Gatorac

I don't know if any of you have seen these for sale yet or not. Panoz sold the racing school to Skip Barber. They're going to be using Miata's nowand sold all of the GTRA school cars. They are a pretty good package for OT and DE. They only have about 250 HP the way the sit now, but that's easy to fix. You can put any rwd drive train package your heart desires with a little work.

My friend and I both bought one. We'll have them at the Chin event at VIR next week. After getting it home and putting it on the lift, I don't see anything I'm disappointed with. The brake package is very impressive. Huge Brembo brakes with floating rotors and aluminum hats. Pi system 2 digital dash. Tremec 3550 road race trans. 9" rear with watts link. I believe the schools have sold them all and a few dealers have some available for resale. We got ours here. www.wirewheel.com

xsiveone

If you got it anywhere near $20K, what a nice deal! Are you going to stay with 302 or do something different?

Are there any race classes that you could race this in?

What's happening to Panoz? Are they going under? After the Le Mans win, I haven't heard much from them.

BrianCunningham

They make the new Champcar


Aren't the schools cars eligible for SCCA GT2?

Cobra4B

Wow... cool! My father and I did the Panoz school back in '03 and drove those cars They're very slow. Well this throws a massive wrench into my track car conversion plan... but a good wrench.

xsiveone

Doh! In my defense, I haven't heard much about Champ Car lately either.

Gatorac

Yea, I got it right around $20k.

I'll have to drive it on the track a bit before I decide what engine package to end up with. I was thinking an LSx junkyard take out may be nice. Maybe a GTO powertrain. If the funds become available, an LS7 would be cool. The current 302 sounds pretty incredible. Of course I've been driving and Escort powered SRF.

There's some movement to get a class in HSR for these cars. Right now I'm pretty content on OT days then racing. That's why I'm selling the SRF.

I don't think Panoz is going under. I think they just took the opportunity to sell the race school.

Cobra4B

^ How's the shifter etc feel? I remember it feeling horrible what w/ the custom setup they have to move the shifter back toward you.

Gatorac

Sitting in the garage it feels much better then I expected. Very positive about which gear your going into. We'll see once it's on the track.

Cobra4B

^ Good to hear... thanks for posting this... it changes everything. Going to call them tomorrow.

Oh... any word on body panel availability? What happens if you lunch it?

wallyman424

just an FYI, those panoz cars arent allowed in ST2 since theyre tube framed.

Gatorac

They're not open tomorrow. As far as I know the plastic panels are still available. Some of the cars have fiberglass panels. those are pretty easy to repair.

Cobra4B

That's ok... the prospect of a cheap DE car is salivating. Ford 5.0s are so cheap to mess w/ that I could build a spare motor over the winter. The tires will be cheap as they're 275s all around and the car is lighter so it will use less consumables. The big thing is that a clutch/trans/rear service is stupid easy and cheap
Thanks... fired off an email and will call on monday to see if one of the red/white ones is available.

Z06cool

A friend of mine who runs TTA in the SE just picked his up. He's going to share it with his dad who's doing HPDE's. Have no idea what class it'll be in. There was one at the last Barber event doing TT but I don't remember what class. Should know more soon. He was asking me where I got my 275/40/17 scrubs

Racer-38

i think these cars are the deal of the year. purpose built, safe race car w/ a PI system for $20K...how can you beat that. I got my racing license from the Panoz race course back in 2000 in those cars.....they are pretty much undestructable and they are fast enough for what they are.I remember the first time I fired up that engine.....I couldn't stop smiling!! But I would definitely call up Panoz and try to buy a bunch of spare body parts and what ever else they want to get rid of...life will sure be easier!
The car is legal to run GT2 in the SCCA...but you would need to do alot to the engine to be competitive.
Congrats on a great buy!

steponc

I went to the Hooked On Corvettes held at Thunderhill in Northern California. This was put on by Hooked On Driving. Sold out 100 Corvettes. HOD mentioned they bought 3 of the Panoz cars and are going to rent them out.

Cobra4B

My father and I have car 33 on hold for us... getting a few more detailed pics then pulling the tigger This is exactly what we've been looking for.

StArrow68

I saw those Panoz cars in one garage at Thunderhill and wondered what
somebody was doing with them. Look like a great mid-power package
to learn race craft. Thanks for the input about what they are doing.
Randy

Cobra4B

Mid power to start It's not hard or expensive to build a 500hp 331 ci SBF

xsiveone

Keep us updated on what happens.

For you guys that get these, take some pics and post them. I'd love to do something like this, but don't have the money right now.

Cobra4B

^ Will do... will be deciding to day and most likely going to get it this weekend... mega road trip!