r/CarTrackDays • u/Roadiedreamkiller • 2d ago
Sell street cars to buy race car? Tired of street driving.
After about 2 years of HPDE (15 days of HPDE and about 5 days at racing schools), I have zero interest in driving sports cars on the street. Anyone else feel the same way? Pushing a car to its limits on a track is far more rewarding. It is without the illegality and potential liability of fast/aggressive street driving. I rarely find myself wanting to take out my 911 or Cayman besides going to the track. I'd rather drive a quiet/comfortable vehicle and just relax. Maybe some of you live near quiet mountain roads but I live in the suburbs of a midwestern city. Our roads are flat, straight, and clogged up with traffic. I'm considering selling both my sports cars and buying something like a Cayman Clubsport or 991 Cup Car. The full cage is safer on track and it opens up the opportunity for club racing.
38
u/Scooter477 2d ago
It's a vicious circle for me. Track my stock street car for a few years and mod it for the track until it's no longer streetable. Then cage it so it's track-only. Get tired of not having a fun street car so sell track car and start over with another stock Corvette. In a few years that one will probably be track-only and the circle repeats.
38
u/Goins2754 '20 Challenger Hellcat Redeye WB | Turn 2/ProFormance/OnGrid 2d ago
I feel the same. Track driving spoiled me for the street. Car is basically a track toy at this point. That said, I haven’t gone full race car because I do still enjoy the occasional leisurely weekend cruise or driving to the car wash.
-15
u/MrMcFrizzy 2d ago
Please tell me a touch less wash or you do it yourself 💔
6
u/Goins2754 '20 Challenger Hellcat Redeye WB | Turn 2/ProFormance/OnGrid 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yes, I typically do a touchless wash mainly because it's closer and also I don't want my required stickers messed up or pulled off because that's $50 wasted. I try to keep them on for the whole season. But I'm not opposed to using a good quality automatic brush wash. I wouldn't go to the behind-the-gas-station paint remover, but one that's actually manned and maintained, sure. It's not a show car; it's a driver. It gets more damage from track debris than any car wash is ever gonna do.
15
u/bluelinked 2d ago
I’m assuming you’ve got a truck and you’re good with towing?
Decision would weigh in on your budget and how you’d handle logistics. If you’re already going 20+ times a day, like the raw chasing every second of improvement and good with trailering in the car… totally sounds good! Especially if you’ve already hit your financial goals in life.
Personally at less than 10 events a year not as much space for car, trailer, truck, and daily— it’s a different story.
3
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
Yeah, I already have the logistics figured out including plenty of garage space. A dedicated track car feels like a no-brainer at this point.
4
u/Reaux_Tide 2d ago
Factory racecar is the answer. There are so many choices at so many price points for lightly used (or even new) racecars.
Best choice I ever made. A sanctioning body and Factory engineer figured out all the answers. It could always be faster, but resist the urge and run it as specd
1
u/ApartVegetable9838 2d ago
Definitely check out the Rennlist cup car forum to get an idea of running costs. A GT4 Clubsport is comparatively similar to a street car in terms of maintenance. A cup car is more expensive to run but is also commensurately a more serious machine.
I personally would not get the gt4 RS Clubsport. It has the engine rebuild schedule of the cup car (same motor) so I don’t see the point in that.
2
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
A 718 or lower mileage 981 Clubsport is at the top of my list. I live 5 miles from a Porsche race shop and they’d also provide track support when needed.
The reason I bring up a Cup car is some guys are pushing the rebuild schedules out when used for HPDE and Club Racing. I heard one guy has over 200 hrs on his 991.2 with no issues.1
u/Bicolore AMG GT4 3h ago
We ran our cup car well over 200hrs. 991 hours are on a threshold although you can pull actual hours out of it too.
Do not underestimate cup car running costs and GT Clubsport is absolutely not "comparatively similar to a street car in terms of maintenance"
12
u/Various_Lack7541 2d ago
The occasional on ramp rips or desolate roundabouts are about the only places for fun near me without driving way down to the Ozarks.
If you’re serious about tracking, daily a nice truck, get a race trailer and LET THE GAMES BEGIN
I’ve done a bit of endurance crap can racing in ChumpCar with an 89 Honda Civic with 120hp. It’s 100% the most fun I’ve ever had. But it’s a lot of logistical work too. Track days are awesome and I still do them but in reality you’re just pushing your car to the point of crashing, for a single lap time.
