Which direction?, 914 in driveway, now what? Options

[teenrookie]

A year ago I was basically given a '72 914 which is believed to be actually a '75. Subtle things seem obvious, the bumpers, the fuel injected 2.0, smog equipment and side shifter. I have rebuilt the brake system and got it to run on three of the four cylinders, the passenger side rear is at 0 compression. It has been painted, count 'em, four times!! Original copper ('75), green, orange and black. The right door is bondo, there is a hole in the front from where I tore out the A/C, the trunk has a little rust from the taillights. Interior has typical small issues. Other than that it is PERFECT (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) !!

It has sat for a year because I bought a house. A buddy and I have raced in SCORE and really enjoyed it. We are looking at the car on the side of my house and are thinking about trying to put together a car for the track.

Here are my questions:


1. What kind of racing is best for a rookie?
2. I am sure there are several classes, which is the most economical?
3. Is it advisable to keep this car for parts and buy one already sorted?
4. I would like the best of all worlds; a car I could terrorize the local canyons at 2:00 A.M. and something that could be entered in different classes.
5. What else should I be thinking about?

I appreciate all of your input.

[teenrookie]

I don't know what to think about the car right now. I got a call into the guy who gave it to me, who is a friend of my father in law. He is a very conservative engineer. Just doesn't seem the type, but you never know. My quess is that he changed the VIN to save the smog nightmare. the pump belt was disconnected when I towed the car home and the entire smog system had been torn apart, the pump was frozen, etc. I was able to tear it all off and it seems to idle OK now all though the 1 cylinder is dead and the car overheats in about 30 minutes of driving on the 3 remaining.

The car is listed on the pink slip as a '72. There is not a salvage stamp or anything like that on it. I already transfered it to my name through DMV and I wasn't arrested...yet.

I will let you all know what the original owner says.

skline- my 8 y.o. son loves rat 914 too. I have had 400 hp desert trucks with 25" of travel, fully caged and he still thinks this thing is more fun to go to the store in. So you dropped a 5.0 in yours? Can you A/X it now or only in special classes?

Joe- I will definately come check it out in February. I doubt my car will be anywhere near ready for an event by that time.


Aaron- Thank you for the offer, you are definately close by. I am unsure what I am going to do as of yet. I have to research the forms of racing, see what modifications are allowed and worthwhile, appraise the current car, consider the cost to bring it up to the spec of the type of racing I decide upon. Then decide whether to build this or by one that is completed.

All I can say is I have learned much more in the last 10 hours than with you guys than in the year I have been tinkering on this car.