Grassroots Motorsports Magazine’s annual $2,000 Challenge proves that auto racing doesn’t require a big pocketbook. Thrifty entrants compete for prizes in a series of events including drag racing, autocross, and “concours” judging.
As shown in a recent YouTube video, one participant in last year’s event took penny-pinching to the next level. Starting with a non-running 1984 Chevrolet Corvette that he bought for $750, Danny Varner turned scrap into speed, building a “Vette Kart” racer for a total budget of $1,087.
GRM Challenge Vette Kart
Varner describes the build process: “It was in pretty rough condition when I got it. It had some mechanical issues … it needed a new fuel pump … the fuel system was all clogged up,” he said.
Once he had it running, Varner started shedding unnecessary weight from the car. “ [I] basically cut the car apart, down to what you see now with a sawzall and a die-grinder,” he said. “We ditched the leaf-spring suspension off the front, and went to coil-over shocks off an ATV.”
In the interest of stretching the budget, he sold parts from the car that were no longer needed including the side door and rear glass assemblies. Next, it was time for some cosmetic enhancements.
“When I cut the car apart and took the hood off it, it looked really naked in the front, and I didn’t like the look of it … I had the old headlights laying on the ground and set them on top of the radiator,” he said. When a friend of his commented that the front end “looks like a face”, Varner decided to complete the visage. “I folded a piece of metal down, put some teeth on it, and decided to add a tongue,” he said.
Vette Kart $2K Challenge Results
The Vette Kart fared well in the competitive events, finishing 8th in the autocross and 9th in the drag race event with a 13.8 second quarter-mile time. Overall, the car finished in 9th place in the $2K Challenge event.
Having tasted success with this budget build, Varner plans to return for future events. “I do plan to bring the car back next year. Hopefully, I can take the money that’s left in the budget and put some into the mechanical side of it; put some more power into the car and bring back something a lot faster for next year.”
Sources: YouTube, Grassroots Motorsports