Re: race car--build vs buy

[Simon Favre <simon@domain.elided>]

Well, if you go talk to anybody that has actually started from stock and
prepared a vintage racer, they'll tell you it would not only have been
faster, but CHEAPER to buy a prepped car. You will be ahead of the game
if somebody else has already done the hard part, and had the car 
homologated, or approved for vintage racing. Note that VARA isn't that
representative of US vintage racing. They are a bit more competitive.
Other clubs don't allow heavily modified cars with gutted interiors, for
example. I mostly race with CSRG and HMSA which operate in Northern CA.

If you want to run a GTV in a slower group, most clubs should be able to
accomodate this. If you start coming in first, they'll just promote you
to the faster group. ;=) I don't know if VARA does this. Starting with a
Giulietta Sprint is a good idea, but will probably cost you more than a
GTV. Giuliettas have the advantage of being acceptable for Monterey. A
GTA would be too, but they don't take 1750 or 2000 GTVs. Make a note to
check out the HMSA races at Coronado October 22-24, or go to the Monterey
Historics in August (good luck finding a room). There's also a vintage
racing email list you can get on. Plenty of advice there. See the Mailing
Lists links at:

  http://www.team.net 

Doug Bender wrote:

>I have been considering for a couple of years (and will probably 
>consider for a couple of years more before I do anything about it) 
>giving vintage racing a go.  I would of course do it in an Alfa, 
>preferably a Giulietta or Giulia Sprint.
>     
>I have been time trialing with the Southern Cal Alfa Club (AROSC) in a 
>74 GTV for three years, and plan to keep that up even if I do 
>eventually get into vintage racing.
>     
>I have gone and watched at seveal VARA (Vintaga Auto Racing 
>Association) races here in So Cal over the last couple of years.
>     
>What I've seen is that the level of car prep and driving (at least 
>most driving) is well above the time trialing level.
...
>How does a beginner get started with the lowest intimidation factor?
...
>Does my idea of starting with a Giulietta, so I would be a class or 
>two down from the fast guys in 2-liter cars, make any sense?
...
>What is the low cost way to get started?

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