How To Get To 1800 lbs, How to Lighten My Racecar Options

[motorvated]

Just put in my fresh 2.0 liter motor, replacing my stock 1.8 liter and it is definitely a much stronger motor and my lap times have gone down. I’m still a little slower than I would like to be, but driver skill aside, I’m wondering how best to shave some weight from the car. It already has fiberglass Chalon fenders and bumpers on it, but stock hood, trunk, and door skins. One racing seat, no top, fake Fuchs, header exhaust, fuel cell, 6-point cage. Don’t know what it weighs right now, but I’m sure it’s not anywhere near 1800 lbs. So where do people find the weight savings? My door panels don’t weigh very much, and I can remove them and the door glass too. I prefer to keep the stock windshield but could remove the rear window if that would help aerodynamically but that may be unsafe from a fire spread perspective. Could remove headlight assemblies and install fiberglass hood and trunk. I usually run without the engine cover. Any thoughts on this?

[motorvated]

It’s the car in the avatar, a ‘72 now with a Weber IDF carbed 2.0 liter with a lightened flywheel and headers. I race it with Vintage clubs and SCCA. It has a six point cage and one seat. It definitely is faster than the ‘75 L-Jet 1.8 that I ran in it for a few seasons while I began learning how to race. Compared to the Sprites, Minis, and Spitfires that I’m now passing, I get the feeling that their light weight really helps them get the most performance out of their cars. So it got me thinking about how I might lighten my car and see some benefit. Although I have current plates and insurance for it, it’s not a street car. The Chalon fenders are very light, but the bumpers may be a bit heavier. Car handles great in the corners and with 5-lug 911 bits and Koni’s all around, it corners flat and out-brakes many other cars. I readily admit that I definitely need more seat time, but this season has been tough. Bigger motor means all my brake and shift points at my local tracks now are quite different, but despite that I have managed to shave a few seconds off my old 1.8 lap times. Hope to get out more before the season ends.