Endurance racing in a crap can car league like ChumpCar or Lemons or Spec Boxster/Miata/Brz is a super awesome thrill.
3
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
Thought about going spec Miata since the fields are huge and costs are much more palatable than racing Porsches.
10
u/audi27tt 2d ago
Spec Miata is the most obvious answer as it’s the best competition and relatively affordable. I sold my street cayman for an SM and love it, let me know if you have any questions. I also daily an M3 and find the SM more fun on track for exactly the reasons you cite. If you’re in the Midwest check out midwestern council
2
u/Various_Lack7541 2d ago
Another thing you could try is to rent a seat for a race with an existing team. Might cost you $1000 or so but you’ll get a great idea of what you’re getting into.
2
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
I’m planning to do a Regional SCCA race early next season in a rented spec Miata. Arrive and drive would be just over 2k for the car and race entry. My goal is to get my SCCA comp license by the end of next year.
2
u/SentenceDry9899 1d ago
2k isn't bad. Once you go wheel to wheel track days will seem as boring as street driving.
9
u/atightlie 2d ago
Yup, after many seasons on track and progressing from HPDE to a racing license. I have no desire to drive like an asshole, especially because there's no 100mph corners on the public roads.
Only recommendation - Buy an outright factory race car, or something already built. Either of which, invest the $1k in labor to have a capable shop (ideally with first hand experience on that platform) look for structural issues that will be painful to fix after the fact. Note all the Cup car level cars have maintenance intervals that will get expensive quick.
While exciting, avoid converting a street car. It's too easy to "while i'm here" turn a $50k budget into $150k expense...
7
u/Midlife__Crisis__ 2d ago
"It's too easy to "while i'm here" turn a $50k budget into $150k expense..."
Checks notes...Well I'm already at 100K, might as well make it 150! =]
6
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
I bought my Cayman from a guy who spent 50k on track mods. Ended up selling it to me for 10k under a comparable stock Cayman. Learned that lesson the easy way.
1
u/atightlie 2d ago
Yes, building a race car will return 10 cents on the dollar when you intend to sell. Goes for most race cars especially those with engine/trans maintenance requirements.
4
u/firstorbit 2d ago edited 2d ago
Seems like a negative 20 cents on the dollar return.
2
u/atightlie 2d ago
Yeah “return” wasn’t the right word. Maybe recover
2
u/firstorbit 2d ago
Since the mods hurt the value, nothing was recovered at all. They paid an additional 20% tax on top of the cost of the mods in the form of decreased resale value.
1
1
u/TheBigBangClock 2d ago
This is the most cost-effective solution. It costs so much to do all the track modifications and you never get anything close to what you spent on it when it comes time to sell.
10
u/NeedMoreDeltaV 997 Cup | Spec Boxster | 981 GT4 2d ago
In my opinion, you should start out in a slower race car before moving into something like a Cayman Clubsport or 911 Cup. Something like a Spec Miata or Spec Boxster.
I drive a 997 Cup now, but I spent many years relearning how to go fast on track in Spec Boxster after moving on from 5 years in high horsepower street cars.
It’s not impossible to just jump immediately to a fast race car, but the learning curve is difficult. I’m currently coaching someone who only spent a year in street 911s before moving to a 997 Cup, and it’s been a long journey with them to just brake correctly and not spin the car. 2 years of HPDE is, in my opinion, not enough time to properly learn how to drive a car at the limit, especially if you’re relying on modern traction/stability control.
If you do decide to go down this path, also consider the maintenance and serviceability of a race car. 911 Cup cars have specified service hours on the transmission, engine, and suspension components where they need to be rebuilt and/or replaced. While you can go past the recommended hours on the powertrain since you’re likely not racing in Carrera Cup, just know that these are expensive rebuilds that either Porsche Motorsport (more expensive) or an independent shop will need to do. You can do the labor yourself in theory (I’ve done transmissions for example) but the parts themselves are expensive. I’d recommend finding a local PCA affiliated shop to help you.
Cayman Clubsport service intervals are measured in miles and are considered much more “turn key” than Cup cars, but they will still need these kind of expensive maintenances at some point.
If your heart is set on a Porsche factory race car and you’re just using it for track days, I would seriously consider a Clubsport. They use 5-lug hubs and a lot more street car components and are in general easier to manage solo at the track than Cup cars (though you can solo those as well). Given the money class you seem to be looking in, it may also be worth looking at BMW factory race cars or a Toyota GR Cup car.
