Esprit in Racing

[f1karting]

Heres a question that may yield interesting results..

If one were to decide to build an Esprit race car today.. what model, (built within the scope of the applicable class rules), would have the best chance of success, and in which class?

Lets get some ideas for the Esprit, and how they would have to be built to compete in different countries.. UK, EU, AU, and SCCA in NA.

Hopefully, there are people on board that are familiar with classes and rules otherwise I fear this may be a slow thread.

Jan

Edited December 18, 2005 by f1karting

[Guest teigan]

if it were in my power, i'd vote lotus compete in the high mileage eco-class. have i mentioned my esprit gets 27-30mpg. solar power racing would be good too, but i doubt lotus has the knowledge to get a car together.

[f1karting]

if it were in my power, i'd vote lotus compete in the high mileage eco-class.  have i mentioned my esprit gets 27-30mpg.  solar power racing would be good too, but i doubt lotus has the knowledge to get a car together.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am serious about the possibilities here...

Im not talking about lotus doing a racer either...

[B33 ENN]

I am serious about the possibilities here...

Im not talking about lotus doing a racer either...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This issue has been on my mind for a while as I am loosely considering the idea of an Esprit racer in a private series.

I would go for a 4 cylinder for reliability. Lotus main issue is not so much speed but finishing a race distance.

I'd choose a GT3 as Lotus did well to keep the weight down in these, so there is less for you to do.

An older car has the advantage of being cheaper to get and can still be stripped out, like an SE.

As for classes, I'm not familiar with them to comment, have to research that. be interested in more comments from those with more knowledge.

[f1karting]

This issue has been on my mind for a while as I am loosely considering the idea of an Esprit racer in a private series.

I would go for a 4 cylinder for reliability. Lotus main issue is not so much speed but finishing a race distance.

I'd choose a GT3 as Lotus did well to keep the weight down in these, so there is less for you to do.

An older car has the advantage of being cheaper to get and can still be stripped out, like an SE.

As for classes, I'm not familiar with them to comment, have to research that. be interested in more comments from those with more knowledge.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think 4-cyl as well.. however the rules I found for SCCA dont seem to allow turbochargers. Messrs. Kemp would have to build a NA motor..

Richard Jenvey in UK raced an S2/S3 in the 80s.. it would be nice to get his input.

It seems that GT2 is the class the Esprit fits in SCCA, however it would be nice to be able to get accepted into Improved Touring to keep the cost down.

SCCA Grand Touring Regs

SCCA Improved Touring Regs

Edited December 18, 2005 by f1karting

[f1karting]

not ready to be relegated to page two..

lets have some more input

[WayneB]

Have you considered historic racing?

I am involved in the Monoposto class(single seaters)

There are other classes that would suit a Turbo Esprit racing 911s, 308s etc.

I will try and dig out my HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing )regs for you.

Download HSR regs on Wordpad Oregon region SCCA

Also Have you seen this?Modsports Esprit

Edited December 21, 2005 by WayneB

[f1karting]

Have you considered historic racing?

I am involved in the Monoposto class(single seaters)

There are other classes that would suit a Turbo Esprit racing 911s, 308s etc.

I will try and dig out my HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing )regs for you.

Download HSR regs on Wordpad Oregon region SCCA

Also Have you seen this?Modsports Esprit

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I didnt think the cars qualified for historic.. I have friends involved in the Vintage Racing scene.. Ill ask them what they know as well.

If that group of cars run at the events, that would be great fun!

Thanks for checking stuff out.. nice picture fo the Esprit.. they do look nice lowered dont they? Speaking of which, on another thread you mentioned your cars ride height.. at 6.3/6.5".. that cant be OE.. I just mocked up my new suspension with the ride height set to about 6" on the sills and it sure as hell aint stock... its about 1.5" lower. If yours is at that height, I bet it looks absolutely great!...

[slade]

what the hell is this?

whatever it is, it's delicious

(can't remember where I found the pic)

slade

[WayneB]

In 2006 your 1983 will qualify as Historic though HSR rules.

My car has the 1980 UK spec springs and Koni adjustable shocks(damping not height)

The Federal cars had a 1.5 inch higher ride height (to bring the bumpers up)

They look like 4x4s

Edited December 22, 2005 by WayneB

[cbclotus]

Referance red esprit mentioned in a few esprit books was for sale on lotus esprit world for approx 25 grand .if it is worth that i wish i still had my old turbo as in fist picture cheers mike

[WayneB]

Thats right Mike, Martin Birrane was selling it for 25 grand. It was in his museum at Mondello Park.

