Auto Racing: Road Racing, sports car racing, mustang fastback

Question
QUESTION: I would consider myself a novice to racing, however, it is a lifelong dream of mine to build and race a 65 Mustang Fastback, which was given to me by my grandfather for my 16 birthday, and road race it.  By road race I do mean on a track.  Not sure if the SCCA might be an option or even a good place to start or if there are other options in which other classic performance car owners can get track time and partisipate in races.
Thanks for your help.
Greg

ANSWER: I believe that yes, SCCA would be a good place to start.  You can attend driving schools in SCCA, and obtain a regional or national competition licence in a few weekends, and begin to compete right away. plus your license will be recognized by nearly any other amateur group.  

Also, if you prepare your car to SCCA regulations, I'm certain it will pass technical and safety inspection at most any other sanctioning body's events. You can find out more at <www.scca.org>  type your city in the search window and it will give you contact info for your local district.

Your membership dues include a copy of the General Competition Rules which includes detailed specifications for car preperation.   

The downside is that, at least in my area, the Vintage group isn't well attended, and we only run a 2 or 3 vintage races in a year. There are other groups, Historic Sports Car Racing is one, a great group where you will definately see some very exotic machinery.  There are of course, many others, so you can join 2 or 3 other associations and race your heart out.

Vintage and historic racing is really the only practical avenue for you to follow, as sadly, your beautiful old 'Stang wont be competitive in any other group.

I wish you a lot of luck and sincerely hope that you will do this and do it right. I enjoy watching the vintage racers. I'm afraid I am much too aggressive a driver to join thier ranks just yet.

Sincerely

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I appreciate your very informative response.  As a follow up, do you think even with the new technology available for my Mustang or any other car of that era, Camaro, e-Body Mopar, in the way of suspension and driveline mods that these cars would only be competative in Vintage, Classic races?  I just wanted to get clarification on that point so I'm sure I understood you.  Would I have to go to a tube type chassis to compete in other events?  
Thanks,
Greg Cooksey

Answer
Yes, I believe you would have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to make your Mustang competitive with modern GT cars.  They are mostly tube frame or a combo of a front stub and tube rear like a Limited Late Model or Pro Stock.

Modern GT-1  cars are a tubular chassis, 750 to 800 HP V-8, quick change rear, Jericho or Weisman 5 speed trans and all the goodies.  They run a 15" X 12" wide slick tire and use two sets in a weekend. They can be found for aroiund $75,000 after a season or two.  If you want to win right out of the box, you need to plan on spending more like $200K for a car, and be prepared to drop around $2K per weekend for tires, race fuel and incidentals.

NOW, if you would like to make your 'Stang into a street car, and really go racing, there's a new class in SCCA called GT-A which is for the defunct ARCA cars.  The race cars are gorgeous Monte Carlo Chevies with a 500 horse fuel injection crate motor, a spec tire and such.  They even burn premium 93 octane pump gas. Cars are available on e-bay for around $15K and the ones I've seen are beautifully turned out, pro level race cars.

Hopefully this answers your question, but don't be shy, I'm here to help and to promote interest in Sports Car Racing,  I actually enjoy spouting off when I can!

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida