California Dreaming

Hello there, glad to find this forum. I'm a prospective noob owner who is looking at a Super Stalker with a GM L32 motor in Arizona. I come from a track day and racing background; having learned track driving in an NSX and then raced a Formula Mazda for the past 12 years. I am moving on from the Formula Mazda because I've lost the enthusiasm for the physical work to prep, load, haul and maintain this fine race car. I still like driving, I just can't do the physical part of the work anymore. I'm assuming a Stalker or any seven replica will be a much lower maintenance toy that will still be a hoot to drive.

So, with that, I'm looking for advice on what to expect and worry about before I buy. Are there any Stalker owners in the Central CA area? I'm in Sacramento and the AZ guy I'm talking to thinks there is a group or at least one owner in Sonoma? Anyone know of a group or an owner near me?

My main concern at the moment is getting it licensed for the street in CA. It is licensed in AZ so I'm wondering how that helps if at all. For instance, our NSX group had discussions about the legal requirement to retain the stock 3 pt seat belt even though we had 5 or 6 pt belts. Is that an issue? Does the fact that it's a replica of a 1962 car make any difference with that and other requirements?

Well the wife is calling for my help with something, so I gotta go. More later.

Thanks.

Ted in Sacramento
Shoe String Racing
On a Wing and a Prayer

Even though I can't help with the CA questions, I just wanted to say Hi and Welcome to the forum.

FYI, this group is normally very active & helpful with questions, but we're in a transition off a yahoogroup to this forum, and I think the regular contributors are still adjusting to the change.

-Brit

Welcome I think your making the right decision with a stalker it's going to be about as close as you can get to FM in a street car.

Brian Degulis

Well the deal is done and I'm here for the duration.  Gray in AZ hauled the car up to Sacramento, and took my FM, trailers, scales and the whole kit.  Deal was done last Wednesday.  Incredibly easy for a race car deal never mind a swap.  

Drove the car today for the first time and of course didn't even scratch the surface for what it will do.  Probably can't shake it out anywhere except the track.  I'll need to move the seat back and wear my racing shoes.  Tight fit on the pedals and while that's great for heel and toeing on track, it's a bit unnerving to hit the gas and the brake with regular shoes and no muscle memory programmed yet.

trying to upload a pic; no joy.

Welcome to the family! Congrats!

Getting more comfortable with the car, but just wanted to give a shout out to Mr Stalker himself for the wonderful and helpful "how to" vids and docs posted in here. Exactly what is needed.

Reason why I appreciate that so much is I bought a nearly new Formula Mazda in 2003. I got a few bits and pieces on specs from Star Race Cars, the builder but no actual owner's manual. That always confounded me since they had been building these cars (253 of them) since 1991. And that was modifying the Russell Formula cars developed and driven extensively as school cars since 83. You would've thought that with all that history and being a spec class with very few changes a manual would have been easy to develop. All the guys on the FM forums laughed at me when I asked. I wasn't asking for speed secrets, just normal maintenance procedures and short cuts. But by god by the time I swapped my FM for a Stalker last month, I had a very complete owners/maintenance manual. So I appreciate the help here.

Ted FM, just saying hello and welcome from Stalker #50

thank you. where are you located?

I am in Tipp City, Ohio, 68 miles north of Cincinnati....