You want to see who’s really the best driver? Put them in identical cars and have them go at it on the track. No excuses, no complaints; just pure racing. What’s better is to have those cars be something rather pedestrian, or at the very least something that isn’t some million-dollar machine far removed from any actual road-spec automobile.
What street car do you think would be good to use as a single-make-and-model racing series?
America tried this years ago with the International Race of Champions, putting drivers from different series into identical racing Camaros to duke it out on famous tracks. You might remember the Long Beach races where celebrities competed in identical Toyota Celicas.
There are plenty of other examples of same-make race series where everyday cars rubbed door handles and separated the amateurs from the pros. Renault has been especially active in this area, most famously with their Renault 5 Cup series.
These are maniacal heats that end up looking like those soccer games your five-year-olds played in where everything is just one big pack moving against each other. Either that or just an answer to the question, “what would it look like if a traffic jam moved along at sixty miles an hour?”
In America, Renault even created a series with their R9-based AMC-built Alliance.
This was surprisingly entertaining stuff, and if you’ve ever complained that some series is totally uncompetitive, then this is the antidote.
Still, what kind of car would also be ideal as the basis for a series? I’m thinking a bunch of Toyotas like a Prius (what is the plural of Prius?) might work:
Oh, how about Mitsubishi Mirages? Laugh all you want; put some good drivers in these tin cans, all looking for any kind of edge, and we’ll separate the adults from the kids in short order.
So what’s your choice? A Maverick Cup? Altima-te Challenge? Let us know!
Top graphic image: Renault
Entertaining? Ford Pintos.
I keep thinking dongfeng box but any of the ora cats work. They have kei van racing sometimes in Japan hijet and carry that’s also amusing.
If we’re talking actual single-car racing is the DAF 33 reverse driving events in Denmark since the CVT on those cars would go as fast backwards as forwards.
Then I thought Smart Four2s, but apparently that was/is a spec series at least in the UK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFLmciLniGw
So here’s my suggestion: Toyota Hilux Champ, either street-course or rallycross.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/94/56/d5/9456d559743c34d5a8a5b6b0e40b1b56.jpg
That’s easy.
The Ssangyong Rodius.
Buick LeSabre.Minimum age requirement….62.
Driver or car?
I’m partial to the neon challenge, which featured Dodge & Plymouth neons with the option code ACR competition package. I actually raced in the Road America round of the challenge in the summer of 2000. Fun times!
The Neon is missed. Would be interesting if Dodge could reintroduce a bargain model car again in America.
Nothing’s going to be as funny as Spec Racer Ford used to be. Back before the SCCA got sick of cleaning up the track, it often looked like it was everyone’s first day in a car. I remember watching 20+ car pileups.
I think Showroom Stock – Kenworth would be fun today. 😉
Segway. But the riders have those giant Q-Tip weapons from American Gladiators.
(Or maybe the bladed version from Star Trek’s Amok Time episode)
The objectively correct answser is vintage Minis. It’s already being done and the races are an absolute hoot. https://youtu.be/e_TV98nhqRs
This sounds a lot like Moto 3. The bikes don’t have enough power to pull away from each other in the straights, so they all draft whoever is in the lead and then the last lap is a mad rush of kamikaze passes.
Altimas would be great, but everyone has to run one compact spare. Cadillac Escalades with no suspension mods. Half the battle would be keeping it upright.
Altimas on donut spares was what I came here to mention. Each contestant must vape continuously and consume at least one quarter pounder and fries during the race, preferably while driving with their knees. Drivers are recruited from current Altima owners.
And the female drivers have to race holding a cigarette out the window. I don’t know why.
26′ box truck. That’ll require some finesse in the turns.
This Sunday at Pocono it’s the type series extravaganza: U-HAULING ASS AT THE TRICKY TRIANGLE!!
Jeez, that shot of the R5 Cup race is just beautiful! I soo miss the way racetracks looked back then. 🙁
I don’t at all miss the lack of safety, but the wall to wall, ground to sky advertising of today is FUCKING HIDEOUS!!!
Any car that’s 1:1. Drivers lining up to each take a lap in turns.
I don’t know if they have the money to fund it, but stock Slate racing series would be pretty fun.
Should be soon they have all those preproduction trucks they could run around a track. Wrap them all differently. Sell the different wraps on their website. Turn it into a traveling sales event.
“Dealer Name” here.
The peak had already been achieved with school bus racing.
Specifically, Figure 8 school bus racing.
Sentra would be my choice.
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned the best one of all, that’s already kinda been done: the Weinermobile.
I am thinking that to maximize the thrill of speed we should go with one of the fastest vehicles on the freeway, per my scientific observations:
Citroen 2CVs.
Make the course all hairpins. The winner is the last driver to succumb to seasickness.
Paradoxically while the cars wallow in turns like a small boat in heavy swell, the 2CVs will neverthless remain upright ish.
There is an annual 24 hour 2CV race at my local circuit of Snetterton, UK.
I used to work with a guy who had a 2CV race car. To adjust the non-adjustable suspension geometry they would distort the suspension arms using beads of weld.
BMW Isetta leaps to mind.
Reliant Robin is the best answer!
Beat me to it! As soon as I read the headline, the Robin immediately came to mind.
Is Miata not the answer?
First thing that came to mind is the Citroën 2CV Grandfather Clock Invitational Grand Prix.