Just checking to see if this idea is still alive???
I went to the Challenge in '07 and '08 and it's a lot of fun.
My "one man build" car took 6th place in the autocross portion.
The Brakes went out on the 3rd run, but it still managed to beat the fastest Miata.
A team build is a much, much easier of course. And I would like to go again just for the fun of attending.
Is there someone to contact?

I'm not a motor guy, I went to school for paint and body. (Tampa Tech Titians, yeah!)
I do have a ridiculus set of tools. Mig welder, Plazma cutter, sheet metal brake, stud welder(no jokes please), engine hoist, pretty much every body shop tool. And I do have some items availlable like Tires, Seat, Paint, Garrett Turbo, of the top of my head.
Oh, and I drive a MSM. Looks a lot like Muddy's.

One last comment for those who have not been. They provide autocross drivers (but you do have to drive your own at the drags).
Before the event I got 9 time National Champion (and local hero) Danny Shields to drive my car about 3 times in the testing stages. Then I had him drive it at the event. It's a nice advantage to give your "professional" driver some seat time before the event.

Welcome to the club!! I think John (Hammerhead) had the donor car? Im sure he will respond shorty.

Building a car and spending money just to have someone else drive the car kind of seems like an epic fail scenario to me... I mean, I built my car to beat it up myself.

lol

Seriously?

That's like me finishing building my Miata, after all of the hours and all of the misfortunes.... Put it on the trailer, drive all the way to the event, and then I take it off the trailer and Mark hops in with his Cigar and squeals off to the line. hahahahaha

What's the point of even going? I could see if you were getting paid to build the car and to do the maintenance on it, but to do it for free? I just don't understand I guess. I have to gain SOMETHING when I do work. In this case, I get to drive the car I built up. Without driving it, .........

the "challenge" was to build a car (or for us a miata) for $2000 or less and have it beat all the other car entries with the same budget that can win at autoX, drag, and other related racing events.

So you would spend all of that time, effort, and money, just to build something with no intention of enjoying it?

Yeah, like all of the people who build Formula One racecars, Rally cars, etc.

I know it's a crazy concept, huh?

Actually you get to drive it in a few competitions, just not the Autocross according to "Spin Out" which i was not aware of, but anyhow...... there are alot of people that just build cars for shits and giggles, just look at all the old hot rod guys! Its more of a mechanics challege if that makes it easier to understand?

You might be able to borrow my '92 this year, or the next one if it's too close to the deadline. Do trades count for $0?

hmmm if that happens i have to drive... get to beat the shit out of it like i always wanted to.

Fair market value must be applied to everything.

As I understand it, you are not required to have the "pro driver" drive your car at the autocross. You can drive it yourself or have your own team driver. But, if you're in it to win, it DOES make sense to have the pro drive it. They have a couple of the best autocross drivers in the world on hand specifically for this purpose, and just think how many practice runs they've got on the course that YOU don't have.

I think Tim hit the nail on the head. It's a car BUILDING competition.

If you want a car RACING competition, try LeMons.

Everything you mentioned pays you to build the car. So yes, it still remains a crazy waste of time concept IMO.

I get paid to work on my car in the form of enjoyment when I drive it at an event. If I don't drive, I don't get paid. If I don't get paid, it's gay.

Carl, there are people who enjoy the "build" process more than driving. I'm not one of those people, but they do exist. It's just another form of craftsmanship.

Nobody's making you compete in the GRM challenge.

You're off the build team.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah, I had a different grasp of this. I thought that you built a car, and then raced the car. I have no desire to build a car to have someone else drive it. Maybe after I hit the track a few times this year I'll be good enough to hit a LeMons race next yet.

Did you just say "good" and "LeMons" in the same sentence? Methinks you don't "get" that, either. LeMons is one of those things that you just do and hope for the best. (PS: The LeMons judges still don't like Miatas, don't even think about showing up with one unless it's REALLY beat up and OBVIOUSLY has no aftermarket parts on it.)

So traded it evenly for $1250 w/ mods?? Still leaves a lot of room...

In reality The "Challenge" is building the car, not so much the competition.
Keep in mind that there is NO classing at the GRM Challenge.
You might be up against a 2000 lb, 600hp VW bug; or MX-5 with a V-8 Lexus motor.

After I saw the the "professional" driver toss my car around and set the early FTD,
I told him it was totally worth building the car just to see him drive it.
That "FTD" time held from 10:30 until about 1:30, when the Hongs awoke with a taste for blood.
(For those that don't know me, I have pulled down a FTD in my day, but I'm just a local driver.)

I'm going to assume this thread is dead.
I think I'll look for something already in my yard that will be easy to throw together for $2009.

i dont think this thread is "dead", if anything you brought it back to life!! LOL!!!

Who are the Hongs, and what were they driving?

I think(but I'm probably wrong) the Hongs are a team from Tampa that compete every year and build some very nice cars that do well. Try reading GRM as there is alot of info in it that could be useful to anyone who's into competition driving.


As far as having a pro drive the car I don't think (not trying to offend anyone) there is anyone here with the driving abilities of the likes of Danny Sheilds or the other hired guns that are there. The goal is to build the best car within the budget, why limit the cars ability by insisting on driving it yourself. There are another 363 days of the year to have your way with it. You can drive it if you woild like but you will be at a great disadvantage.

Well, If I can get this f*cking hiccup figured out, I'd be willing to allow it's use. Until then, w/e, it's still fun to me. Anyone have an N/A fuel map saved from MS? I need to look @ it, looking for peak tq, not peak hp, it's a 1.6.