So has anyone else started racing in real life due to Gran Turismo? Post your car!

[Chris242]

I can't be the only one. I still remember getting the first Gran Turismo. The point of no return was when I opened the game manual and there included was little paragraphs and images describing racing lines, the characteristics of different types of car and what not. After being able to apply that knowledge within the game I was past the point of no return.
At this point I've purchased a $1000 '81 Volvo 242 as my first car, and over some years blown thousands of dollars on a car that was originally a POS. Now it boasts mods such as stand alone EMS, a ridiculously stiff suspension, and a number of other mods that are also worth more than the car, and I'll probably never get much more than the original price for it if I try to sell it. Thanks PD. You cost me a fortune!
So tell about how you got bit with the bug. Post a pic of your track car, whether it be autocross, drift, 24hr lemons, or higher budget.

 

[Peter]

Should be in the cars in general forum.

 

[homeforsummer]

Awesome Volvo 👍 There are a couple of members here who'll love that.

I can't say I've directly either started racing or bought cars because of GT, but it's almost certainly been an influence.

The first aspect I can probably attribute to GT, or at least thank GT for, was when I decided to do a motor racing scholarship a number of years back. I'd got an arrive and drive track day voucher as a Christmas present and when I went along the instructor suggested I sign up for their scholarship.

I did, and having paid to enter the first round I got through in the top two, out of twenty people. Paid for the second round, and got through in the top two again, out of 12 people. Didn't win the final, but to be one of ten there was quite an achievement. Everyone else had karting experience or something and I pretty much had Gran Turismo experience!

That experience planted the MX5 seed in my head, but it was three years later before I bought one of those for myself:

The idea with the MX5 was that I'd take it from being a cheap, tidy, average example to a great road and track car. Unfortunately that wasn't to be, as last month it was stolen and crashed. I'll own another though, and hopefully I'll own a few other cars I've first seen thanks to GT. I'm still going to attempt a bit of motorsport too, most likely hillclimbs in my current car, since hillclimbing would have been the MX5's first competition debut.

 

[Carlos]

I always loved cars, but GT is a big reason I want to.. But I don't have the space to built me a race car.. And I can't combine street and circuit into one car becaus I need the comfort, I'm driving 1000 KM + a week...

 

[Minty]

I drive an 02 blazer, and can barely afford to keep that running.
I'm 18 working part time, so I'm not racing because of GT, but I will be.

 

[RenoRanes007]

Not directly because of GT but once I've replaced all the bushes I want to start tracking my quattro:

 

[nobuffalo]

Gran Turismo 3 got me into cars more than I already was, which led to me finding this site and watching a drift video, which ultimately led me to getting a AE86. That furthered my interest in small cars, already started when I purchased a AW11. I then got a Miata and that's that. Sears catalogs got me interested in girls, and marijuana got me interested in psychedelics. 👍

 

[Jim Prower]

It definitely made my latest decision to purchase a Manual transmission car.

 

[mustangGT90210]

GT has me driving cars that aren't my own like I stole them... But not mine, because granny driving versus stolen driving leads to no gain in speeds

 

[The Porko]

I have always been into cars but GT really showed me the Japanese side of things and due it that my love for the Suzuki Cappuccino Started about 4 1/2 years okay an opportunity came up to purchase one so I did.

Since then I have done several mods and several tracks days. Just unfortunately the turbo actuator is slowly dying so it is currently just waiting for me to get her fixed.

Here are some pics

Vids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ff5qii-svQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFX9tjC5WKI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwXcE1__qdI

Also GT started my obession with the Altezzas/IS200/IS300 I remember back in GT3 days of having a Yellow Altezza with Black wheels. Fortunately for me my mate was selling his Yellow IS200 earlier this year and once again it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Still yet to take it to the track.

 

[jet1991]

Not directly because of GT but once I've replaced all the bushes I want to start tracking my quattro:

That`s a real Ur-quattro right? How rare are those? I`ve only seen one of these in real life and wasn`t in good condition at all. Some Ricer (Shcnitzel boiler?) had used the car as a "gatebil" which would probably translate to something like a "hoon car". I don`t like Audis but those quattros are awesome and I was really sad when I saw what that &%¤#!!! moron had done to the car.

But your car looks good. Take good care of it:tup:

 

[RenoRanes007]

That`s a real Ur-quattro right? How rare are those? I`ve only seen one of these in real life and wasn`t in good condition at all. Some Ricer (Shcnitzel boiler?) had used the car as a "gatebil" which would probably translate to something like a "hoon car". I don`t like Audis but those quattros are awesome and I was really sad when I saw what that &%¤#!!! moron had done to the car.

But your car looks good. Take good care of it:tup:

Yes it's a real 1985 ur quattro Coupe Turbo, they are rare enough, in this condition anyway, sadly alot are abused and/or rotting away.

 

[Mike712]

I drive like a **** in my 99 Primera GT after playing Gran Turismo, I've also been on a few track days, driven a 599, LP640 and a 911 Turbo, it probably was the first GT game that really sparked my interest in cars.

 

[Feral Pigeon]

i've been into cars my entire life, since I was 3(learned to spell by reading car badges)

I'm currently in the processof saving up the $85K to get a Hennessey HPE1000 Escalade or Silverado. gonna do Pikes Peak in that.

 

[Eric.]

Gran Turismo 3 got me into cars more than I already was, which led to me finding this site and watching a drift video, which ultimately led me to getting a AE86. That furthered my interest in small cars, already started when I purchased a AW11. I then got a Miata and that's that. Sears catalogs got me interested in girls, and marijuana got me interested in psychedelics. 👍

Don't let the picture fool you, he's still slow.

