Porsche racing ' classes' question

[ukmastiff]

LO all, can someone tell me how do they seperate the 944S2 and 968 in racing classes.
I know little ( well almost zero) re racing but it interests me and am even 'thinking of' having a learn. I read in the club mag re a race or two and it appeared that the 944S2 won a class and the 968 was in another but they are both 3.0 normally aspirated so I find that unlikely , did I misunderstand it.

I ask mainly as I would consider a 944 S2 as a beginners but if it has to go up against a 968 it seems a little pointless and then the extra cost of a 968 would seem necessary ?

Cheers

Mas

 

[Neil Haughey]

968 goes in class one, weight limit slightly higher than S2 but it has more power and can use M030 brakes like the late 944 turbos and 17" wheels and tyres.

S2 goes in class two. Difference between the 2 cars is around 1 to 2 seconds per lap depending on the track and of course who is driving. For PCGB the S2 can run 245x45-16 tyres all round but AFAIK last year Jez Clark won the championship running on 225's all round. Michelin pilot cups of course.

Class one has been hugely competitive in recent years, this year especially so. If you make a small mistake you drop 3 or 4 places and then can't get back past. Class two would IMHO be the place to go if one wanted to win the championship bta many would find it dull being in a position where you aren't actually racing for race wins and would likely have a good 1/2 dozen class one cars finishing ahead.

The Classis Sports Car Club, Future Classics series is where MarkK has been racing and into which I am following. Still has classes but based on engine capacity. I don't think the 968 is eligible for that series but the 964 and 944 turbo are and would almost certainly be the cars to beat I reckon.

 

[ukmastiff]

Thanks , I didn't consider weight limits being involved or tyre sizes ?? , like I said I have no knowledge just an interest. I know it wouldnt matter which car I picked really as I would only be looking for a bit of fun and to learn not winning but I couldn't understand how anyone would seperate 944's and 968 class wise. If weights , tyre sizes etc are all part of these classes that makes more sense. As for cost then a 968 seems to be double an equivelent 944S2 at the moment say 3 against 6 or 4 against 8 thousand so its clear which one represents value as a 'fun' car. However I think for a road/track combo I would prefer the 968 purely as I havn't had one []

Regards

Mas

 

[Andy97]

ORIGINAL: Neil Haughey

The Classis Sports Car Club, Future Classics series is where MarkK has been racing and into which I am following. Still has classes but based on engine capacity. I don't think the 968 is eligible for that series but the 964 and 944 turbo are and would almost certainly be the cars to beat I reckon.

Neil's correct - the 968 isn't eligible for CSCC Future Classics - cars have to be pre 1990 Model year. 964, 944 Turbo & 944 S2 etc are eligible. 964s & 944 Turbos are good bets for overall wins in my opinion & thh 944S2 is the car to have for the 2 litre to 3 litre class, again, in my opinion.

Future Classics is a good place to start racing if you are a novice with good value for money, good racing & loads of track time.

 

[Andy97]

ORIGINAL: ukmastiff

Thanks , I didn't consider weight limits being involved or tyre sizes ?? , like I said I have no knowledge just an interest. I know it wouldnt matter which car I picked really as I would only be looking for a bit of fun and to learn not winning but I couldn't understand how anyone would seperate 944's and 968 class wise. If weights , tyre sizes etc are all part of these classes that makes more sense. As for cost then a 968 seems to be double an equivelent 944S2 at the moment say 3 against 6 or 4 against 8 thousand so its clear which one represents value as a 'fun' car. However I think for a road/track combo I would prefer the 968 purely as I havn't had one []

Regards

Mas

Remember a 968 is supposed to deliver 250 Bhp & an S2 about 210 for roughly similar weights. The 968 also has a 6 speed 'box so it does make sense to split then up in different classes.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Also worth noting that running a car in class 1 of the PCGB championship has become very expensive, probably due to the fierce level of competition. Figures I have heard range from £7K PA to run a class 2 car up to £20K+ if one wants to compete at the front of class 1. Personally I can't see how one could do a season at this years costs for less than £10K whilst at the other end its certainly easy to spend £20K+ but on paper if supporting the car yourself it need not cost that much.

Remember that with increased speed potential and weight comes increased wear and tear hence the large disparity one hears in tyre wear rates for example. Something like a 924 or an early 944 for example is to me a more attractive race and track car than a 944 turbo, after all build costs are only the beginning.

Horses for courses as they say. I decided to do Future Classics for various reasons, I think I have the right attitude for CSCC, I want to have some fun, avoid bending my car or others and enjoy the social side of being at race days.

 

[ukmastiff]

Your last scentence sums up my ideal race experience on every pont. I just need to make the decision to put the effort in and actually do something !

 

[Andy97]

ORIGINAL: ukmastiff

Your last scentence sums up my ideal race experience on every pont. I just need to make the decision to put the effort in and actually do something !

Buy an existing fully prepared 924 for about £3500-4000 then & come racing with the CSCC - you'll be very welcome & that has to be one of the most cost effective ways to go racing.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1893038.htm

The car would probably be still eligible for the BRSCC Porsche series if you wanted to mix and match your racing; you could race with the CSCC at Spa (1 hour race) & the Nurburgring (300Km race) (if you have/ once you get a National A licence) and you could also enter next years 360MRC 6 Hour race for club level competitors at Snetterton.

 

[Suffolk944]

968 here Mas...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1965737.htm

Or 944 as a starting point ?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1936008.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1836278.htm (gawd thats cheap..)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1737673.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1876665.htm

Am getting interested myself now ! []

 

[ukmastiff]

Thanks John , helpfull as ever ( as is the previous poster) . If you know me a little and my buying habits you'll know that I watch just about every 944 for sale in the U.K lol and have seen all those ( bar one). I nearly bought the dark Red one belonging to a certain R.O the other week and sort of regret not doing so as it was a bargain but I was still umming and arring over this racing idea and it wasnt caged of course.

Just for fun these were my thoughts. I am after a 968 TBH and that light blue one looks cracking value ! , however I just can't live with that colour it makes me retch ( a shame indeed !) . I'd consider the cat C one though as it is cheap enough to track.

RE a 944 it would have to be an S2 for me nothing else and that cheeper red one interested me for sure , I watched and had a little bid on it on E-Bay and it failed to reach reserve . I think it reached about 1600 but as a tatty one ( no disrespect to it but cracked dash on an S2 isnt great) I'm not sure I'd pay what he's asking. The 3995 one well it's a lot for me to smack up on a race track as my first effort hehehe

I cant see me risking a decent 968 as a novice so a budget S2 like that cheeper Red on E-Bay recentlyis possibly the way for me to go. I'll want to take it to meets as well so wouldnt totally strip it out even if that cost me a second or two ( perhaps I'll just diet)

I hope you do get interested so you can accompany me to the odd practice day , two oldies racing each other []



Regards

Mas

 

[944 man]

My advice, knowing relatively little about current 924/944/968 racing, but coming from a well-known racing family, is dont try to build a car.

 

[ukmastiff]

With my total lack of spanner skills and not having an endless supply of money , I'd say that's the most important bit of advice of all
(for what it's worth I wouldn't even consider it)