run with some other similar cars. I'll probably only run Brainerd in MN and Road America in Wisconsin. I still have young kids so if I make it three times a year I'll be happy...

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Sounds like for the near term, you may have eliminated "podiums" and "prizes" for your car choices. That should open a lot of opportunities I'd think. Used SRFs Gen2-Gen3 are a bit more affordable as some drivers "age out." Suggest you check out those forums/pages too. Maybe a bit slower than Radicals, P2s, etc, but wheel to wheel. And maintenance is cheap and DIY!

I really enjoyed my experience in a Sports Renault, racing in a division only SPU, sort of a very modified SR(f) chassis and body with a 2.0L Renault engine. But, like your "plan" sounds; a few times a year - it filled the "Need for SPEED." Also, my personal need to modify areo and test...

Best of luck.

Cheers - Jim

OOPS - I see he bought a SRF3 - I think a perfect choice. Guess I am a SLOW TYPIST!

With all that was written here, and all things considered, I think you made the best-possible decision.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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Originally Posted by Allemay

I just wanted to say a final "Thank you" to everyone that took the time to respond with their advice. I didn't end up where I thought I would when I initially started searching for a car. After sitting in several different cars I've purchased a SRF3. Having a cockpit I could fit in and large groups of cars at the tracks I will frequent made it a pretty easy decision in the end. Plus, everyone I spoke with from my region in the SRF class was super friendly and helpful.

I want to say a special thanks to Steve, Jim, David, and Sven who let me sit in their cars and met with me or talked to me numerous times. This is a really great group and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the track after a fun winter of upgrading the car.

Brad

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Brad, how about a picture of the new car?

Congratulations!!

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Originally Posted by ace37

Brad, how about a picture of the new car?

Congratulations!!

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Good idea. Here it is. It will look better by spring!
https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/att...d=108765&stc=1

Be sure to post a photo of the big grin on your face after your first drive.

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Originally Posted by nautoncall

He purchased a SRF3.

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I saw that. Thanks

Congratulations! You’ll have fun. One question that may likely determine your early schedule… Do you have an SCCA license? Driver schools seem to be less frequent these days. But there are likely more ways to qualify for one. Check the GCR. At Scca.org under rules. David Schaal would be a good guide as I think he’s worked with many drivers coming from other series. He could also help with driver gear too. These are the items that can scupper people starting out.

Jim