Awesome B-Day gift -- Need Race prep info :)

[Cory_Langford at bcit.ca (Cory Langford)]

You know you have an understanding spouse when you get track time for your 
B-day :)

I have always toyed with the idea of trying my hand at racing, just for 
the fun of it, and last weekend my wife gives me the three day licensing 
course package and a practice day with the local sports car assoc. and the 
instructions to take the next three months to build my dream scirocco.  :) 
 - Sorry had to gloat a little ;)

So at the end of July I get personal instruction and 3 days of track time. 
What I need is to build a car that would be somewhat competitive (I know I 
will never be a professional racer, but I want to try to have a little 
fun...).


So I know I need to have a good look at how the classification of cars 
works, etc (I have never even been to the track so this will be a whole 
new world), but I know there are a good number of listers who do some kind 
of racing so I figured I'd start with suggestions from those in the 
know...

1st up is do I prep a mk2 shell or a mk1 shell?  I was thinking mk1 as it 
is a little lighter, but I am not sure how the handling is on the track 
between the two?  Any preferences (I have both sitting here waiting..)

Next is suggestions on suspension, engine, exhaust, rims, tires, safety 
equipment needed, etc.    I want to make the car not a total track only 
car.  I would like to be able to drive it (as I doubt I will be a 
consistent racer), and still have it compete on the track.  I am not sure 
how many people drive their cars to the track with maybe a trailer of 
spare parts behind them and then race them, but why not :)

Extra parts that might be useful that I currently have in the stock pile 
to work with would be:

Rebuild FN trany
Rebuild ACN tranny with Quaife installed
Stage 4 G60 with 68mm pulley, chiped, etc
The overbored PG block with stroker crank for aprox 2L stroker engine, 
Callaway turbo kit installed, 260 cam
1.7L mk1 engine, ported head, 260 cam, adjustable cam gear, TT springs
Stock 16V sways
Stock 16V Kbar
Neuspeed lower stress bar
Neuspeed Upper stress bar 
Upper rear stress bar (the one that attaches to the rear strut bolts)
Audi 5K intercooler
New HK struts (all around)
Spax Springs (2 years old)
Apex Springs (1 year old)
stock 16V springs (??? old)
10.1 16V brakes & 22mm master cyl.
Rear 16V discs
A1 super sprint exhaust (full - flex back res & muffler)
Remus a3 turbo muffler 3" inlet. (adapted for a1 mounting)
Suppersprint 8V header
pair of sparco 4 point harnesses (the quick release kind, so I am not sure 
if they are good for racing or not)
Corrado seats
Scirocco 16V seats
Various size rads and fans, power steering setup, etc, etc.

So I am up for spending some money but I thought I would take suggestions 
on which route to go.

Expect a whole lot of more questions to come out in the next few months :)

Cory Langford
'86 Roc turbo, 
'78 Roc turbo - Daily driver project,
'65 Ghia Coupe
95 Eurovan, etc, etc... :)