How to pick out your first used, dirt track car

How to pick out your first race car

For my family, dirt track racing has become one of our ways to escape the things going on in this world for just a few hours a week at least. We have been to asphalt races but the dirt is where we like it best.  After falling in love with the sport we decided to get our feet wet and do some research on buying our first car to race.

You will not believe how much these cars are! Price is a factor with us, so instead of buying a car already built and ready to go brand new, we purchased a used, already been raced and beat up car to rebuild. (It is my opinion to buy used and beat up for your first car, I mean it is not like you are not going to hit things when you start out.)  A new car would cost about $9000 versus fixing an old up, with new skin and all for around $2000. Once you put the new skins on, you would not know the difference.

The first car we purchased cost $600 without a motor. It already has the roll cage, bars, racing seat, break away steering wheel and fuel cell. If we would have purchased these things new, it would have cost us several thousand and that is not even counting the car itself. It may not look great right now, but it will.

When looking at your roll cage, you want to make sure it will be safe. Before buying, check it for fractures, dents, improper welding holds. Get in the car and really look. This is the most important step for me since this first car is going to be a Young Guns car for my 12 year old daughter Nikki. It is best to have the bars as close to the door and roof as possible. This will keep you from having to replace the panels every time you have a bump up with another car or wall.

The racing seat should be in properly to fit the driver. We are having to re-do the seats in Nikki’s car to make it fit her. Just a little lifting and positioning is all. The better fit , the more safe it will be. Make sure you have the seat belt in the proper location to fit as well.

The break away steering wheel and fuel cell are also very important. Make sure the steering wheel goes on easy and locks into place well. You do not want to have the thing come off in your lap when you are leading the race on the back stretch coming up on the checkered flag. The fuel cell you just want to make sure it is mounted in the trunk and has no leaks.

You need to go over the car, before you buy it, with a fine tooth comb no matter if it is used or new. A safe car is the start of something big. Her car may not look like much right now but with some new skin on it, it will look like a $9000 car.

(Make sure you check with the local track that you will be driving at for rules and car regulations. Most of the time each track has their own set of rules as far as how they will allow your car to be set up.)