Purpose Built Cars

[Smittys]

Purpose built cars. What defines a purpose built car? I think this phrase is abused and used out of text. First off let me say every car, truck or street rod we build is purpose built. So if anyone is looking for this service I am your guy!!!

When we start to plan a project with our customer’s one of the first things we do is make a plan for the build and what is the purpose of the vehicle.

Some cars are simple drivers we recreate a car they had when they were younger. We usually update brakes and driveline to make the car safer and more reliable.



Some cars are built to be all out show cars. The sole purpose is to win trophies and look pretty.

Some cars are built to be a pro-touring style car that are just modern muscle cars.

Some pro-touring cars are built to be driven and maybe run an occasional autocross. This is where we start to address concerns and safety. How big of brakes, Hp, frame connectors, roll bar and harnesses and so on.

Then there are the cars that the guy wants to go run hard and fast. We make a plan. It usually includes a chrome moly roll cage with front down bars, frame connectors, fully welded sub-frames reinforced rear frame rails and lots of welding of the body add drive shaft loops. We then move the monster engine back add killer brakes modify the suspension with the best components we can get. Properly mount the seats with 5 point harnesses decide if it needs a fire system. Then we add all the creature comforts they desire ac, audio, nav, leather and whatever they want. In some cases these cars start out on a full tube chassis. If this is the meaning of the purpose that we built the car so be it. Making a customer safe and building a car equipped with all the proper safety equipment in it to minimize the chance of injury is what everyone is calling a “PURPOSE BUILT CAR”

Then I am dam proud of what we are doing!

Maybe we shouldn’t scrutinize these cars and should use them as the examples of safety.

[71RS/SS396]

I approve of this post

[Jim Nilsen]

Everyone needs a purpose built car!

Now obtaining it is a whole new purpose of its own.,lol.

[tazzz25906112]

Purpose built can be a good way of saying I have everything I need to have a blast and run an extra measure of safety... Nothing replaces common sense and driving at your own pace,, but it's sure nice to see these cars evolve as does our sector of the sport.....

These cars should be Celebrated indeed Chris,, and BTW I simply call them """awesome cars""" that are generally built by extremely creative enthusiasts & shops like yours...

[RobNoLimit]

