Purpose-Built Autocross Hot Rod ?????

What exactly does any of that have to do with a brand new Ariel Athom?

Signing on the dotted line for a production car is not Hot Rodding...

 

No but it would make a great slalom winning car.
And if you want to win at anything, you need to be aware of what else is out there.

 

No, it wouldn't.

If you want to win in a class for pre '55 cars, you need to bring a pre '55 car to enter the race...

Can we please get back On Topic now?

 

You mean completely original factory stock pre '55 cars.
Or do you mean a hot rod based on a pre '55 body that can have almost any mechanicals ?

 

Dude, give it up...

Read this thread again and try to absorb the information in it, this time...

 

Dateline, page 8...

Metalshapes is right, perhaps we have gone too far in the pure, modern race car vein here. We all know you can't have it all, really, eh?

As far as I can tell, only one compromise to traditional needs to be made, that a "nostalgia" sports rod / autocrosser would probably need have IFS if you were going to get it to handle better than a lowboy rod with a solid front end. But I'm sure you could look back thru the pages of hot rodding / American racing history and find plenty of IFS cars to cite if you like. Or those with inboard front suspensions, or FWD / AWD.

For me, I'd be thinking of a 50's style sports car version of a MOdel T, A, or B styled roadster, or perhaps a coupe or PU even. Something like the ones that are allowed to run a Laguna in the classic car races. You could even "C" the doors to get your elbows in the wind like an old TR-3 or something. And while I'd still try for a single seater, it would be fun to have a passenger now and then.

Autocross-wise, and as a counterpoint to 1.0 G cornering, does anyone remember the days when insurance companies encouraged these types of skill events? Sure, it's always been about who's fastest in what class, but don't forget the simple fun factor and educational benefits. It's nice to learn the limits of your car's braking and cornering abilities in a safe place, not during your first panic stop to avoid a crash on a public road. A better handling rod and some "autocross training" can't help but make you a better driver, teach you your car's limits, and illustrate any of your car's major faults.

Later, Gary

 

No compromise is necessary other than wheels and tires. the axle works fine, especially at the relatively small Goodguys events. I have run 6 SCCA Solo events this summer and have 5 more to go and always managed to turn in respectable times. Is my roadster a Zo6 in disguise, no, but I like to think its the fastest car in the country with a '40 Ford steering wheel.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odP3l-6lA00&NR=1

This was one of my best runs in Des Moines, not only did I obliterate the Hot rod class but I only ran a second behind 2 high powered really fast musclecars with very good drivers behind the wheel. I was the 3rd fastest car there that weekend.......with an axle and hairpins.

 

Is anyone going to run one at Hallett outside Tulsa. Would love to see it.

 

While they do not fit the "hot rod" theme for most people there are some very good handling pre-'65 (sorry not much in the way of pre-'55 worth a crap) Euro/Japan cars that take a V8/V6 swaps very well and can be very competitive in autocross. track day events.
Sunbeam Imp
Ford Cortina
Jaguar XK150
Jaguar E Type
Alfa Romeo GTA
Alfa Romeo GT Junior
Renault R8
Renault Daphine
Datsun Fairlady/roadster

I have built a couple of the cars above with various motor swaps for road race type of use while being daily drivers. You can find most of the above for fairly cheap, except the Jags as they cost more for a clean car, the early Jags rusted really bad all the way through. Surface rust has never scared me but rust throught an entire car is something I never wanted to get involved with. Depending how crazy you wanted to go you could build most of the above to be competitve for less then about $6000.

 

No we acctually do drive our inferior old Traditional Hot Rods.

And on the limit every once in a while...