Open wheel. Mustangs, Camaros and Vipers are not open wheel. They are full body sportscars. I'm talking open wheel cars, like Formula cars. Anybody got any experience racing them in a series?
Come on Chuck. Give the man a chance to brag about his off topic racing.
I have the open wheel discussion often with my wife's step dad. He's 40 years an SCCA racer, with the last 30 in open wheel. He came to Sebring last year when I met you at Viper Days. His comment after he rode in my Viper around the track was "I'd love to have my Formula Atlantic here to drive around you guys in the corners. I can't believe how much you have to slow down."
The first and worst thing about open wheel is when two tires touch, one car is getting hurled into the air. Not good.
I've got about 10 days in open wheel cars in schools. I think a better distinction is purpose built race car vs production based race car. They have lower weight, lower center of gravity and easily replaceable components.
My March reacts instantly and does not have the inherent compromises of my production based cars. It is closed wheel, but has the feel of the open wheel cars. If you pick the right car and series it is probably cheaper, more competitive and easier to work on yourself. I can put you in touch with a guy who ran SCCA spec racers well for years.
I've done a few days in Barber open wheels. I liked everything about them except they didn't have the high end pull of the Viper. Which class would have close to Viper pull? Which class would turn 2:10-15s at Sebring?
After all these years running the Viper working around a full body is getting tough. I aint a young man. Everytime I see an open wheel with all the brakes and suspension out there in the open I turn green with envy.
I've always been an Indy fan first, so I've always dreamed of running open wheels.
Not a lot to add, except I am with you. Did Barber's open wheel school and I would love to race competitively in those things (except give me slicks and full aero please) - it is like flying an inch off the ground.
There needs to be something that is like Karting except for open wheel - and with real aero and slicks too please.
Just did a little hunting... this looks real interesting - one platform that you can swap between open wheel and sports racer bodies. I personally would love this.
Just did a little hunting... this looks real interesting - one platform that you can swap between open wheel and sports racer bodies. I personally would love this.
I did Bondurant's school many years back and got 1.5 days of FF. It was a very natural progression from the Mustangs they were running then because the gearing and power:weight ratios were very close. It was great fun! I would still love to have a formula car, but you have to have pit help with an external starter and getting belted in.
If you can clear those hurdles, then you should look into Formula Continental or the Formula Mazda series. Both run slicks and aero, but the Mazdas have some really nice chassis and a very competitive series. Plus, I think the cockpits are more accomodative of your larger frame, Chuck.
Short of that, road racing shifter karts is worth a try.
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Skating away on the thin ice of a new day.
It may be Star Mazda. I know that the original chassis for the Star series is not the same one that came out about 2 years ago. The new one has a lot of CF and you can buy it in pieces to assemble yourself - if you think you're up to it.
