New Sports Sedans

[Tony C]

Phil I was thinking of something 'budget' thats why I mentioned state level. If trans am is a kit car where can I order one in Oz? If it takes you 6 months to build a chassis I dont know if that will fit in 'budget'.

I was thinking of being able to offer 'kits' in the same way you buy a cobra or gt40. You order the chassis, body and all custom parts from 'a' supplier and that supplier gives you a list of donor parts that you need to buy to complete the kit. Using a commodore donor would allow a quck, easy and cheap build, but that depends on whether there are any genuine buyers in th current economy. Would 50k for a finished car be too expensive?

[viper358]

There are a number of competitive sport sedans for sale, maybe not Audi, or Alfa beaters but certainley top ten cars for less than the mooted 50K you talk of. the price that people ask and recieve differ greatly. You could purchase a second hand Roller Transam from the US and fit a Nationwide engine gearbox combo that would come in under 50K. Its not the purchase its running cost. In the US the TA2 class with a 15 inch Crossply Slick at less than $700.00 a set and an understressed LS3 engine is becoming more and more popular, versus the true GT1/ Transam Mustangs and Corvettes with 815 BHP engines and Goodyear Radials at over 2K for a set. A class within a class for TA2 type Camaros would increase field numbers but wouldnt be competitive outright. Riverside racing have lots of cars in the build but nothing on the Track yet., Bailys Aston Martin will be the first top level New Sport Sedan to be built in Australia since the Audi. Buying an ex Transam car is not building a new Sport Sedan, but it is a great alternative. Speak to Charlie Senese, Gary Roberts or myself if your keen on sourcing a Transam car ex USA.

[FAMOUS]

Why Don't you just have TA2 as the second class like the americans . You can buy a second hand car For $15000.00 to $25000.00 any where in the states . You can buy a brand new Camaro or mustang for $65000.00 complete ready to race from Howe .

The sealed engines cost $8000.00 the tyres cost $695.00 a set and they are bullet proof and safe they look like a race car and go pretty good as well . The transmissions cost $1500.00 to $2400.00 from the likes of Roush and all the parts are off the shelf . 9" diffs that are common with Lockers you buy the centres for $500.00 to $600.00 from Roush or any other supplier .

Simple ? You could build a glass body that is like a Commodore or what ever but I dont think you would need to ?

If you come to New Jersey on the 1st of July and watch the Trans am you will be surprised how many people are leaning this way .

They have the same issues we have ? Affordability and Time :(

[Esse,s]

gotta agree with phil ,
there is a fair bit of SATISFACTION & pride along with some aprehension ?
about the building & designing process of a race car
this is something the "chequebook" turnkey racers will never feel or understand !!

[viper358]

Phil is correct re building turnkey cars in Australia. His Mustang will set the standard for all TransAm style cars in the Championship, and will be dead reliable. But even with the amount of work that Phil has done and the shortcuts he could take on his next build, a turnkey car for under $150K is simply unattainable. Famous makes some great points, could we run TA 2 cars in Australia in the SS class, surely their far closer in Spec to our rules than the Nascar type Trucks. If you look at the HOWE racing website and look at the Chassis it is certainley more Transam than NASCAR, please discuss..

[Ricey88]

Hi Famous
As you have some knowledge about TA2 would you investigate and come back and let us know as to whether the TA2 fit within
all of the CAMS rules & regulations .
Many American roll cages
will not meet CAMS Schedule j requirements .
Cheers
Ricey

[drewowner13]

hey just a thought.. instead of trying to find a way to bring new drivers to sport sedans, would a rule where the faster cars are penalised by wieght or rev restrictions... or saving cost on original cars that run by maybe cheaper running cost, maybe that could spark intrest?? i dont know im just throwing it out there

[Nadz44]

I know where your coming from drew, but a fast car/driver shouldnt be penalised for blitzing the field, if the car has been built to the rules and regs and smashes the field by 20 seconds going 3 seconds a lap quicker then anybody else they shouldnt be penalised for success.... When you think about it, there are currently only 2 drivers in the series that would be considered top notch full time national drivers (hossack/ricca) whereis all the others are club based part time drivers... Nothing against them drivers but hossack/ricca are in a class of there own.... You put any joe blow in riccas car, they wont go as quick as ricca just because the car is quick... James Sera for example, he has driven Randles new Saab quicker then Randle would ever dream of it going...

Nadz44

[viper358]

Phils right, dont dumb down the top end of town, there is dicing all the way down a SS grid due to the strengths and weaknesses of the wide variety of cars in the field. When we get Riceys weapon, all the Riverside cars some of Gazs Garage and a couple of Bob Gills we will have nearly a full grid any where we race. Would the TA2 cars be legal in Australia if their engines were 6 litre?

[MrBoost]

yeh please never ever 'dumb down' the top cars or any of the cars (i.e no wieght limit raising!)
I would hate for tony and darren to be brought back to 'us' it gives you nothing to strive for
performance wise, to beat them fair and square will bring a massive grin to anyones face.

anyway who thinks sports sedan RACING is no good? always great racing to watch so long as
the cars are on the grid and phil seems to be taking care of that at the moment.