VINTAGE AUTO RACING ASSOCIATION

Tom Seemeyer II · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 19 Location: Phoenix, AZ

Here's a question for the BOD or Class Rep. I had a fella come look at a Midget parts car I have for sale. Actually he came to look at my Sprite but wouldn't sell it to him because he wants to butcher into a race car with Mazda power. He's a younger guy, 35 and does not have use of his legs below the waiste. He expressed he'd really like to run some vintage events but doubts a Mazda powered midget would be eligible. Somehow he got his hands on a First Gen RX7 w/automatic gearbox. He'd like to convert that into a Midget. I told him, more than likely due to his dissability, as long as the car appeared to be visually up to snuff it shouldn't be an issue. I also mentioned he may be classed up for hp reasons or possibly even a modified class.

Any initial thoughts on this?
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Hound Dawg Racing...Lead, Follow or get the Hell out of the way

Jerry Bernhiemer · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: Engine swap Elligibility

Hey Dawg:

""""""""really like to run some vintage events but doubts a Mazda powered midget would be eligible. """""""

He's right.

We can let him run one race a year in possibly DSRX. (Sports racer and the X is Exibition).

Our School (UofV, usually in February of each year) would be ok as there is no limitiations there.

Hope all is good with you down in Sunville.

Jerry

Daryl DeArman · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 59

Tom,

Most organizations won't allow auto trans either. There is a fellow who races in NorPac that is a parapligic with hand controls--pretty quick too!

AROSC is a run what you brung group as long as it passes their safety inspections, they will find a class for you. Their non-alfa cars are anything goes and they will class you based on their "best guess at power to weight with some adders/subtractors for tire choice and suspension mods. Fun group, ton of seat time but not a whole lot of entries in the race group.

Tom Seemeyer II · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 19 Location: Phoenix, AZ

Wow, considering SCCA has a provision for this I wouldn't assume it would be an issue. I could see the powerplant but definitely not the auto trans. I guess I just don't see the difference in this type of power versus a dry sumped volvo or mgb powered mga (none of which are vintage correct) as long as it appears up to snuff on the exterior in order to accomodate, on a case by case basis, a racer with special needs. I certainly wouldn't give a rats #$% in order to accomodate someone as long as they were classified appropriately and doubt anyone else would either.
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Hound Dawg Racing...Lead, Follow or get the Hell out of the way

Daryl DeArman · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 59

Tom,

A huge fan of the rotary powered cars--raced a couple of rx7's in a previous life. Grassroots Motorsports did a project RoSpit awhile back. Would be a very cool project. Just not sure where VARA would place it.

If VARA is open to alternate powerplants, I have a VW ghia that I am building for F or GProduction. I would love to be able to put in a 1300cc bike engine with about 190 HP and a 6speed sequential box--looking like a period correct ghia from the outside. Very Happy

As for SCCA and their acceptance of auto transmission cars...I was wrong, it does vary by class.

Just have him race a RX2 or RX3 with VARA or a Spridget with the proper motor--build a track day car with the RoSpridget.

Joe Harlan · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Oregon City, Oregon

Tom another option would be a Datsun automatic adapted to the spridget motor. Easy to do and gets the car closer to vintage. The tranny's are not hard to find.
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71 240z
70 BS 510
59 Bugeye
1998 DP 240sx
2003 GTL Sentra Spec v
Builder of many fine cars.

Tom Seemeyer II · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 19 Location: Phoenix, AZ

Daryl, I was only speaking in a case by case basis. Might be different if we zip tied your legs together and your limited to hand controls only.

If you've got any info on adapting an auto trans to 1275 motor, I'm sure he'd be more than open to seeing it.

As far as the Ghia, I'm sure NASA and the other Left-Coast orginization (which I'm not allowed to say here) would find a place for you.

Personally, I told him he oughta just outfit the RX7 for SCCA regional, NASA and a local group called PAS, but he's got a bug to modify a Spridget. I think it would be alot easier and less expensive since he's already got the first Gen RX7.

I do know there's a fella running a Vintage 510 that's parapalegic but can't remember if he's running an automatic or has some shifting mechanism on the steering wheel.

I was just posing the question but to be quite honest surprised with the responses I got.
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Hound Dawg Racing...Lead, Follow or get the Hell out of the way

Joe Harlan · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Oregon City, Oregon

Tom, Any B210 with an auto would be about a direct fit. Goodluck.
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71 240z
70 BS 510
59 Bugeye
1998 DP 240sx
2003 GTL Sentra Spec v
Builder of many fine cars.

Tom Seemeyer II · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 19 Location: Phoenix, AZ

Thanks Joe. I wonder if parts of the Rivergate 5sp adapter plate would work on that box.

Again, not something I'm doing but just thought it's cool.
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Hound Dawg Racing...Lead, Follow or get the Hell out of the way

Efrain Olivares, Jr. · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Glendale, CA

I can't see a rotary swap being allowed in, even as an X car. That's not even remotely vintage - and VARA is still a vintage club.

The B210 automatic is a good option, given the situation. However, once he got up to speed he may prefer the option of the manual gearbox.

The RediAuto hand control system, or a custom system like it, might work for use with a manual transmission.

http://www.rediautosport.com/conpro/redisytm.html

For the record, a client of mine sponsors a kart racer who is paraplegic, and races a kart with the use of hand controls on the kart steering wheel. Of course, it's easier to adapt a single-speed kart for hand controls than a Sprite, but its a cool story nonetheless.

http://rmaxchallenge.com/page.cfm?content=4&display=279
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"What's that little red car?"
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