Man, the safety additions and overall level of effort just to get on the track seems ridiculous to me just to travel at highway speeds.
2002 Hyundai Elantra - Champ Car Build/Story
- Thread starter kevinatfms
- Start date
Its not if you crash....its when you crash. And there are plenty of videos of Chump/LeMons/Crap Can Racing crashes out there to prove that the safety efforts are needed even at this level. Sure this car might not top 100mph on any track without a HUGE straight but when going 60mph and someone shunts you into an armco you will be absolutely happy that the cage, fire suppression, belts are all there to keep you safe.
You can still get out on track without the safety gear but it wont be wheel to wheel. Track days, HPDE's and trackcross events all offer to get people on track with nothing more than a certified helmet and cash.
All of this was done for under $2000?
Total on the car to this point is $5,000. That includes all safety gear for the car and having someone else weld in the roll cage. We have all items to finish the car sitting in the shop next to the car. We just need to find time to finish it.
The car, maintenance items and non-safety upgrades are right at $2000 including wheels/tires. This includes all the wheel bearings, front end body parts, windshield, ignition, timing belt, clutch, flywheel, axles, brakes, rotors, bushings, sway bars, end links....we basically redid the whole car.
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We are still chugging along with this car. Havent had any updates lately but here is a snippet:
Mounted the belts, seat and finished the cooling system up. Car needs some final touches like battery relocation, ignition switch panel and to put the strut/spring combo back on. The damn Ksport coilovers are too idiotic to fit on this car due to the shitty bracketry for the brake lines/abs line.
So for now we are sticking with a strut/spring combo and focus on getting it on track. Hope to have pictures this weekend of some more progress.
Mounted the belts, seat and finished the cooling system up. Car needs some final touches like battery relocation, ignition switch panel and to put the strut/spring combo back on. The damn Ksport coilovers are too idiotic to fit on this car due to the shitty bracketry for the brake lines/abs line.
So for now we are sticking with a strut/spring combo and focus on getting it on track. Hope to have pictures this weekend of some more progress.
Car is so close to being finished. 2 years in the making due to COVID, wiring issues, family stuff and just general screwing around. Really happy with how it turned out and HUGE thanks for figuring out the funky ass wiring goes to Motorsports Solutions in Manassas Virginia. They knocked the car out in no time and with the best customer service ive had. IF you need any wiring, race car fab/repair or setup they are the go-to shop.
Sweet update!
Added an SFI Quick Release hub for easier egress. NRG has some quality items and the fit/finish is excellent.
Car did great out on track for its first event. A few teething issues - a lot of tire rub in the rear, idle control valve crapping out causing high/rolling idle and brakes got spongy were the biggest issues.
I placed 40/78 in morning runs and a buddy placed 52/78. Afternoon i placed 52/78 and my buddy placed 56/78.
Time for some upgrades/fixes to make the next event better. We will be installing a DIY cold air kit, a ported throttle body and a modified exhaust to get some more sound to it. It was very hard to listen to the engine note during the run and we both agreed that looking down to see RPM/speed hurt times. So being able to listen to the engine to determine speed entry into corners will help.
Also, the brakes were abysmal. Needs minimum better front pads and adjusting the rear drums. Felt like it had no rear brakes and the fronts overheating significantly. Will also roll the front and rear fenders to clearance for the tires. The rear fenders rubbed the tires a ton in hard corners.
Some pictures of the car - im in 325 and buddy in 477. Pics taken by Jeff Walrich of Jeff Walrich Media.
I placed 40/78 in morning runs and a buddy placed 52/78. Afternoon i placed 52/78 and my buddy placed 56/78.
Time for some upgrades/fixes to make the next event better. We will be installing a DIY cold air kit, a ported throttle body and a modified exhaust to get some more sound to it. It was very hard to listen to the engine note during the run and we both agreed that looking down to see RPM/speed hurt times. So being able to listen to the engine to determine speed entry into corners will help.
Also, the brakes were abysmal. Needs minimum better front pads and adjusting the rear drums. Felt like it had no rear brakes and the fronts overheating significantly. Will also roll the front and rear fenders to clearance for the tires. The rear fenders rubbed the tires a ton in hard corners.
Some pictures of the car - im in 325 and buddy in 477. Pics taken by Jeff Walrich of Jeff Walrich Media.
Big update:
Front big brake kit installed. Consisting of Tiburon calipers(got them from a GRM member for free - Thanks Bob!) along with Sonata 4 lug rotors turns the front puny 10" rotors and 50mm piston calipers into an 11.9" big brake kit with 56mm piston calipers. The massive increase in size required new wheels - 16x7 cheap-o wheels with the 205/45R16 RS-Pro's from my Fiesta ST went on the car. Front pads are EBC yellowstuff for now as they were readily available.
Out back, we just finished a rear disc conversion, using new hyundai parts and hardware. New braided rear lines, yellow stuff pads and fresh rotors out back. Total for the whole conversion was right under $450 including the knuckles which are extremely hard to come by.
Replaced the stock air box with a DIY intake consisting of an accord intake tube, a K&N filter and some misc scrap metal. A maxbore.com ported 58mm throttle body went on and was port matched to the intake manifold. For the exhaust, we cut off the stock 30+lb suitcase muffler and welded in a 4" long resonator.
We still need to add a dash bar, realign the car and get the seat back brace installed to compete at a Champ Car race. Next event is the 20th of February and if my truck is ever fixed(thanks GM!) ill be able to tow it up to get some track miles on the new brake/wheel & tire setup.