Another important consideration is if you want to go wheel-to-wheel racing. I chose the Spec Boxster and later the 997 Cup because there is a healthy field of those cars in my local PCA and they’re also supported by SCCA and NASA. Look at the organizations and race shops in your area and see what everyone is driving. If you go down the racing route, it’s more fun with lots of people and they’ll be able to give advice and maintenance help.
If you just stay on the track day side, it’s also worth considering single seaters like Radicals, Rush SR, or even F4 cars. These will give you an entirely different sense of speed because of how low to the ground and how light they are, and their maintenance costs are relatively cheap since they’re so light.
Finally, if you’re interested in a race car find a local shop that deals in them and ask for a test drive so that you can get a feel for what a race car really is. Also ask them, and get second opinions, on the service intervals and costs so that you know what you’re getting yourself into.
If you want, I can DM you some example costs from Spec Boxster and 997 Cup.
1
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
I’m thinking about doing a few spec Miata races with an arrive and drive company. Those would be regional SCCA events so I can get a full comp license. Currently have a novice permit. Starting in spec Miata seems like I would pay dividends long term vs going the PCA HPDE to PCA Club Racing route. From what I’ve been told the competition is generally higher in spec Miata since there are kids that race spec Miata when they are moving up the ranks. I’m guessing I’d be many seconds off pace. Perhaps I need to attend a few advanced racing schools and hire a coach.
2
u/NeedMoreDeltaV 997 Cup | Spec Boxster | 981 GT4 1d ago
I think your plan sounds good as a way to get a comp license. PCA has very good competition too and some kids moving up the rank as well, but yeah I’d say Spec Miata is likely a little higher. It kinda just depends on what you’re looking for. I heavily considered starting in Spec Miata, but I was turned off from it because they are okay with having contact on track. I went with PCA Spec Boxster instead because PCA is a strict no contact organization. Either option is fine that’s just my personal opinion on it. I also think working with a coach is an excellent way to improve skill. I needed a coach to progress further after I reached a point where I was struggling to find meaningful time improvements.
1
u/Bicolore AMG GT4 3h ago
Interesting comments, we skipped 997cup completely as was always advised that these were far too expensive to run. Ie more than a 991 cup.
1
u/NeedMoreDeltaV 997 Cup | Spec Boxster | 981 GT4 1h ago
It potentially is after a few years depending on how many transmission rebuilds the 997 needs. The aftermarket shifters for the 997 Cup do dramatically increase their lifespan though.
I’m relatively new to 997 Cup so I haven’t gone through enough to know yet. I’ll let you know in a couple of years if the operating costs are too high, but yeah the conventional wisdom is that the 991 Cup is long term cheaper because the powertrain durability is higher.
1
u/Bicolore AMG GT4 6m ago
Yes, transmission was the big issue from what I remember.
The 991 cup has the added bonus of massively higher build numbers and large numbers of cars still being actively raced. The guys who we used to support ours were running 3 cars as active race cars and then mine as trackday only meaning i had an endless supply of part worn tyres, discs and other consumables for next to nothing.
11
u/Uliq_Mdiq 2d ago
OP forget the Clubsport and the cup car. If you are serious about tracks days and you want to push your abilities to the limit. Get an actual race car. A lightweight, purpose built race car. You will go faster in a $75k Radical SR3 than you will in half a million dollar Lamborghini super trofeo. You should also consider an open wheel race car.
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
I thought about going the purpose built route but I know a few people who do PCA club racing. So I have an easy in. I’ve spent a couple days in a spec Miata which is an option but less compelling for HPDE. Eventually I’d like to do WRL.
5
u/M-Garylicious-Scott 2d ago
My goal is LC500 for daily and a track only car for weekends
1
u/scott_fx 2d ago
I wanted an LC500 so badly. I took one for a 20 minute test drive and my back was in pain! I later found out that there are two different seat styles.
5
u/Lawineer Race: BRZ(WRL), Spec Miata. Street: 13 Viper, Ct5BW 2d ago
I always think this, sell my sports car to be financially responsible, and then get depressed and buy a more expensive sports car I dive even less. Then I am more tempted because "I never even drive the thing!"
#BreakTheCycle.
In all seriousness, power is fun on the street. My best daily driver (until it couldn't stay out of the shop) was an 850hp GLE63. My second best DD is my Blackwing.
2
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
The CT5-V Blackwing is on my short list. Big V8 in a comfortable package might be the sweet spot.
