Hi,
I have an aspiration to own and run a Lola T90/50 (or T91/50) for use at UK test days (approx 4 test days per year) for the sheer exhilleration of it. Whilst this may be some way off becoming a reality due to finances and space available I would be very grateful for any info regarding the running costs of a Lola T90/50 (or T91/50) in more-or-less F3000 spec. I intend to maintain it myself but would, of course, have the engine rebuilt by a professional.
Questions that I have are:
How much should I expect to pay for a ready-to-go outfit?
How many ready-to-go outfits are there in the UK?
What make of engine is the most reliable?
How frequently should I get the engine rebuilt?
How much should an engine rebuild cost?
How reliable are the F3000 engines?
How reliable is the rest of the car (gearbox, electrics, etc etc!)?
How often does the gearbox need a rebuild?
Does anyone in the UK specialise in gearboxes of this type?
Is there much running-cost difference between a 3ltr engine and a 3.5 ltr engine?
How long do the tyres last?
How long could the tyres last if I wanted to run them for as long as possible?
How much does a set of tyres cost?
How easy is it to find tyres?
How easy is it to find ANY spares?
How many unsilenced tesing venues suitable for a F3000 car are there in the UK (I know of Donnington, Pembrey and Silverstone)?
What kind of routine maintenance is required after each use, and between engine rebuilds?
Are there any owners out there that would consider selling a share in their car?
Are there any owners out there that would sell me a test in their car?
Could anyone pass me the contact details of someone who is currently running an early 90's Lola F3000 car in the UK?
For info, my background as a driver is Karting, Formula Ford, Formula 3 and as a mechanic Karting, Formula Ford, Formula Vauxhall Junior, Formula Vauxhall Lotus and Formula 3.