Front big brake kit(you can see the intake poking out of the left corner)
Rear disc conversion
How the car looks now. The wheels arent the nicest but they work and are cheap so no attachment to them if they get scuffed, crashed into or beaten up. We will need one more set for a champ car race though so on the look out now for another set.
Front big brake kit installed. Consisting of Tiburon calipers(got them from a GRM member for free - Thanks Bob!) along with Sonata 4 lug rotors turns the front puny 10" rotors and 50mm piston calipers into an 11.9" big brake kit with 56mm piston calipers. The massive increase in size required new wheels - 16x7 cheap-o wheels with the 205/45R16 RS-Pro's from my Fiesta ST went on the car. Front pads are EBC yellowstuff for now as they were readily available.
Out back, we just finished a rear disc conversion, using new hyundai parts and hardware. New braided rear lines, yellow stuff pads and fresh rotors out back. Total for the whole conversion was right under $450 including the knuckles which are extremely hard to come by.
Replaced the stock air box with a DIY intake consisting of an accord intake tube, a K&N filter and some misc scrap metal. A maxbore.com ported 58mm throttle body went on and was port matched to the intake manifold. For the exhaust, we cut off the stock 30+lb suitcase muffler and welded in a 4" long resonator.
We still need to add a dash bar, realign the car and get the seat back brace installed to compete at a Champ Car race. Next event is the 20th of February and if my truck is ever fixed(thanks GM!) ill be able to tow it up to get some track miles on the new brake/wheel & tire setup.
Front big brake kit(you can see the intake poking out of the left corner)
Rear disc conversion
How the car looks now. The wheels arent the nicest but they work and are cheap so no attachment to them if they get scuffed, crashed into or beaten up. We will need one more set for a champ car race though so on the look out now for another set.
25+ track miles on the thing. Did the event which was in the rain(cold, wet and tired was the theme of the day). Ran morning only and then the practice sessions just to get seat time.
Ended up breaking a passenger side wiper off when the wiper arm stripped the knurling off and contacted the driver side.(i have video of it mid run and almost shit my pants)
Main circuit in turn 8 into 9.
Ended up breaking a passenger side wiper off when the wiper arm stripped the knurling off and contacted the driver side.(i have video of it mid run and almost shit my pants)
Main circuit in turn 8 into 9.
Video of my wipers failing mid run. Fun times.
Next time use the right size blades. 
I like how you're giggling. It was pretty funny.
That passenger side arm about swipes the whole windshield.
I like how you're giggling. It was pretty funny.
That passenger side arm about swipes the whole windshield.
Next time use the right size blades.
I like how you're giggling. It was pretty funny.
That passenger side arm about swipes the whole windshield.
The arms stripped at the wiper transmission. I assume when we got the windshield replaced the gentlemen that reinstalled the arms didnt tighten them down enough.
For $150, i got a wiper motor, transmission and two wiper arms to put on it. Brand new OE parts. Good having a cheap shitbox to beat up on and not worry about it costing too much when it does break.
I was giggling because it all just added up for that day. Between the rain, cold and then the wipers going south it was just too funny not to laugh at the misfortune. Even with all the horribleness it was a day at the track so i cant complain too much. Car did great(even with one wiper).
Went back to Summit Point with the Elantra and posted some great times. Car did exceptionally well. I ran numbers 628 and my buddy ran 477.
My buddy in the driver seat and staged for the touring laps.
a little three wheeling action(just the slightest bit)
My buddy in the driver seat and staged for the touring laps.
a little three wheeling action(just the slightest bit)
Looks fun... nice work!!
Been a while since i updated this thread.
We have signed up for the 2021 VIR North Course Champ Car Endurance Series race. December 3-5 with an 8hr race Saturday and 7hr race Sunday. We have 5 drivers and 2 crew lined up for this race.
Car has come along way since the last few photos. New wheels/tires, new seat, new belts, new rear view mirror, new Porterfield R4-e endurance brake pads and some fixes to the cage.
Will post some new photos this weekend while we work to finish the car for the event coming up in a month.
We have signed up for the 2021 VIR North Course Champ Car Endurance Series race. December 3-5 with an 8hr race Saturday and 7hr race Sunday. We have 5 drivers and 2 crew lined up for this race.
Car has come along way since the last few photos. New wheels/tires, new seat, new belts, new rear view mirror, new Porterfield R4-e endurance brake pads and some fixes to the cage.
Will post some new photos this weekend while we work to finish the car for the event coming up in a month.
Some photos ion track.
Some of the work completed to date and more to come for the race in December.
Rain light installed.
Aluminum radiator meant for a Tiburon fit right in. Mesh to protect radiator from track boogers.
Brake ducting completed.
New OMP FIA rated seat and dash cage bar(you can barely see it). Center net was added for safety and we also added a new Ultrashield harness since the original belt expired(not shown in this photo).
Lower sill bar on the driver side added.
Rain light installed.
Aluminum radiator meant for a Tiburon fit right in. Mesh to protect radiator from track boogers.
Brake ducting completed.
New OMP FIA rated seat and dash cage bar(you can barely see it). Center net was added for safety and we also added a new Ultrashield harness since the original belt expired(not shown in this photo).
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Oooo, if i have some free time I'd like to come down and watch! I could help crew if you needed/wanted.
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