I'm with Chris on this one. And, I may be one of the biggest instigators of this topic. I agree 100% that ALL hot rods (and by that I mean anything with wheels that has been modified in any way) are purpose built. We all have different goals, and therefore, different "purposes" for our cars (and by 'cars' I mean anything with wheels). Now, the topic seams to be focused on cars that are built to be superior on an auto-x or road coarse, and that these are in some way "unfare" to others who have not built with that purpose.
So, I'll tell ya a little story. It took me a few years to convince Goodguys to add a truck class. Truck guys were not too willing to go out and run in the Street machine class and take a beating, so, no trucks were running (OK, a few). Finally, we got a truck class. I ran out to the shop and built the "Silver Bullit" F-100. This was a simple street build. A No Limit Chassis (right off the rack, no changes), a 351W and 5 speed, and a steel body. A normal super fun truck. So, we dominated the truck class for two years. In 2010 I won an OUSCI invite and went. What a fantsastic event. I had a blast! - But, I have very little "Big Track" experience. Pulling onto the back straight at Spring Mountain is an eye opener for sure. The truck topped out around 145, just no more torque to push all the air around that cab. But I did have some time to look around. I'm in an old thin metal shell. No cage. No fire system. Ok, I've got 5 point harnesses, and the are connected through to the chassis, but damn, this is a little scary. I have a wife and kid depending on me to provide for them. Eyes are WIDE open now.
Now, with GoodGuys, there were a few of us around the country (Donny) domiating our class at will, and thats really not good for the show in general. So, GoodGuys created the "Pro" class. (previously the 'Vendor" class). My fun in the Truck class was over. BTW, I totally agree with what GoodGuys did, they had to. So, add it up. now I have to compete against guys like Finch, Tucker, Voelkel, Burman....... and I'd like to go back to events like RTTC and optima, but I want to be faster AND safer. My solution was to sell the Bullit and build a new truck. The Hellboy. I started by reading the rules of these events. Then I spent a lot of time researching components and working out geometry. Then I started building. Is it more 'auto-x" than touring truck? Yes. But it is street legal, has heated seats (no side windows) radio, wipers, and all lights and signals. Until Columbus '13 the body was all steel, and all the glass was real glass. The chassis is not chromoly (I wish it was) It's full of dynamat and insulation. Hardly a race car. But because it has "different" types of compents than many builds, I caught a lot of flack about it being "purpose built" OK, of course it is. They are all.
What did it get me? I went back to optima in '12 and finished 15th (even though I totaly blew the auto-x), and felt a lot safer doing it. I even ran down a Lambo on the road course. in 2012 I won the GoodGuys pro truck championship, and in 2013 I won the Pro Championship over-all. Thats what I set out to do. I also set my sights on the top dogs out there. Maier, Pozzi, Hobaugh, Popp...... I had a list of 10 or so. My goal was to beat them at least once, and I have been able to check them all off one by one. I don't think I can beat them every time, but I did it at least once. Thats puts me up even with them, but not better. I pretty proud of that, but i have a long way to go. Mike Maier has drivin the truck a few times and is always a second or so faster than me in it. I have a lot to learn, but, at least I can be competetive in the Pro class, where I wanted to be.
Build YOUR car the way YOU want it. For the Purpose YOU choose. Some of us will build to show what we can do, what our parts are capable of, and to set the standard. YOU DON't HAVE to do that, if you don't want to. Run in your class, run against you own goals. Be safe and have fun.
GoodGuys has now added a line to rule #20 that now states ".... no race cars or purpose built vehicles. ....." Who will decide where the line is on this one? Am I now outlawed? Would that include every mini-tubbed Camaro with 315's out back, or every car with more that 500 hp? Maybe it's the Carbon Fiber, or the roll bars. Perhaps good seats are taking it too far, then how about big brakes? Is a Factory 5 coupe or Cobra "purpose built"?
As for the Hellboy, after Del Mar and the hood incident, I will be installing hood pins and a lexan winshied.(again, for safety) I am not a fan of the glass shower. Will that be too far? Would I be better off with flying glass shards in an accident? I hope to be back out having fun and competing with everyone out there. We love these type of events and hope to keep supporting them.
OK, I've spent at least $.03 here. Hope I didn't offend anyone. Have Merry Christmas and a great new years. - now, if the last part offends you, Merry Christmas again.

[James OLC]

Great post Rob - if having proper safety equipment to the level that YOU feel safe makes a car "purpose built" then everyone should have one. I certainly don't know where GG is going with their rule (but I do know and understand where it comes from) but regardless of the sanctioning body it's wrong to penalize someone for overbuilding for safety.
Have a Safe and Merry Christmas!

[Ron Sutton]

Great post Rob.

Merry Christmas all.

.

[71RS/SS396]

Rob,
Anyone that complains about your truck is just sour grapes imo.
You earned your results this year with the time spent in the seat and tuning on your truck.

[David Pozzi]

Rob, I'm pretty sure a non-DOT legal (Lexan) windshield will make your truck illegal for street use.

[RobNoLimit]

David, that may be the case. - technically. But, there are already a few top cars in GoodGuys running Lexan. How about them? If we were to get out the DMV or CHP rule book, I'm quite sure most, if not all of our cars would fail. Too low, too loud,... - BTW, any cage (not installed by the OEM) that obstructs the drivers view, in any way, is technically illegal in Ca. No doubt the Lexan is safer, so where do we draw the line? Does Lexan make it "purpose built"?

[TonyHuntimer]

Purpose Built!

Tony Huntimer
TestCarDatabase

[tazzz25906112]

Purpose Built!

Tony Huntimer
TestCarDatabase

Stunning!!!!

