I’ve received a few emails saying “you’re not really racing on the cheap”. They were referring to a couple of expensive, quality components I’m using in my current project, like the Wilwood brake system. I certainly understand the remarks, these aren’t “cheap parts”. But after racing for several years and helping out with a couple car builds, I’ve discovered that a lot of “cheap parts” can cost you more in the long run.
When I raced my Datsun 240Z in SCCA ITS, stock brake components were required. You could get these cheap at the auto part stores, or even cheaper at the junkyard. But in stock configuration, these brakes would last just a couple laps at race pace. So by the time you modified them for race use, you had spend a fair bit of money. Dollars spent on custom compound race pads and shoes every couple weekends, fresh brake fluid every weekend, rotors and drums every season, then time spent on brake ducts and hoses, blueprinting calipers, it all adds up pretty fast. Put it all together, and you’ve spend more in the long run than on a Wilwood brake system that uses inexpensive pads that will last all season, and is easier on rotors and fluid.
Of course you can’t use Wilwood brakes in SCCA ITS, but that taught me the lesson that some “cheap spec racing” is often more expensive than a race series with less restrictive component rules. Some “cheap parts” just aren’t that cheap in the long run…
“Crashing on the Cheap”, that would be a good website, Alex. We could probably get all sorts of good stories sent in. “I found this steering box at the junkyard off a ’62 Chevy and it looked like it would work in my racecar, but something went real wrong halfway through Turn 1…”
I like this response. This blog is called “Racing on the cheap”. Not “Be as cheap as possible”. Racing being the operative word, I would never skimp on a braking system.
If you did though, you might be able to call it “Crashing on the cheap”.