Used Race Cars - Buying On Speed Market

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who solve their problems with money, and those who wish they could but can't afford it. Most of us fall into that second category, especially when it comes to racing. The money we do come by always seems to be earmarked for something else: feeding the kids, paying the mortgage, giving Uncle Sam his cut, you name it.

So we end up racing the only way we know how-by substituting blood, sweat, and tears in place of cash wherever we can. Parts that are broken get welded up (yet again) when maybe you'd rather order new ones. Crunched sheetmetal gets banged back out so many times it's beginning to look like old aluminum foil. And you always keep at least one finger crossed while hoping the engine that should have been rebuilt two months ago makes it through one more weekend.

If any of this describes you, don't worry-you aren't alone. And if you are looking to get into racing but worry that you don't have enough green to properly fund your racing efforts, you probably can get by with a lot less than you think. One way is to purchase a used race car. That's true whether you are looking to get into racing for the first time, looking to move to a different class, or simply wanting to replace your worn out race car. The market for used race cars is vibrant these days, with sellers at just about every racetrack that opens its gates on Friday or Saturday nights. And the good news is you can get a good car for a good price if you know what you are looking for.

"Everybody trades 'em off before their time is up," says famed Dirt Late Model chassis builder C.J. Rayburn. "They will have this beat up or that beat up, and they decide, 'Well, I'll just go out and get a new car.' There are a lot of good used cars out there that still have plenty of races in them."

The trick is to be able to pick out the diamonds and leave the lumps of coal. It is easy to spot a car that has more weld material on it than it does actual frame tubing, but those aren't the only race cars you should avoid. Some may be damaged-or just poorly constructed-in ways that can make the car difficult to tune or even unsafe. These trouble areas can also be difficult to spot, so you have to look for the clues. And since money-back guarantees are about as common on the used race car market as snow in July, you'd better get it right the first time. Here are a few tips we've compiled from racers and race car builders to help you get the most for your money when the time comes to buy that "new" used race car.

The first thing to do is evaluate your needs. Know what class you want to race and the rules that apply to that class. You must be able to determine whether a potential car will be legal for the class and track you plan to race. Make a fair appraisal of your fabrication skills. Can you repair a car that requires a little bit of work? If not, paying someone to make changes on the used car you just purchased may turn out to be more expensive than buying a new one.

If you are a new racer or are looking to get your start in stock car racing, you may not yet have the knowledge to make the critical judgments regarding whether a race car is well built for both competition and safety. In that case, your best bet is to find an experienced racer or member of a race crew who is willing to help you out. Pick that person's brain about what works and doesn't work for the class you are planning to race and even for the specific track you plan to make your home. It may cost you dinner or a six-pack of that person's favorite soft drink, but ask that racer or crew member if he or she would be willing to travel with you at least the first few times you go to look at a car for sale.

If you don't know anyone who fits this description, all is not lost. Instead of going straight out to look for the perfect used race car, spend a little time educating yourself. Buy a pit pass at your local racetrack and spend a little time hanging out. Pick a team that seems to have a nice-looking car, and during a lull in the action, introduce yourself. You might be surprised how willing racers are to help someone who honestly needs information to make him or herself a better racer-and isn't just looking for a shortcut by stealing information. Ask them to show you how a good rollcage for that type of car should be built. Don't forget to look at how both the seat and fuel cell should be properly secured. Ask about the things on the car that seem to need the most attention so you can check if that same area is damaged when you are looking at a potential buy. Any other information you can glean will almost certainly be helpful down the line. Repeat this process with two or three other teams so that you can get a general consensus about how the cars in the class you plan to run should be built.