Imports

[McLaren]

And that is assuming I do near all the work myself. Labor on these projects can be insane.

True, true on the first part. And I agree with this. Jotech charges nearly as much as my BMW dealer. $85/hour compared to $90/hour.

 

[homeforsummer]

It's more common in the U.K for someone to buy a Radical/Formula Ford or similar as their track car and keep their daily fairly stock.

You what? Radicals cost £30k, that's not exactly pocket money either. And open-wheeled cars aren't allowed at most, if not all track days. There are more club championships for production-based cars too than there are for single-seaters.

I'd suggest that it's much more common in the UK for someone to have a tuned road car as their track car, even if it isn't their daily driver.

Oh, and more actual pictures:

These are awesome. Why Mazda didn't export the MX-5 Coupe I'll never know. It would virtually be my ideal car, full stop. Can you imagine? A lightweight, rear-drive, revvy, stiffer-chassis coupe? Warmer and more secure than the rag-top (and arguably better looking) yet virtually no penalty in weight (Mazda reckoned only 20kg extra). I especially like the TS version, a Tokyo show concept from a number of years back:

 

[exigeracer]

True, true on the first part. And I agree with this. Jotech charges nearly as much as my BMW dealer. $85/hour compared to $90/hour.

Keep in mind also:

Labor hours are used for bragging rights on backyard projects all the time ("over 25,000$ invested and and well over 1,000 man hours"). The teams that run these cars are from shops where you can take your own car and those labor hours actually have real, calculable and legitimately billable hours which mean more for the value of the car than some guy prototyping things in his own tool shop.

You what? Radicals cost £30k, that's not exactly pocket money either. And open-wheeled cars aren't allowed at most, if not all track days. There are more club championships for production-based cars too than there are for single-seaters.

This is what bothers me a little about Evo and other magazines doing reviews and tests with Radicals and other club racers. They make them seem so much more accessible than they really are. Not only are purchase price high, but have you seen the repair and rebuild schedule on the average SR3? Literally everything save the chassis is on a rebuild schedule of running hours in the single digits. A personal track car like that without the support is just not possible without a full shop/team to maintain the thing, which again leads to valuable, billable labor.

 

[stumpydino]

from some angles they look alright..think i prefer the roofline of the hardtop though
that second red one has a kinda maserati look to it
do like the yellow one too

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

You what? Radicals cost £30k, that's not exactly pocket money either. And open-wheeled cars aren't allowed at most, if not all track days. There are more club championships for production-based cars too than there are for single-seaters.

I'd suggest that it's much more common in the UK for someone to have a tuned road car as their track car, even if it isn't their daily driver.

So a second-hand Clubsport costs £30k? Only a fool or a rich man buys first-hand!

Did I say for track days? No, I said as their track car. Private hire functions, renting airfields, hillclimbs, test days, etc.

I didn't really mean to say more common, but a lot of guys do run Radicals and other lightweights/single seaters for fun.

 

[McLaren]

Keep in mind also:

Labor hours are used for bragging rights on backyard projects all the time ("over 25,000$ invested and and well over 1,000 man hours"). The teams that run these cars are from shops where you can take your own car and those labor hours actually have real, calculable and legitimately billable hours which mean more for the value of the car than some guy prototyping things in his own tool shop.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. Although, & I hope I'm misunderstanding, you're not hinting at Jotech by that last sentence are you?

 

[homeforsummer]

So a second-hand Clubsport costs £30k? Only a fool or a rich man buys first-hand!

Call me poor, but the ones currently for sale on Pistonheads don't look to cheap to me. The cheapest there is over £8k. Quite a lot when a second-hand Caterham Roadsports or something will cost you probably half that, and it wouldn't require a big car and a trailer on top of that. Or any number of other 7 replicas, or other kit cars. Or a 205 GTI for a grand.

Did I say for track days? No, I said as their track car. Private hire functions, renting airfields, hillclimbs, test days, etc.

Fair enough. Different arguement then - last hillclimb I went to, there were no Radical-style cars. There were about three single seaters, two of which were ex-Formula 2 and therefore not very cheap at all (people like Jackie Stewart in the history of the chassis). There were probably a dozen Morgans, some of which had been driven to the hill. There were even more Caterhams and Elises, and loads of hot hatches. The majority had been driven there, and were driven home too.

The only place I've seen cars like Radicals in motorsport are in dedicated series for them, or bike-engined kit car series. Series that are a whole lot more expensive to compete in than the vast majority of other club motorsports.

I didn't really mean to say more common, but a lot of guys do run Radicals and other lightweights/single seaters for fun.

The term "a lot" is relative. "A lot" probably run them compared to say, Porsche GT3s or Ferrari Stradales, but I'd still say that a large majority of people who take their cars on track, in whichever discipline - competitive or otherwise, start off with a road car, that is then adapted to the purpose. Not a dedicated track car.

And as a subtle hint to all as to the idea of the thread, here are some more imports... that happen to be on a track.

 

[exigeracer]

Yeah, I get what you're saying. Although, & I hope I'm misunderstanding, you're not hinting at Jotech by that last sentence are you?

