[F500] Hello from a Noob

[Cindy and Dean]

I've got to mentioned, the SCCA is a volunteer run, worked, and operated
club. Without volunteers, no-one races, or at least you'd need to multiply
your SCCA type expenses by 10. You can start out by joining the SCCA and
working corners. Once you start coming to events and becoming an active SCCA
member you'll meet some of the F5 gang that are, at least racing active, in
your area and do a little crewing. Then pick out a car and start racing it.
It's not just the F5 gang, that claim the group community aspect. It's the
SCCA in general.
DeanO
Sidewinder #3, occasional regional and solo driver, F&C, and Timing-scoring
for Sand in shoes region(S FL).

-----Original Message-----
From: f500-bounces+cdoakes=bellsouth.net at f500.org
[mailto:f500-bounces+cdoakes=bellsouth.net at f500.org] On Behalf Of Jeff
Blumenthal
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 6:21 PM
To: f500 at f500.org
Subject: Re: [F500] Hello from a Noob

John,
  Regarding the money question:  You should probably plan on spending a 
minimum $4k - $5k to get a car that you can get into and race.  Much 
less than that and you'll likely be chasing problems all year instead of 
having fun.   Cars in the $7k-$9k range are likely to have been better 
maintained....less surprises for you as a buyer. And it's definitely 
best to stick with something built within the last 10-12 years, unless 
you're real handy and have lots of spare time.  Since you're close to 
Waterford Hills, plan on spending a weekend crewing for an F500 driver 
and you'll learn a ton.  If you're planning on buying a car at the end 
of next year, crewing and observing will be invaluable as you evaluate 
cars.  There may even be some folks in your area who are rebuilding cars 
this winter that you could take a look at. 
  The good news is that there is a ton of help available from the F500 
community.  The bad news is that there is no manual or instruction 
book.  The learning curve can be faster if you have "local" help. These 
are "home built" cars. They all work similarly, but the assembly is very 
different among the brands.  Hope you find something.
 -Jeff Blumenthal

John Vriesinga wrote:

>> Fire away ! Tons of knowledge from the school of hard knocks 
>> available at your request !
>
>
> Thanks for the warm welcome Gil!
>
> Well lets start with the money question. How much should I plan to 
> spend to get a car?
>
> I've seen some interesting looking things at the f500 site. One priced 
> way down at around 1600, another at around 3000, another at about 5000 
> and one for around 7000. I doubt I could afford anything more than 7K 
> in the relatively near future, and I'll have to save for a bit to get 
> that much money together (I've got kids finishing up University). The 
> 1600$ car is a very attractive price that I could plop on my credit 
> card tommorow, but how much work $$$ would  it need? What kind of work 
> would need to be done? How fast/slow would it be? Would I even be able 
> to get it on a real track like Waterford?
>
>> Paul Newman won his last race at the 24 hr in Daytona on his 75 th 
>> birthday
>
>
> He is a man that I admire a great deal! A man of passion and principle 
> and a true gentleman besides.
>
> JV _______________________________________________
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