[Rod]

Sour grapes, sour grapes, sour grapes!!!! Ha ha ha, I will be the first one, if Rob handed me those keys I would beat Hell boy like a rented mule!, OK I have seen a little crying here and there about this purpose built crap, and all our cars are purpose built some with more accessories or less accessories how ever you want to look at it, and this will piss a few off but usually the ones whimpering are the ones losing and blaming the cars, get out and drive your cars, learn how to drive fast(go to a driving school) last year miss Pozzi draged me along to a driving school, yes the 11 time national champion was at a driving school still learning(if shes in school shouldn't we all) learn how to tune(tune, tune, tune) the top drivers tune there car before events and during events, i watched Rob MacGregor swap out the diff in his truck at scottsdale, and Mike Miaer rebuild his carb(twice the same weekend) along with mary adjusting her rack and pinion throw and rear springs, Matt Acala changed rear springs and sway bar, and many times the guy crying purpose built will change nothing and cry about losing, practice that driving at least once a month(yes really) I have driven my car for 3+ hours one direction to practice for 5 minutes and then travel 3+hours home and with that I will say, that 3 years ago I was around 3 seconds behind those top runners like Pozzi, miaer, macgregor, vokel, hougbaugh, 2 years ago I was 2 seconds behind and last year I was knocking on there doors, because they have taught me (some simply by watching them) there fast not just because of there car but because of there dedication to the sport build the car, tune the car, tune the driver, and practice,,,,I have never looked at my car as a handicap the car will only go as fast as I tell it to go, I have rode with many drivers that have cars with all the best bells and whistles and are still slow because of there driving and have pointed out things that have dropped seconds off there times, we are the most purpose built part of our cars,,,,,,this is my favorite saying and its true, true true....... Any one can drive a fast car, not everyone can drive a car fast

[mmosley]

GoodGuys has now added a line to rule #20 that now states ".... no race cars or purpose built vehicles. ....." Who will decide where the line is on this one? Am I now outlawed?

Naw... they are just trying to keep John Sandberg from showing up again:
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eve.../photo_26.html

[David Pozzi]

Rob,
If Lexan is safer, why don't the auto manufacturers use it?
It looks like Goodguys has allowed mods beyond their stated rules as long as the body somewhat resembles something that was a street car, so very heavily modified/lightened cars are the way to go now. The people with more conventional cars will be left behind.

[mmosley]

If Lexan is safer, why don't the auto manufacturers use it?

Raw materials is about 2x the cost. Standard Lexan or polycarbonate is also more susceptible to scratching.

[dontlifttoshift]

so where do we draw the line?

If your hot rod was sitting next to an M5 or CTS-V in your garage and you had to drive one of them cross country for no particular reason would you still pick the hot rod? Keep in mind, there is no glory at the end of the trip, no one will know you drove it anywhere, there is not a photoshoot at the end, no trophies, no facebook update, nothing.......you just went to your destination. If you honestly answer yes then who gives a flying fook what anyone else thinks?

[GrabberGT]

Naw... they are just trying to keep John Sandberg from showing up again:
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eve.../photo_26.html

Im not sure what your point is but the description posted of his car sounds just like most of ours. Change a couple brand names and it could be used as template for just about any car on this forum. Not what I would consider "purpose built". This sounds like my car which still has a full interior with rear seat and subwoofer removed during competition GG definitely needs to define this term.

[mmosley]

John's car is a true "purpose built" machine for SCCA Solo II competition in the C/prepared class. Car has wide 5 hubs, 16" slicks, and suspension built for competition. This car does not even pretend to be a street car. He showed up at the GG event in Chicago and ran "exhibition" since he had slicks. He did not push the car at all and took it easy and no other car that weekend was close. Of course he had slicks... that was what the car's suspension was designed for. This is the type car they are trying to exclude. But yes, definition is fuzzy, where one draws the line is subjective. I think the 200 treadwear tire and registered as a motor vehicle that is legal for street use is good enough for a "level" playing field. I do like that they have a separate "Pro" or "vendor" class.

[Rod]

Of course he had slicks...

slicks are worth about 3 seconds off your time on average, many of us swap to slicks on for fun runs at the end of the day at our local autocross practices and and my own car without changing any thing but the tires is always 3+ seconds faster....just a side note