Peter Egan, look out.
Thanks Bill.
> I haven't weighed in on this because my opinion on the matter has nothing
> to do with economics, and that seemed to be what the question was about.
> However, I have some unique and recent experience to share. Within the
> last few years I built my TR3 from a road car, bought a well-prepped
> vintage race car (Peyote), and bought a completely prepped, virtually
> hands-off modern race car.
>
> The TR3 was probably the most expensive of the three, though I really
> never kept track. I built it over a relatively long period, first
> restricting my changes to handling and safety, and later working my way up
> through the pack with cubic dollars. By the time people started noticing
> that my TR3 was faster than some modern Porsches, that I could push it
> into the trailer by myself, and that magnets wouldn't stick anywhere but
> the roll cage, I had a fair sum into the little cheater. In other words,
> the expense of development is inversely proportional to your discipline
> and directly proportional to your urge to beat the guy in front of you.
> I'd write the formula down but I think there should be no math.
>
> Then I bought Peyote from Baxter and the TR3 has languished, up on jack
> stands with bits swiped for Peyote's needs. Peyote was a great deal, I
> think I paid Baxter $22K for it and the trailer. People always tell me
> what a nice trailer it is. I've toasted a few things in it (engine,
> transmission) but that's motor racin'. Stuck in a Southwick conversion.
> Rebuilt the engine with a steel crank. etc., etc. but by and large it's
> been very inexpensive and it's accepted everywhere. And there's the
> key--Peyote is a special, not a tarted up street car like my TR3 is, and
> so it is both faster, and cheaper. It doesn't have to win a relative
> beauty contest--it's homely race patina is it's very own. If I was going
> to go Vintage racing from scratch today that's what I'd look for. Most fun
> per buck. Wouldn't even have to be a Triumph (blasphemy!!!)
>
> Finally, I bought a Radical to increase my track time. About $50K, and
> faster than anything you'll see at any vintage race short of a 917. Eats
> Formula Atlantic cars for lunch. Stops on a dime and gives you nine cents
> change. I pay no attention to it between races other than wiping it down
> and changing the oil. In other words, it doesn't need me.
>
> Lessons learned--though I already knew them: We love these cars because
> they are a reflection of us and our abilities. Putting your efforts into
> building one from scratch is not economically sound, but it makes perfect
> sense. It's fun. That what we all do this for. Making real, useful changes
> to my Radical is beyond my capabilities, but getting another few seconds
> out of Peyote with a suspension modification is not. So I love Peyote and
> lavish attention on it, and I use my Radical like a tool and consider it
> replaceable.
>
> It's like modern Japanese bikes vs. Harleys (or more to my taste--vs.. old
> brit and Italian bikes). No one truly loves their Jap bikes because they
> are so capable that they don't need help. But when a bike has lots of your
> knuckle skin spread around it, you have a commitment and a bond to it.
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