I’m running in rivals mode and racing against my friend’s ghosts in C class and I happen to take note of some upgrades that I can see on their vehicle in comparison to mine. I notice they’re running with a full on roll cage, adjustable aero front and rear, what possibly might be race suspension and racing slicks; it got me thinking… Doesn’t that technically make it a race car?
At what point in upgrading does a car transcend being a modified street machine, to a track/race car?
I would say when it is trailered to the race track and is no longer registered.
The question isn’t as complex as it seems. The definition of a race car, as I see it, is a car which is primarily used for racing. The word that actually needs to be defined is not “race car” but actually “racing.” I can take any car (and providing enough money) turn it into a frighteningly fast and capable track car, but it would not be a “race car” until it competes in some sort of organized race and conforms to the rules of the venue. Stated simply, a SCCA Spec Miata is a race car. A gutted GTR with slicks, a cage, and aero, is a track day beast unless and until it is placed in racing competition.
This - plenty of trailer queens never see the road or the track, but competing (even if it is stock and is just used for racing, or like many rally cars which are still registered) is the definition of a race car. The level of modification doesn’t make them a race car.