I dont think its the Jenvey car though, this one is probably the first circuit racing Esprit and was actually built by Lotus

Edited December 23, 2005 by WayneB

[f1karting]

what the hell is this?

whatever it is, it's delicious

(can't remember where I found the pic)

slade

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thats Richard Jenveys car.. he even still has the molds for those body bits.

[f1karting]

In 2006 your 1983 will qualify as Historic though HSR rules.

My car has the 1980 UK spec springs and Koni adjustable shocks(damping not height)

The Federal cars had a 1.5 inch higher ride height (to bring the bumpers up)

They look like 4x4s

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right on!!

ahhh.. I see.. I bet your car looks great... Mine did look like a 4b4... and the front suspension angles were god awful as a result. I am surprised it handled as well as it did.

What rates are the 1980 springs.. the federal ones on mine were 125F/155Rg.

[WayneB]

Havent got a clue what the rates are

I just ordered up the UK spec springs from Paul Mattys.

They are probably the same rate but with an extra coil (for the height)

[Kimbers]

Best Racing Lotus was either the British Constructors Europa Circa 1971 or the SCCA racing Esprits pilotted by Paul Newman and Doc Bundy......Don't race them here in the UK unless you talk about the Lotus Cortina's in the Historic racing.......Watch out for the new Esprit doing something in a few years time tho, specially in the states.

[LotusS4S]

New Esprit.... You talk as if it will actually come to fruition... I thought the new rumor was that there would not be an Esprit any time soon...

Best Racing Lotus was either the British Constructors Europa Circa 1971 or the SCCA racing Esprits pilotted by Paul Newman and Doc Bundy......Don't race them here in the UK unless you talk about the Lotus Cortina's in the Historic racing.......Watch out for the new Esprit  doing something in a few years time tho, specially in the states.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[WayneB]

New Esprit going racing

Tony, please tell me its all true

If this is a wind up I will have to come over there and kill you

Can I run the racing team?

Single make championship like Mike did with the Lambos?

Edited December 23, 2005 by WayneB

[Feffman]

Jan:

Two years ago, a team (Hypersport Racing www.hyper-sport.net/main.html) tried to race a V8 Esprit in the Grand Am series (GT class I beleive) in The USA. They had some backing from Garrett (a decent chunk of research atopt he $$$) and it was a bust. It really went downhill when one car was wrecked. I think we fgiured out the Esprit ran a total of around 40 laps in races throughout the entire season. One continuous big issue, if I remeber correctly, was relaibility with massive heat soak issues from the turbos.

I think the car(s) may still be for sale. I saw one car on track at LOG 24 in Birmingham, AL during the LOg track day. Nice looking, but I thiknk it broke then too.

Feff

[f1karting]

Jan:

Two years ago, a team (Hypersport Racing  www.hyper-sport.net/main.html) tried to race a V8 Esprit in the Grand Am series (GT class I beleive)  in The USA.  They had some backing from Garrett (a decent chunk of research atopt he $$$) and it was a bust.  It really went downhill when one car was wrecked.  I think we fgiured out the Esprit ran a total of around 40 laps in races throughout the entire season.  One continuous big issue, if I remeber correctly, was relaibility with massive heat soak issues from the turbos. 

I think the car(s) may still be for sale.  I saw one car on track at LOG 24 in Birmingham, AL during the LOg track day.  Nice looking, but I thiknk it broke then too.

Feff

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Mark.. Thats a shame. Perhaps a NA version would make more sense. Couldnt they have resolved the turbo issues somehow??

[Guest teigan]

they could have finned the turbo to high heaven, then vented the engine bay air out through the license plate area. i'm assuming they hadn't already used up the trunk space for other systems.

[Toua]

whats the difference in GT1 and GT2?

[mr50bmg]

Best Racing Lotus was either the British Constructors Europa Circa 1971 or the SCCA racing Esprits pilotted by Paul Newman and Doc Bundy......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

At the Monterey Historics in 1995, where Lotus was the featured marque, I got a chance to talk to Doc Bundy. One thing I didn't ask at the time was how close the X180R's were to production Esprit SE's. I do remember how well the cars performed against the Porsches initially - before Porsche complained and weight had to be added to the Esprits.

Edited December 26, 2005 by mr50bmg

[f1karting]

whats the difference in GT1 and GT2?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

check these regs out..pretty much gives the picture..

SCCA GT regs

[f1karting]

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lotus/11...136692496ss.htm