AE86 Race Car-The Build: Part 1

In the off-season, racers do what is required to improve their machines, in preparation for the grueling, fender-banging, bumper-smashing season which lies ahead. In our case, the circuit racing season blips the throttle for the first race in April and as such, competitors have a 5 months window (from the final race) to get their act together before the first wave of the green flag. Five months – sounds like a long time, but ask anyone who has had the challenge of building or improving a race car within a time constraint – there is never enough time!

Fortunately I have a lot of time. My AE86 race car build was introduced last time around and even though I intend to let it rip in an IP class at Dover Raceway, I am being reminded constantly, that I have waited this long to get the project off the ground, so being patient will go a long way. With that at the fore of my thought process, I am prepared for unexpected occurrences, which will ultimately develop, resulting in delays of one form or another.

Team Xpress Racing (TXR)

When the car was delivered to Team Xpress Racing (TXR), I was under the initial impression that work on the machine would commence immediately. But after visiting the shop, I realized that work was being done on a Mazda RX7. The RX7, I was told, is being prepared for drifting and circuit racing duties, so all the RX7 fans will have a lot to cheer about shortly. After speaking to Raj, I was comfortable knowing that my machine was next in line and I was assured that once the work began, my basic roll cage, which was not as complex as the one being done in the RX7, would be completed within 2 weeks.

Victor

Last week when I passed through, it was obvious that some work was done on the floor of the car, so I knew the ‘cage work’ was a few days away. On Tuesday/ Wednesday when I revisited the shop, Victor, the fabricator, was in the process of removing the roof off the AE86. The car came with a sun/moon roof and for reasons unknown, the previous owner had a ‘carpenter/plumber’ destroy the roof with an unforgivable body filler job! They should be dragged to the nearest cotton tree and lynched for automobile abuse! Anyway, the roof when removed weighed in excess of 30lbs. Victor said, “That alone would a mek the car tun ova!” By Friday (17th), most of the roll cage was already in. Victor means business!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer