ChumpCar

July 27th, 2011

So, you may have read a post or 2 where I’ve mentioned ChumpCar.  And asked, “What the heck is Chump Car?” or “what exactly is a $500 crap-can?”  and “why would someone want to race one?”

Well, there is an easy way to explain the first two questions.  www.chumpcar.com.  All the info, rules and a even few pics of current competitors cars are there.  This is an utterly crazy activity, but if you get your kicks from high-stakes Partypoker or skydiving, you just might be the right kind of thrill-seeker for this particular automotive pursuit.

The quick description of Chump Car is that teams of at least 4 drivers bring a safe car out to tracks around the country for either 2 7-hour or single 24 hr endurance race.  The most laps wins.  These cars can have a street value of $500 or less (safety related parts are not included in this $500, since a good safe cage and working brakes are going to cost a bit more).

Yes, that is five-hundred dollars.  Yes, US dollars.  And they mean it.  Your car looks like its got some pricey go-fast parts on it?  Penalty.  Or maybe the organizers will pull your motor out and leave you to reinstall it.  Or worst case, they give you $1500 and take your car and put it up for auction.  Cheap cars are racing here.

So what you get are a bunch of like-minded, slightly eccentric teams with cars that you’d normally see puttering along with 2 years worth of dirt, a bald tire with a parcel shelf full of beenie babies on its way to the local grocery store to pick up a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread.   A few cars from recent events - Late 70’s Ford LTD., Saab 900, Toyota Camry, VW Jetta.

Not exactly hot performance cars.

As for the answer to the last question…  well, there is no easy answer to why exactly SSR (or anyone) would want to run these events.  Unless you are already running Chump (or LeMons), in which case you know why, but also cant really explain…

So, let the adventure begin.  SSR has its Chump steed in the Schaut Speed Motorsports garage.  I’m not even sure when the first event will be, but preparation has begun.

Stay tuned.

Comments are closed.