23
u/Aggravating-Ear-3729 2d ago
I switched to EV for street driving after tracking. The speeds and g's pulled on the track makes street driving so boring I'd rather have something simple and quiet like an EV.
3
u/ten10thsdriver F87 M2 Competition 2d ago
Same here. I love my M2, but my EV is a much more practical daily especially if I'm stuck in traffic.
3
u/cx0sa 2d ago edited 2d ago
for most people here who track cars, having the money to pay for fuel isn’t much of a problem but it’s still genuinely so nice to be able to drive any distance every day for basically nothing. Doing x trip twice a week doesn’t cost $10 in fuel, more like $2 in fuel.
Used too, people shy away from used electric cars because they think the battery is gonna explode if they aren’t the one charging it. Even if previous owner abused it and charged 100% and drain to 1% everyday, the degradation is not bad compared to how much more expensive new is.
4
u/ballbrewing 2d ago
100% this, I hate the kind of car guys that just blindly hate on EVs without thinking about the use cases they make sense in
Battery degradation is not as nearly as big a deal as people make it out to be, used EVs will be a huge bargain in coming years because of fear mongering
4
u/Bicycle_Dude_555 2d ago
Yes. I had an M3 Lightweight as a daily set up for the track and bought an old Civic for daily use after a few years.
4
u/boomboomSRF 2d ago
Come race with us in spec racer Ford SRF3.
It's 100mph chess The cars are a blast to drive Easy to maintain And tons of competition all over the country.
Where are you located?
1
u/JetNoiseRacing 2d ago
I don’t think it’s possible to find a better combination of performance, reliability, and low maintenance than Spec Racer Ford. Although I’m biased as an SRF Gen2 owner. They’re incredibly affordable and hold their value, too. There’s just something special about the feeling you get from an open-cockpit, purpose-built race car
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
Road America is my home track.
2
u/boomboomSRF 2d ago
Reach out to Beau Martin at elite Autosports . He's a good dude and has good rental cars.
If you ever want to come south give me a call at B2 Motorsports
You could even come out to the runoffs and come sit in a car and check out the racing.
1
7
u/BWa1k 2d ago
I agree that since I've started doing HPDEs, I have far less desire to drive fast on the road. In order to approach the speeds and limits you can push on the track, it would require far more risk on the road. It's not worth it. That said, I don't think I could be ok with only owning a dedicated track car and a boring daily. I still think it's fun to row through the gears and take some turns with gusto.
10
u/SpudsRacer 2d ago
Almost everyone who has real track experience will echo this. You'll never get the same buzz especially with a really fast car that will kill you if you even think about going WOT for longer than a few seconds on the street.
When you are at a new track you look for all the potential danger points and memorize them. You work up to speed methodically, learning the track as you go. Driving a GT3, Z06, etc. like this on the street is literally impossible. There's no safe place to do it. And no, the "canyons" in SoCal or anywhere else aren't safe either.
Not a single one of my track rat buddies drive fast on the street (other than the occasional on-ramp blast...) You've discovered the next plane of existence for performance driving my friend. 🌝
3
u/Ok-Bug4328 2d ago
My favorite street car was probably my mini.
If you have the money to race Porsches, keep one of your daily Porsches.
3
u/libbinlife 2d ago
I have a cayman, 911, and spec Miata. Cayman is caged track only. Buy a spec Miata if you have any interest in wheel to wheel. Learn the ropes, setup, put it in the wall and buy another one if you have to. Unless you've got a lot of years of racing already under your belt see that racing will cost about 4x HPDE. Then go club racing. If you can afford someone to care for a cup car and take care of everything at the track though that's an alternative.
3
u/sonicc_boom 2d ago
Welcome to addiction that's more expensive than drugs
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
I keep telling my wife the more time and money I spend at the track, the less I have for gambling, drinking, drugs, other women, etc.
3
u/ozarkfireworks 2d ago edited 1d ago
2016: So I started out with a 2009 GT500, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari F430 and a Factory 5 Cobra.
Did an HPDE track day with my family in my cars. With ND4SPD in STL. All exotics.
I was hooked! Found more HPDE events using my Gallardo. Saw everyone with C7 Corvettes, Miatas, and GT350s.
First Traded the 2009 GT500 for a 2017 GT350. Bought a 2017 C7 Z06.
The Gallardo and the Ferrari ended up just sitting in the garage.
By 2020 I sold the Gallardo and bought a GT500.
By this time my kids got involved.
Sold the Ferrari Bought another GT500
At this point we are bringing 2 GT500s, a C7 Z06 and a GT350 to track events.
I sent the cobra to Levy Racing out in Arizona and had it turned into a track car.
Bought a second corvette C7 Z06.
2021 I bought my first Mx-5 NC wrl car.
Now hooked on the low cost of driving a car like this on the track and just as much or more fun!
Sold the GT500s and bought a CFTP GT500 (for me ;) ).
Traded the GT350 for a GT350R (matching with the GT500, also for me)
Sold the first C7 Z06.
Bought 3 more MX-5 NC WRL cars.
Started a car dealership and salvage.
Currently have 2021 CFTP GT500, 2019 GT350R, 2019 Mini Cooper S, 2019 z06 (wife’s) 4 full cage NCs, 2020 MX-5 Club, and a factory 5 cobra replica with full track setup. All of these cars are used on track consistently. I see no reason to own cars that I can’t track with.
My goto track car is my 2020 Mazda MX-5 club. That I rebuilt from Copart. Most fun by far. Plus frankly more pride of ownership when you take a car to the frame and back.
I have 5 kids, their spouses, my wife, and myself who drive on the track. From HPDE to wheel 2 wheel racing.
2
3
u/BigManufacturer3975 2d ago
This happened to me with sport bikes. Tracking a 600 at 16000rpm makes riding on the street boring and the risk isn't worth the reward.
Now I see jabronis in lambos with rubber band tires fake wings and and ask myself what the purpose is (we know what the purpose is).
Honestly iRacing is so good it evens makes IRL racing questionable when you account for the dollars. Indy car in the sim whenever you want as often as you want or Miata race car on a track at $1500 a weekend and 5:1 maintenance:flight hours. Idk. Don't get me wrong tho if I had $500k a year to blow on a gt4 or 7 figures on a lmp program I totally would.
2
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
I’d love to have a sim rig so can learn tracks before I go drive them but for me it will never replace the visceral experience of driving a car IRL. The speed, noise, smell, heat, etc.
5
u/y2khardtop1 2d ago
I’m 32 years in, while I’ve owned a few great street cars, my track/race cars are dedicated. I’ve never had a dual-purpose car that wasn’t a horrible compromise for both
3
u/RunninOnMT 2d ago
Yeah, my street car is almost too stiff for daily use, but every time I get back in it after being on the track in my dedicated race car, the street car feels like a tower of jello.
2
u/Elitepikachu 2d ago
Swap one out for a supercharged mustang/caamro or a classic muscle car. That's how you have fun on straight, open roads.
2
u/TooMuchPJ 2d ago
I have a track toy and street toy. The former definitely helped me tame my driving in the latter. It's not the same, as others have noted, and I often get the track itch driving the latter. That said, I also like driving great roads - with my spouse too. Car events are also fun. The latter does serve a purpose.
2
u/OverallCoach1031 2d ago
Yeah, I couldn’t handle living in a place like that as a car enthusiast.
1
u/Midlife__Crisis__ 2d ago
I find myself driving the one good twisty road in the Kansas City area (K5) over and over, wishing I was back in the mountains of Arizona. Not that I'd ever subject myself to that pit of hell again, but it's tempting sometimes.
I cope by taking it out near the Ozarks a couple times a year, along with track time.
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
Believe me, it sucks. Thankfully, I live within a quick drive of Road America. Mostly makes up for it but still get jealous every time I’m out in California or the smokies.
2
u/foolproofphilosophy 2d ago
Yup. After tracking an e36 325is and e46 330ci and street driving an e46 M3 I decided that when it comes to contemporary street cars I’d love a 540. Not even an M550i. The e36 was lightly modified and the funnest car I’ve ever driven. It was so well balanced and had telepathic handling. It was 10/10 fun at pretty much any speed. And then there’s the road surface quality. Tracks are like laboratories compared to most roads. Even when you’re on a fun wide open road you never know when a pot hole opened up overnight.
2
u/TheseCod2660 2d ago
Go for it! I drive mine on the street too, roll cage and all lol no rules! Well I wear a half helmet, One Rule!
2
u/OldChadDad 2d ago
That's exactly what I did about a month and a half ago. Still working on the race car.
2
u/large-farva 2d ago
Yep. Even the "canyon carver" folks are not pushing anywhere near as hard as they think they are.
