[MB968]

Rap, thanks for a few chuckles this morning

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[JWahlsten]

You have now entered the slippery slope of tracking a car. Realistically, you need to think about a trailer and something to pull it. I am still using my 1997 Chevy Tahoe I bought new that isn't worth the metal it's made out of...However, it runs great and I haven't had any issues with it. I started trailering to events when I started going faster. Seems the faster you go the more stuff that breaks and the more likely you are to have a lot of things in the car that don't work well without a helmet. Additionally, the cars get less comfortable with upgraded springs, stiffer shocks, larger sway bars, etc...



I had the misfortune to make use of my trailer for a rollover in 97 as well. So, I can tell you having one is a great convenience if nothing else. It also allows me to keep my stuff inside of my SUV if it rains.



I know a number of folks who still drive to the track, but most of those are not in the advanced solo groups. There are too many variables involved when running track tires on the street.



Oh, I will be back mid Oct and have my first event of the year at NJMP on 11 Nov. 8 hours of open track. I'm so looking forward to not being in the Middle East, and getting back on the racetrack!

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[Rap]

MB glad to oblige! It's still a bummer because I'm just starting to get sliding the car around corners and it was neat to watch the beemers fall off in the infield and just catch me halfway down the backstretch. So on to the next one.

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[Rap]

I feel sorry for all of you mooks who wander around in life wondering what to do or how to do it. I wish I could impart my knowledge to you on how I go about acquiring solutions. You see I do it a little differently! For example, my recent purchase of size 18 tires seemed like a good move. After watching several 968's run with them I thought, hey why not. Of course last weekend I somehow managed to get a hole in a rear one which shut my weekend down. Luckily enough I was able to limp home bummed out at missing a magnificent weekend. Today I get an email from the group running the event apologizing for the bad weather(fog) which wiped out most of Sunday. Mind you I'm 16 miles away and except for some early morning fog it was a nice day. They offered $50 refunds for those that were there Sunday. I didn't feel as bad even though I didn't get a refund. No reason to show up. Occasionally life and chores catch up with one!



So needless to say I had to purchase two new rear tires. I ran 6 run sessions on this set. Definitely got my moneys worth.

Taking them off was an adventure because I've not done that before. Then I thought hey, let's see how well they fit in the car just to size them up. I wish I had a cab because they don't fit in a coupe. If I had a cab I could fit 2 case of wine, two sets of golf clubs, 4 tires plus all my other stuff. You guys with cabs are so lucky. Wish I had a cab.



I've talked before about a tire trailer before because I had an inkling I might not be able to fit everything in the coupe. Yet after Pocono I realized how lucky I was this season with the car. Now here is where my genius is displayed for all of you to marvel at and be jealous of. A tire trailer won't help me if I break down. Then I would have double the problem to solve. You say Da Bob good call! I like to slowly back into forced solutions. No real sense in coming at them head on now is there?



So now I'm looking a trucks and trailers. It's a little surreal. Who could have possibly thought that buying one 968 would require a new garage. How could one have known that driving a mint 968 at DE's wasn't the smartest thing to do, especially after kissing the wall in the first turn at Watkins Glen. Why would anyone naturally assume that this would lead to the purchase of another 968 for the track and DE'ing. Why would anyone think that this would necessitate building a 90 foot porch breezeway to this garage which now has 2 968's that as my daughter said, "seem to be in the shop every week". All this of course quite naturally, now that you think about it, leads directly to thinking about buying a truck and trailer.



What a long strange trip it's been! Wish I had a cab!

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[JWahlsten]

LOL. Now that was entertaining!



You're welcome to borrow my trailer until you're hooked up. I'm not too far away, and I could regale you with tales of my trailering experiences. I highly recommend an aluminum trailer if you're going to go open. If you go enclosed, go with a diesel with a long wheelbase... I really like my Trailex except for one thing. The extended ramps have a good bit of flex to them and the front tires to the car sit above them. The trailer flexes a bit causing some challenges in getting the ramps back in. If your car is low, you'll need the extended ramps, or will need to build some. The splitter will make the decision a no brainer. As far as a vehicle goes, I'm going to replace my Tahoe with a pickup soon as I don't like carrying fuel jugs in the vehicle with me. I've been holding off to see if I'll have time to go racing. The reason that comes into the equation is you'll need more spares and other stuff making an enclosed a better call. That would drive needing an F-250 or similar or more...The list goes on.



An open trailer without a full deck gives the ability to work underneath the car at events as well.



You can get four tires in the 968 without the spare if you don't have a roll bar, and you remove the seat backs. If you don't do that, you're toast...

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[Rap]

Seat backs are out and roll bar in of course! Thanks for the offer and advice. Can't you put the gas on the trailer?

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[JWahlsten]

I'd have to build some sort of shelving or tray to support the gas cans. I have a tire rack and a toolbox on it right now making the area up front pretty well accounted for...

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[Cloud9...68]

Wow, Rap, yours has been quite a journey - you've compressed the usual time of progression from dipping your toe into the DE world to shopping for a trailer to tow your dedicated track car by about ten-fold! If you're going the trailering route, why not skip all the way to wheel-to-wheel racing?



You're lucky (or maybe unlucky!) you have the space for a truck and trailer - I don't, which is the main thing that's going to keep me in track-day, dual-purpose car mode for the foreseeable future. At least I can live vicariously through your adventures...

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[tamathumper]

I hear the really dedicated guys are air-freighting their cars to the track now. Just so you know, Rap. No pressure. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Cloud9...68]

Tama,



That's too funny. Sigh, whatever happened to "run what you brung..."?

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[Rap]

Cloud, I have subscribed to that theory but outsmarted myself with the new 18's. I'm still considering a tire trailer but the truck and trailer are up on the screen. Frankly I would rather allocate the money to the car and DE expenses.

Tama, I do have a pilot on call but no plane! The pilot is my brother. Wonder whether a helicopter would work?

Cloud I have looked at wheel to wheel but I'm not sure I can foot the expense. Sure would be cool though!

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[Cloud9...68]

Yeah, wheel to wheel racing can be done somewhat affordably through series like Chumpcar and LeMons, but campaigning your own car in a series like PCA, SCCA, or NASA becomes insanely expensive very quickly. Honestly, I don't understand how the guys on this board can do it - they must make a whole lot more than I do (and while I'm not a one-percenter, I'm solidly in the upper 3-5%). Just the anticipated cost of tires from the wimply little 20-minute sessions I've relegated myself to makes me think about taking a second job...

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