 

[Feral Pigeon]

actually, I lied a little. I do race, I just have no camera to capture what I do. I do autocross in a 2000 Acura 3.2 TL. It once was a luxury car, but it's a real beater now; all banged up everywhere. still runs great, and i've managed to 3-wheel it a couple of times, going around turns. it's a great car, just it's not mine. it's my mom's. she drives faster than me, which is embarassing. somehow she can peel out better than I can.

 

[nobuffalo]

don't let the picture fool you, he's still slow.

qft

 

[Eric.]

I hope you can make it up to an event sometime next year though. Can't believe you found me like that. We could've been corner workers together and had no idea who the other person was too!

 

[Hollidog]

Well its not a car, but it still counts I think:

Ive been racing karts for about ten years. This photo was taken at a street race in Tauranga, NZ.
Its an Arrow AX9 B-Max with a 125cc water cooled Rotax Max engine on it. Makes about 18hp.
Im going to start to race gearbox karts this season, and they are still 125cc but have a six speed sequential gearbox on them, and make about 45 horse power. Pretty mental considering their capacity, meaning that their horsepower per liter is about bout 360.

 

[Boz Mon]

I raced karts for about 6 years. I would say that the GT series just fueled my love for racing when I couldnt actually be racing. Since I stopped kart racing, I have several other methods of getting my speed on. I have a goped scooter that I have been building for about a year now, which will easily do 30mph on about a 6" solid rubber tire.

I bought a 2003 Mazda Miata wich has introduced me to some of the nicest people who I have ever met. We went to the Tail of the Dragon and had an awesome time.

The last one would have to be jet ski racing. I have a 1985 Kawasaki JS550 that I have been painting and building over the winter because I got into some recreational bouy corse racing. There are actually several guys who are professional racers that are teaching me and some of my friends how to race. This is 100% the same mentally as racing on land, but there are even more physical challenges to overcome.

 

[cenk]

Yep the skip barber racing school in the GT1 booklet..Getting to know all the japanese performance cars..was priceless I had the japanese version of the game and remember trying to figure out what to do in the braking test lol

 

[sumbrownkid]

With gas at $3.50 a gallon and climbing, it's even become expensive for me to race in GT5, let alone drive to school in real life.

 

[R1ch85]

Not directly because of GT but once I've replaced all the bushes I want to start tracking my quattro:

Nice Quattro! 👍 Looks like you live about 5 minutes away from me, small world eh? Do you go to any shows during the summer at all?

 

[Time_Attack]

Back in 2008. Mostly stock.

At a meet back in 2010 to show updates since then. I don't have any newer pics since then.

 

[kikie]

Well, I have been thinking about starting to learn how to drive a kart this summer.

This is the place where, if I decide to take up karting, I want to learn it. It's only 35-40 min drive from my place.

 

[jmsbrydon]

You from round Teesside then?. I'm from Middlesbrough myself.

 

[RSwagoneer]

Hmmm,

I did trackdays before buying GT5p and GT5.
Rather drive around a track myself then play it at a console. But in real life racing on a console is much cheaper then in real life.
Buying slicks, streetlegal slicks, brakepads and fuel is breaking a bank for sure.

This was at al local track in Belgium. Been at Zandvoort, Assen and the Nordschleife too.
http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c361/B-man68/Motorsport/?action=view&current=Cap0006.mp4
This was at a trackday at Assen

Hope the go to some trackdays in 2011 , but first I have the fix the Estate.

Just hope I wont have to experience this

ever...

Grtz

Bryan

 

[Motor City Hami]

I cannot credit the Gran Turismo series for getting me into racing. I grew up in a racing family. My dad raced, his cousins raced and my grandfather would take me to the local dirt oval to watch on Saturday nights. I had hot wheels and slot cars from a young age. I raced BMX for a while. I raced remote controlled for a long time and won a national championship.

Gran Turismo is just a continuation of a passion for racing. I have owned all of them. I did finally get on track with real cars. Started autocrossing a Mazda 626 Turbo. Then road raced a 1986 Honda Civic. Now I race a Spec Miata in SCCA.

Here is a video of me racing in the ITA class along side cars with more HP. I qualified 4th, couldn't see the green flag so I had a bad start. Then, got punted off the track in turn one and had to work my way back through. I look like the king of late braking in this. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsCV79yTdw4

 

[RenoRanes007]

Nice Quattro! 👍 Looks like you live about 5 minutes away from me, small world eh? Do you go to any shows during the summer at all?

Cheers dude!

You in Horfield/Filton area?

I mostly go to VW Shows throughout the year as also got a T4 and used to have a Beetle & Karmann Ghia.

Shows like Deva Dubs and Rods, VW Action, VolksWorld, Bug Jam, Cruise To The Prom, Bristol Volks Fest, Big Bang and thinking about Audi Driver International at Castle Combe Race Circuit.

 

[R1ch85]

Cheers dude!

You in Horfield/Filton area?

I mostly go to VW Shows throughout the year as also got a T4 and used to have a Beetle & Karmann Ghia.

Shows like Deva Dubs and Rods, VW Action, VolksWorld, Bug Jam, Cruise To The Prom, Bristol Volks Fest, Big Bang and thinking about Audi Driver International at Castle Combe Race Circuit.

I'm in Downend, so not too far away. I go to VW shows through the summer too, might see you at Bristol Volksfest, we usually have a club stand there. I usually go to the performance action days at Castle Combe too, plus Ultimate Dubs, GTi Spring festival, GTi International and Edition 38 too. I don't drive a VW though, I'm in a Seat