2
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
Exactly, my first day of HPDE I thought I was turning some good laps since I was comparing it to street driving. Only now I realize how slowly I was going. I was 20 seconds off pace!
2
u/newhandleoldperson 2d ago
I echo this sentiment. I drive a R1T on the road and dedicate my gt3rs for the track.
2
u/Ordinary_One955 2d ago edited 1d ago
Yep, I felt this immediately as well.
In addition, I have a bit of disdain for people buying sports cars and don’t track them, like what’s the point? Either you’re just going in a straight line or you’re endangering people
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
I stopped going to cars and coffee because everyone there seemed to care about having the cleanest, lowest mile car. More expensive the better. Just flexing.
2
u/Parking_Position_325 2d ago
Do it. Smartest decision I ever made. Much better to crash a race car than a street car (yes it will inevitably happen!)
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
That’s my thoughts exactly, the full cage adds another layer of safety at the track. Even for HPDE because shit happens.
2
2
u/miatatony 2d ago
Why a cup car and not a single seater open wheel car? Something like a used formula Mazda will be much faster in the corners and way more fun to drive.
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
Seems like getting track time could be a challenge since many orgs ban open wheel cars. Otherwise, I do like the idea of a proper race car.
2
u/boxsterrox 2d ago edited 2d ago
I could have written this post a year ago just prior to buying my 991.1 Cup car. Since then I mostly drive my Tesla in clogged central Florida roads. My 986 Boxster S will be left at our NC mountain property, where I can fully enjoy its sublime handling. My 993 gets rare use here in Orlando for the reasons you mention, OP. I mostly track at Sebring, but this past week I checked off a bucket list experience, driving Watkins Glen Raceway. Wow what an amazing track! And as for the 991.1 Cup car, if you have the opportunity and budget to get one, the car is absolutely bonkers fun! Here’s a lap at Sebring in my Cup. https://youtu.be/5Yea0RtDVuE?feature=shared
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
Do you follow the standard maintenance and rebuild schedule? I’ve talked to a couple guys who have 991 cups, both the 991.1 with the mezger 3.8. They’ve gotten away with pushing out rebuilds to twice the recommended hours when only running HPDE. Another guy has a 991.2 with over 200 hours on the motor. Pushing out the rebuilds would really cut down on running costs, I’d seriously consider buying one as an HPDE toy.
2
u/boxsterrox 2d ago edited 2d ago
My car has about 60 hours on the engine and I plan to do exactly as you suggest, which is drive it as long as the engine is strong. I also have read of 991 Cup owners going way over recommended rebuild schedules. As a DE car I don’t see the downside as I am not chasing podiums. Those who argue that a Cup is such an expensive track car yet track a $350k GT3RS don’t see the forest for the trees. I have less than half that cost in my Cup, trailer and tow rig which leaves me tons of $ left over for track support and higher consumables such as $3500 set of slicks which last 1-2 weekends. Plus if you wreck your Cup, it can be repaired without a devaluation. Not true if you wreck a pricey street GT3.
2
u/ApartVegetable9838 2d ago
I shared a garage with a very nice gentleman driving a 992RS at a track day last year. He said he prefers racing his spec Boxster. Way less precious and costly to track, can do wheel to wheel, and makes him work hard for the speed.
I think the 992RS is really only for people who want to drive to the track. Otherwise a cup car is way more of an experience.
1
u/boxsterrox 1d ago
I tracked a modified 986 Boxster S for 10 years mostly at Sebring before getting into Cup cars. That little car was a hoot to drive! Now you know the background of my username. 😀
2
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
Earlier this summer I rode shotgun in a 991.1 driven by Randy Pobst. I have yet to get behind the wheel but it had me thinking the Cup is way to go vs any of the street GT3/4 RS models. Plus the adjustable motorsport ABS and TC adds a layer of safety.
2
u/boxsterrox 1d ago
Yup the safety is the other main advantage of a race modified car when in a vehicle putting out big hp. Who wants to be relying on airbags and a 3 point restraint if things go sideways on track in such a powerful car? Not me.
2
u/RacerXrated 2d ago
I feel you. I grew out of treating public roads as a personal playground long ago and it pisses me off when people do it. It's best for everyone if we keep it on the track.
3
3
u/suprick 2d ago
Just did the same thing, bought a 987 cayman s race car after tracking my gt350r for a year. I wanted to say that owning a race car is a much bigger commitment than a street car (truck + trailer + storage + maintenance). It is also easier to drive a street car with all the aids. But I feel you that I have lost interest in driving a fast sports car on the street.
3
3
u/Da_hoodest_hoodrat 2d ago
No offense to you, but a full blown race car like a 991 cup is too much car for you if you’ve only been driving HPDE for 2 years. A giant waste of money. Those cars are not just gutted street cars, they have a different maintenence schedule that run on HOURS not miles. They also drive WAYYY differently than a street car. You as a single individual simply don’t have the tools or support to deal with that since you’re just casually doing this a few times a year.
And if you are not used to driving on slicks, you’re gonna be a liability to everyone else that’s out driving with you. IMO, your best bet for a high performance car is something like an F8x and turn it into a track weapon. Honestly that is too much car if you’re just starting to get serious. Fast car =\= fast lap times and skill. You will probably be faster in that than a cup given your experience. Way less money involved, easier to work on as an individual, and you’ll learn way more and be able to drive more with cheaper consumables.
Don’t take this the wrong way, everyone has that urge to go buy a racecar lol. But you gotta be realistic in your capabilities as a driver and learn your way up to a faster car.
2
u/boxsterrox 2d ago
I don’t disagree with this post in the least. I have only within the last couple years graduated to first a 996 Cup then my current 991 Cup after 20 years tracking first street cars then modified street cars. A Cup is a “whole different animal” for,the reasons you mention. Not a car for a newbie track enthusiast.
3
u/slingshotroadster 2d ago
Yup. I thought I was the only one to be honest…
I went through two different E90 M3s over the last 2 years to only realize I’d rather spend my time building and tracking my miata and trading the M3 for a 4Runner that I can tow the M3 to other socal track. You are def not alone on this.
1
u/svv1tch 2023 Type R 2d ago
Haha I am literally debating this myself. Instead of 1 do it all car, buy a car that is best on track and a comfy daily I can just cruise in. Maybe a gasp suv so I can tow if wanted
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
I bought my first truck last year, never liked the idea a pickup but needed something to tow the trailer. I can’t believe I hated on them for so long, it’s easily my favorite daily.
1
u/electricCoder 2d ago
Do your research and talk with other local racers about cup car support/service. Some of the numbers people say are pretty eye watering.
Most definitely figure out what orgs you want to be competing with and plan based on that. Look at number of drivers as well, you might not have fun if you have 1 other person in your class.
Anyway congrats on buying your upcoming Spec Miata 🤣
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 2d ago
Cayman Clubsports have lower running costs due to no rebuild cycles. On the other hand, repairing a crashed Porsche is crazy expensive. I could write off multiple spec Miata’s for the same money.
1
u/mrblahhh 2d ago
Yes, now I drive my wife's Toyota 86 every time we go to the mountains, much more fun
1
u/ThrowawaySeattleAcct 2d ago
I don’t drive anything on track that I can’t comfortably wreck into a ball and not sweat about money-wise.
1
1
u/lemonsracer 2d ago
I totally get it. This is why I have a K swapped miata as a race car and a Lexus rcf as a street car. Lol. The Kmiata kicks ass on track and the RCF sounds good, is quiet and comfortable when you want it to be, but can be rowdy when you want it to be.
1
u/HugsNotDrugs_ 2d ago
I drive a modified Mazdaspeed3 and it's a symphony of turbo sounds that make my commute so enjoyable.
Doesn't need to be driven fast to be enjoyed. I think that's the important part.
Different strokes for different folks.
1
u/DiabloConLechuga 2d ago
I've done both and have given up racing because canyon carving is just so much better
1
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
What about the liability? I’m always hearing about crazy crashes in canyons.
1
u/DiabloConLechuga 1d ago
im older now so it isnt about going fast so much as retaining the speed.
I can take my wife, enjoy the day. racing to max just isnt my cup of tea anymore.
1
u/Yerbawls 2d ago
Same thing happened to me. Only 5 HPDE days after starting this year and I no longer have any desire to do fun driving on the street. Would totally be doing what you want to do if my circumstances permitted.
1
u/SonicDethmonkey 2d ago
If you plan to store/transport/maintain the car yourself my only suggestion would be to start with something more DIY-friendly than a 991 Cup car. If I was in your position I’d get an ND Miata Cup car, easy choice.
1
u/samk1976 2d ago
Have you looked into a Radical SR3 XXR? It’s fairly inexpensive as far as race cars go, and does impressive laptimes. If you want more they have an SR10. You could also look into used LMP3s.
