Hey all.

I just read that GRM is preparing to get the $2003 challenge underway. For those who don't know what that is:

A team prepares a car for a total budget of $2003 or less. The team then competes in an autocross, 1/4 mile drag, and concours competition. It looks like the competition will be sometime around April 4, 2003, in Gainesville, Fla.

Rules are Here (http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/2003rules.html)

Anybody want to try to put an entry together? Four people each with $500 to spend could have a lot of fun, with a trip to Fla. to boot.

So... Anybody interested? Larry? Robert? Len? JJ? (I know you've got a bunch of spare parts floating around). This sounds like a real blast and I wanna play.

-Joe

I am interested. Let me check this out and get back to you. :)

Maybe we can use my 85 Scooby for the donor car. :) It needs lots of work though.

JJ

Actually, this sounds like a blast. I'd be willing to throw down $500 for it. Where can we get the car?

-paul

I guess i could scrounge up $3 to throw in the pot. But thats if i really look hard.
late,
Chris

Paul, JJ:

I just checked online -- City Auto has an 88 XT 1.8 listed for about $900. I wonder how low they'd go if we walked up with a few hundred bux in hand?

-Joe

Here's another car thought... Does it *have* to be a suby?

While a sub 2K Subaru would be a cool entry, parts can be $$.

I might know of Pontiac Sunbird Turbo that I could get my hands on cheaply. 2 l motor, turboed, AT. Plus, J-body parts are cheap and plentiful.

It seems that one of those with as much weight reduction as possible and a little bit more boost, courtesy of an MBC, could run 14's (and maybe even 13's) in the drag event. Hell, there are fellas running 10's in Sunbirds with NOS (but for WAY more than the budget). A touch of suspension work and a set of used kumhos or Hoosiers could put it into contention for the autocross portion.

Councours? That's mostly clean-up, stripping, and a cheap Maaco re-spray. Whaddaya think?

how about this...

a guy on CO DSM is getting rid of his 91 TSI for FREE!! Parts for DSMs are relatively cheap. He says the car needs work, but $2003 can go a pretty long way.

Ro - Free is good. ;) Why is this guy with the TSI ditching it for free? I'm assuming we have to tow it. I agree with you in saying the $2K in parts could go a long way.

jds - I also like the Sunbird idea. The only bummer about that is the AT. Oh well, I'm sure we could find interesting ways to lighten it up.



PS - Maybe we should meet up a give this some more thought. The more I think about it, the more I like it. One thing to think about - how are we going to get the car down there? Do we really want to drive a $2K car across country? ;)

Originally posted by Diz


PS - Maybe we should meet up a give this some more thought. The more I think about it, the more I like it. One thing to think about - how are we going to get the car down there? Do we really want to drive a $2K car across country? ;)

Good point, Diz. I was kinda hoping to get somebody with a tow vehicle involved. I'm figuring by the time a challenge car is ready to run, nobody will want to drive it to Florida. We oughta get together sometime. Unfortunately, I won't be at Coors Field this weekend, since I have to go out of town for work.

Incidentally, Ro. DSM might be a good way to go too. I guess it depends on how much of a basket case the freebie is. If you can see the road through the floorpan, it might not work so good.

Then again, if all it needs is a fuel filter and tune-up, we're in business.

-Joe

I'll see what I can find out about the car. Hopefully it just needs some body work and the drivetrain is fine. We shall see...

I like the DSM idea depending on what it needs work on. If it is only bodywork and the drivetrain is for the most part fine, I say we have ourselves a potential winner.

The rules state you must figure the fair market cost of the car (even if free) into the budget.

We should get together some time and discuss this more. I still gotta figure out if this will work for me financially though... :)

JJ

got beat to it :(

got beat to it


...rats. Is that Sunbird still available?

-p

Originally posted by Diz
got beat to it


...rats. Is that Sunbird still available?

-p

It should be available for a while. My in-laws own it, but never drive it. It's mostly an ashtray for my father-in-law when the weather's nasty outside, but he really wants a cigar. Stripping the interior is the best thing that could happen to it...

Anyhoo, I'll keep my eyes open for DSM's and other interesting cars as well.

-Joe

I've got a 1984 Honda CRX 1.3 HF that I bought for $300 I could contribute to the effort. Also spent $89 on clutch and installed it free with a friend. Spent $92 on carb base gasket, and $120 on struts. The $145 I spent on all season tires that wouldn't count, because we'd buy wheels and race tires for it, or sell the old tires which only have 200 miles on them.

It already has upgraded DX brakes, and with a motor xplant and NOS, selling the old motor, and good wheel and tires we'd be under $1,500 - that leaves money for good Koni Struts.

1,600lb car with 200+hp after NOS on a bigger motor should be fun.

Who wants to do all the work?

Larry -

Why don't you sell the car to me as-is for $500. (wink-wink) I could just "sell" it back to you for $500 after the competition.

Questionable, but legal...

nitrous isn't an allowed substance for autoX. The 1/4 mile run doesn't count in the points either.

I know a guy with an 84 or 85 CRX that he will let go for under $300. Runs, but it's pretty beat up. Antoher option is a Neon. YOu can pick them up for $1000 or so for a 95, a few boltons and you could run great in AutoX.

I could donate my time-labor along with my tools :)? Just an idea. It does sound like a bit of fun though

You gotta pay to play, sorry ;)