Not at all. I'm sure you've seen the custom jobs that people do and claim x amount of hours to complete, when it was a hobby done in free spare time anyways. That's of little value compared to a guy whose 9-5 is to tune and prep race cars.

 

[McLaren]

Yes, I see what you're saying now. We've got a few kids like that at our meets who talk about how long it took them to install their seats or intakes or whatever, stuff that really should have taken 2 hours, and doesn't need 10 minutes to be explained.

On that subject, here's a TL 1 man has put a lot of blood & sweat into.

Full progress here.
http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=689508

And his brother's S2000.

 

[Loon]

I think that Tl out of all the ones you've posted is my favorite. I really dig the hardtop on the S2K, makes it look like a completely different car, more agressive.

 

[nk4e]

👍 Its the headlights! To me, it gives off a sleek and smooth Transformer look.

 

[Leonidae]

the hood could be more subtle.. then I'd love to own that S2K..

 

[Azuremen]

The only fail on that S2K is the cross drilled rotors.

Bleh, going for show look too much.

 

[C-ZETA]

S2K's headlights = scintillating. They're a little bit wide, but they look like they could be used to shine up your home at night when you've got a power cut.

 

[-ultraflow-]

Bulletproof Automotive HONDA S2000

Aerodynamics/Exterior:
Bulletproof Remix Hardtop
Top Secret Carbon Bonnet
Top Secret Carbon R34 Rear Diffuser
Top Secret Vortex Generators
First Molding JGTC Carbon Mirrors
Bulletproof One-Off GT Squared Widebody
Top Secret Gold Paint
Top Secret/Speed Glass Front Windshield
MS-R Original Graphics


Engine:
F20C with Vortech Supercharger
Tracy Sports SPL Manifold
Tracy Sports/SARD Sports Catalyst
Tracy Sports Titanium 70mm Dual Exhaust System
AEM EMS
Bulletproof Automotive Carbon Driveshaft
Tracy Sports Drive Shaft Spacer Kit
Tracy Sports 4.44 Final Drive Gear
Tracy Sports Baffled Oil Pan
J’s Racing SPL Oil Catch Tank
ORC Carbon Clutch
C’s Short Shift Kit
Tracy Sports Pillow Ball Differential Mount
Fusion Oil and RX-1

Suspension, Brakes and Wheels:
Toyo R1-R Tires
Track Rims: Ings+1/RAYS TS-06 Wheels 18x10.5, Top Secret Remix Version
Street Rims: Top Secret Limited RAYS TE37 19x10.5
J’s Racing/Endless 6 Piston Brake Kit
Top Secret Super Damper Coilover Kit 16k/14k
Top Secret Roberuta Height Adjustable Cup Kit: Front, Rear and Remote Control
J’s Racing Rear Control Arm Set, Pillow Ball
J’s Racing Tie Rod End Set, Pillow Ball
J’s Racing Camber Joint Bracket
J’s Racing SPL Rear Roll Center Adjuster 12mm
J’s Racing Side Inner Brace

Interior:
Bride Gias Carbon Kevlar Seats
Top Secret Steering Wheel
Top Secret One Touch Release Hub
ARC Titan Shift Knob

 

[Nicksfix]

Not bad , a touch on the " Need for Speed side "

 

[C-ZETA]

Wow, surprised how many S2000's get tuned these days. That is far from a bad tuneup though, it's actually great.

 

[Time_Attack]

 

[nk4e]

To think that some modified S2000's looks like the Crossfire..

 

[stumpydino]

first mr2 is a 'shop
looks cool though
they all are!

 

[Time_Attack]

It looks touched but I think the car is real.

 

[Nicksfix]

shopped or non-shopped - the MR2's are awesome looking 👍

 

[Time_Attack]

I got to take my mk2 out today after it finally got up above freezing for the first time this year...

I love that car...

 

[Slicks]

Now that is a good stance. Looks like it means business.

 

[Revheadnz]

A mint as anything Mazda 1200 Ute I grabbed a quick pic of at a local car show today, it took 3rd place overall.

 

[nk4e]

Now that is a good stance. Looks like it means business.

I love the detail on that. That center grill meshed piece is nice!

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

 

[homeforsummer]

You're just full of win today with these pics! That red NSX is beautiful.

What's the name of the show you went to?

 

[Keef]

Race car:

Street car:

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

What's the name of the show you went to?

They are from yesterday's visit to the Donut Derelicts and Cars and Coffee meet'n'greets in Huntington Beach, CA and Irvine, CA respectively. They are mostly informal, but regular gatherings of car enthusiasts, collectors, and gear heads. Well worth checking out if you ever find yourself in the SoCal area some Saturday.

On Friday's, there is also a really nice gathering at the famous Bob's Big Boy in Burbank as well one at Autobooks-Aerobooks. The other one I can highly recommend is Supercar Sunday, which is held in Woodland Hills near Malibu at the VCR.


BTW: I felt bad for the owner of this original mint 240Z, as he was turned away at the gate early due to the lot reaching it's max capacity much earlier than usual...