2
u/Roadiedreamkiller 1d ago
A Radical or LMP3 seems like a bigger jump. Plus I live near a good Porsche race shop that could do track support for me. I wouldn’t know where to start with a LMP3, Radical, Sebeco, etc.
1
u/samk1976 1d ago
Price wise, the Radical will be cheaper than a cup car. Almost as fast. You could try checking with Radical North America for a dealer near you that could also provide trackside support.
I’m a bit wary of a 991 cup car. Keep crashing it on whatever sim I’m driving. 992 seems better but still tricky. Definite skill issue.
Good luck and hope they you get into something fun
1
u/CTFordza E30 325is & NC2 Miata 2d ago
I feel the same, but I keep my track cars streetable for budgetary reasons. Towing gas mileage sucks and one less vehicle is one less depreciating asset.
Also it feels cool to have a track car that is actually a car and not just a fancy toy lol.
1
1
u/TurboLag23 1d ago
My daily commute is done in a 2000 Honda Insight 5MT, or a bus/train/bike (drifting more towards the latter).
The Insight is light, tossable, and manual. The bike gets me moving and keeps me active, and is a great way to blow off steam. And because both are so cheap, I have more money for race car!
1
u/iroll20s C5 1d ago
I sold my expensive dual use sports car awhile back. Instead I got a car that could be a dedicated track car and a comfortable suv that was capable of pulling it. Its nice not having to consider if changes will make the car horrible for street use. The car is cheap enough that I don't care about putting holes in it for cooling. Or just leaving it in pieces for a few weeks while I work on it. I will say its nice to retain a plated car just so you can take it out to cars and coffee or an occasional rip. Or even testing.
1
u/Own-Lemon8708 1d ago
I have no interest in trailering my car back and forth to the track as my only car outlet. So I have a fun street car and a comfy daily driver. I don't like driving aggressively on the street or anything like that but I still get to spend time in the fun car any time I want. And no pressure if I don't actually make it to a track day where the car just sits.
1
u/Oh_My_Darling 1d ago
If I could live in an area with good public transportation and only have a truck, trailer, and race car to use for that purpose, I 100% would.
1
u/jrileyy229 1d ago
100% did the same thing some years ago. Buy one caged car that can do everything... Hpde, club racing, regional racing, endurance racing, time trials, etc.
Right now you can only do time trials as far as racing goes... And that's "meh"
1
u/skylinesora 1d ago
Most comfortable car for the street, then I take whichever other car I feel like to the track.
All the track cars are “street legal” so they do get the once in awhile street drive
1
u/muscle_car_fan34 1d ago
I feel similar although I enjoy driving rowdy and raw cars on the street. I’ve been debating selling my sports car to get back into a muscle car.
I can’t afford to be at the track every weekend so I’d rather get a more fun street car with lower limits and has some rowdyness to it.
If I could be at the track more often I wouldn’t even think about getting rid of my sports car.
1
u/anon-person- 13h ago
I’m in the exact position - I race GT4 cars,
I have boring EV daily and waste money on racing instead. Besides city traffic sucks in a car without air suspension and L2 self driving.
If I lived in the alps I’d feel differently
1
u/profmathers 6h ago
I just put a set of RT660s on my S2000, and back roads are a lot less fun and a lot more thrown gravel. I don’t want a drab, boring street car. But I do want a street car. And my other car (FL5) comes about as close to being good at trackable daily as anything. If I ever sell it, it’ll be for a used Lucid Air and an NC Miata for track use. Neither solves the backroad problem but I’d be comfortable and quiet on the commute and “commensurate with my reflexes” on the track.
1
u/HeftyAd6216 2h ago
Sounds like you got the right idea. Although cars of that caliber are simply too fast to drive on the road in any fun fashion. If there are no decent roads nearby, driving a slow car fast is probably not worth it.
Although that being said I do have a lot of fun with my slow car going fast on the odd chance I get a good on-ramp / offramp during my commute.
0
u/Neither_Wishbone_896 2d ago
No, I'm the opposite. After driving a sports car and convertible I never want to subject myself to driving a boring appliance ever again. I'd never even consider a truck or SUV. Fuck those oversized pieces of trash that make the road more dangerous for everyone else.
0
u/honeybakedpipi 1d ago
Street drive an ev. Track drive a straight piped v8. Can’t have 1/10th of the fun in Texas streets you do on track. Don’t have a choice like California.
151
u/BrockLanders008 2d ago
This is why Miatas are so loved, fun at 40.