Buying my first car

[Missing Link]

Hi Guy`s, My first post on here and looking for some advise.

I`ve found a car that i`m intrested in buying but can`t really find much info about, I`ve found the odd pic and sales add but no reviews as to how it handles or behaves on track.

The car in question is a Ray 1985 with kent engine and Hewland box,

Anybody have any experience of this car ? Is it a good first time buy ?

Cheers

[Missing Link]

Anybody.......

[diz]

No doubt John Whitbourn will be along shortly

[kartingdad]

Don't think he will be much help though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whitbourn

[diz]

Originally Posted by kartingdad

Don't think he will be much help though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whitbourn

Smart Alec


John's Tenths name is Triple J Motorsport

[Missing Link]

[Dermot Healy]

If you are serious about buying this (or any) racecar why not take advantage of the IMPULSE BUY COUNSELLING SERVICE provided FREE OF CHARGE on 07703-162409

This really useful FREE SERVICE has four components:

FIRSTLY....you will be invited to answer a series of questions about your aspirations/experience/resources/mechanical knowledge & abilities etc etc

SECONDLY....you will cautioned about the likely additional costs/problems (and very occasional joys) associated with owning a racing car...and may get some useful information that you may not have occured to you

THIRDLY...you will be advised about the likely strengths and weaknesses of the
vehicle you are considering....(but if it is that '85 Ray on eBay & if it is running &.if you get it for around the £3k it was bid to ....then you are probably not going too far wrong).

&....most important of all

FOURTHLY...you will then be led, ever so gently, down a path which might just result in you buying a delightful car from me rather than some other random old knacker you've found on eBay.

But, of course, if you feel you are just too easily led you can always put the phone down after stage 3

You know it makes sense!

[Missing Link]

Hi Dermot, Thanks for the reply, Yes there will be loads i`ve not even thought about, I`ve left it a bit to get started in motorsport racing so not looking for a championship winning car, Just something that i " can have a go" with.

I`ve got a bit of space, a fair bit of mechanical knowledge and love a project.

But we all know that you can`t polish a turd, So if your going to chuck money at something, I`d like to start with something decent.

If you have something that you think might fit the bill, Please send me a PM with what you have or post it up here, I`d love to here what you may have.

[Triple J Motorsport]

If this is the car on a certain auction site I saw it too, non standard nose etc.

We ran one of these in 86,87,88.

PM me for details, back to my next novel now!

[driftwood]

if yr looking at buying your forst race car i would ask these questions
1 what is your budget to buy a car
2 what funds do you have to race it
3 where in the UK do you live as there are certain series that have more events closer to home than others ie Oulton park coombe lydden have designated series at the track

you cannot beat buying a FFord as your first race car many series to run in for different year cars cars run form £3-15k depending on age model and how good the engine is
to win in FFord yu can kiss goodbye to £4000 for a new or well known/ good motor

another car that is good value for money is a Zetec FFord and you can race them at Lydden libre or F4 and monoposto races and later fit kent motor if u want to race in FFord series somewhere
i have VD2k kent fresh rebuild to sell 15 bags of gold a Crossle 20f fresh restored for HSCC pre 72 FFord at 16 bags of gold or 99 Mygale zetec at 5.5 bags of gold

unlike my northern friend i do not give free advice

you will need to buy me some beer or a quality lunch for the info that way you will appreciate what i tell you
something for nothing is worth.......

[Missing Link]

Hi Guy`s thanks for the info,

Driftwood, I`ll have to send you some vouchers for that lunch buddy as Knockhill is my local circut.

It`s been intresting talking and listening to you guy`s, Race cars seem like old campervans...... They never seem to drop to less than 4K and even then.... what you`ll get for your money can vary by miles.

So far I`ve gathered that no matter the state of them ( in the sellers mind anyway), An FFord engine is worth 3K plus and a gearbox is worth 1.5K plus min.

The hardest thing for a newbie like myself is knowing whats a deal and what`s a nightmare waiting to happen.

It`s been a real eye opener looking into this stuff.

[driftwood]

nay bother laddie i can take vouchers for ma pint o heavy and neeps n tatties

as our at Knockhill you will ideally be seeking pre 93 FFord
IF you have 7-9 bags of gold i would look to buy either VD 9091 92 or reynard 87-92 cars they where the best cars form that era and can still hold a candle to the newer cars today
Reynard very forgiving car good wet race car

regarding motors i opaid 1600 quid for motor fresh used once type thing form historic FFord racer i dont expect to win with it but it will get the car running
if someon seesk 3k for a motor i would want to see it doing the time that day see rebuild sheet/invoices and have spoken to teh engine shp before i part with my lolly
kent race engines are ten a penny but good motors are not
gearboxes yes are £1-1500 all day long

you can get a car for 4-6k but i would say if you have more spend more in either getting a car that is race ready and a known commodity or buy the latest car u can get so your not selling the cheap car in 9 months time to move up to the better car
another reasonable car is the VD 86/7 model user friendly and the 88 VD was not that bad it was overshadowed by the reynards in the pre 90 series
Swift 92 car was another reasonable car
avoid the 93 94 zetec conversion cars
it does also depend on how tall you are as to what car you can buy if yr a 5 ft 10 14 stone and above there will be cars that you will not fit