considering 914 race car |
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
considering 914 race car |
Spence |
Jun 2 2016, 09:12 AM
Post
#1
|
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 2-June 16 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 20,059 Region Association: None |
Hi everyone,
This is my first post on your excellent forum. I've owned 914s in the past, but none at the moment. Have spent my time tangled up in British cars, so I don't know much about the air-cooled world... thought I am now pretty familiar with electrical fires! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) I've been keeping my eye out for a built nearly-there vintage race car and found this: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/5578045362.html Apparently it was campaigned in SoCal as a 6, but is now fitted with a 4. Owner says car runs and drives, but it's unclear what's been done inside the engine. Also unclear who raced it and in what class (apparently it was silver with blue wheels). This weekend I'll be able to go over it more fully with the owner, but I did drop by and check it out at the shop where it's stored. The car is in very nice shape: no rust or rot, good rubber, linkage, very quality glass work with no damage, etc. Fuel cell and harness would need replacing and drivetrain would need a rebuild I'm sure. So, I've got a couple questions I'd love input on: 1) Do any of you know this car? 2) $5500 seems like a pretty good deal, am I wrong? 3) The car's had a 6 before and is ready to take another, but it looks like those engines are prohibitively expensive (for me). Are the 4cyl cars competitive? Assuming the engine that's in there isn't already tuned, how much do these engines need to be competitive? Is it worth keeping the 4 at all? (I've seen a few discussions on this topic but there seems to be some disagreement) I should mention that I have not done any racing yet but would like to get into it. It does seem like this car would qualify for several of the series considering it's been raced already. I'll be going to see the car more fully this weekend, but would appreciate your thoughts so I know what to ask and look for. Spence |
Bill's Racing 914 |
Jun 23 2016, 12:27 AM
Post
#2
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 61 Joined: 2-March 14 From: Southern California Member No.: 17,064 Region Association: None |
Spence,
VARA is the only place to run a 914 in SOCAL. You will be outgunned by the newer water cooled cars in SCCA. Very few people run the pre 80's cars in SCCA any more. I was at a regional race last weekend at Buttonwillow and it was mostly Miatas spread across several classes. Several people race the 1.8L 914's up in the SCCA San Francisco region, but the tracks are too far away for you in LA. I have a 91 Miata 1.6L that I currently race in both VARA and SCCA in SOCAL at Willow Springs and Buttonwillow. I also have a Lola Formula Ford and a Reynard Formula Continental that I will race with VARA and SCCA next year. Since I am transitioning back to formula car racing, I will let my 914 go for $9K. It is newly built and never raced. Has all the bells and whistles. All it needs is a fire system to be VARA legal. I could use the money to feed tires to the Lola and the Reynard. Here's some pics: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=273023 It currently has a stock 1.7L in it. You can race it in VARA in E Production with that motor. I strongly suggest you start there and work your way up. You have a lot of driving to learn and that motor is a good first year starter. You can add a racing cam and forged pistons to go faster when you get used to the car. The 914's that have been racing VARA a lot longer have 2.0L engines and are in D Production. I already have the side shift tranny in it, so you can pick up a 2.0 L engine after you have learned the car with the 1.7L. PM me with a phone number if you want to talk. If you are not interested in the car, I can at least steer you in the right direction. Bill |
brant |
Jun 23 2016, 08:57 AM
Post
#3
|
914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 11,639 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
|
Bill's Racing 914 |
Jun 23 2016, 11:07 AM
Post
#4
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 61 Joined: 2-March 14 From: Southern California Member No.: 17,064 Region Association: None |
Spence, VARA is the only place to run a 914 in SOCAL. except for SVRA, CSRG, HMSA, etc..... where there are A LOT of 914's also running Spence, Here's the reality of all this. There are three tracks to primarily race at in SOCAL. Fontana, Willow Springs and Buttonwillow. There is also Chuckwalla and Pahrump. SVRA races all over the country.....Going to an SVRA event in Florida is prohibitally expensive. When SVRA does race at any of the SOCAL tracks, it is in unison with VARA anyway. CSRG is a Northern California vintage series that races Sonoma and Thunderhill...again a long way to drag a car. HMSA is also a NORCAL series. When you buy any new car or are starting out in racing, you need to focus on your nearest tracks to avoid the logistical nightmares of dragging a car halfway across country. This is my second year of getting back into racing so I only run Willow Springs and Buttonwillow. You need to spend a lot of time at Willow learning turns 8 and 9. They change the configs at Buttonwillow a lot so you get a different track most every time you run it. To start you will need to get a competition licence. Don't get one at SCCA since no one races 914's there. A VARA licence will carry over to SCCA. So get a VARA licence by going to their driver's school in January and start learning Willow Springs and Buttonwillow. In VARA you will have other 914's to run against and other drivers to get track and car tips from. I will most likely be one of the instructors at the driver's school. Get to know Gus Gomez who runs a 2.0L 914. He is a great guy and can give you all the tips to build up a $2.0L motor$. When you have spent some time on Willow Springs and Buttonwillow, then you can look to expand out to tracks farther away. |
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 9th June 2024 - 04:15 AM |
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002 |
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community! We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ... |