How to Build a Race Car

Racing cars is what speed-addicted kids do in their sleep. Oh, no, wait... Hang on for just a second while I rephrase that. Racing cars is what ALL of mankind, especially the masculine half, does in their sleep. You turn on the ignition, floor the gas pedal, zip across the tar surface, change gears swiftly, lean into those hairpins, and shoot out of those corners to cross the finish line, leaving your opponents red-faced. Car racing can, without a doubt, be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for inspiring an endless list of fast-paced Hollywood thrillers, not to mention a host of computer, video and play-station games. After fantasizing about driving a race car all these years, let us go a step ahead and actually learn how to build a race car of our own.

Building a Race Car

Instructions:

1. First and foremost, have a clear mental picture of the type of race car that you have set out to build. It will entirely depend on your targeted mode of racing - drag racing, drifts, NASCAR racing, street racing, speedway racing, Grand Prix, etc. Race cars are specifically designed based on the type of racing involved, so getting this step right is very important.
2. The next thing you need to do is buy a stock car. A stock car is basically a regular everyday car whose basic design, looks and engine capacity are along the lines of the final race car that you have pictured. The stock car need not be a fancy, sporty vehicle; all it needs to be is a normal, functional car in good running condition.
3. The next step involves transforming your run-of-the-mill stock car into a mean speed machine. For this, it is highly recommended that you seek the help of an experienced car mechanic. Better still, get hold of a whiz who knows race cars like the back of his hand. An experienced race car technician will know just the right engine to churn out the monstrous horsepower that your race car so badly needs. Horsepower, in most cases, tends to be directly proportional to money power, so make sure that you give your technician a good idea about your maximum spending limit, or else you might end up broke!
4. Strip the car of all extra baggage including rear seats, spare tires, bulky car interiors and any other stuff that could potentially slow down your race car.
5. Install a strong safety harness in the driver's seat. Car racing can be a dangerous sport and you should never ever compromise on driving safety. Have a fire extinguisher attached within close reach. Install a strong and sturdy racing frame on the insides of the car for added protection and safety in case of a mishap.
6. Get hold of some good and durable racing tires. Racing tires are specifically designed in different ways depending on race conditions, weather, type of road surface, etc. Consider all these aspects when you buy those tires.
7. If you happen to have any cash left, you could consider enhancing your race car with a few performance-boosting accessories such as spoilers, nitro-boosters, stylish wheel rims, etc. Catch hold of a few speed demons in your locality for this purpose. They should be able to suggest the right stuff and the right shops.
8. Car racing requires special permits and licenses. So before you start burning any rubber, you better make sure that you have all the necessary legal permits from the concerned authorities, else you might find yourself cooling your heels in a lockup.
9. And lastly, a 'race car' is never really a race car until it looks like one. So spray on some bold chrome paint and get that mean race car look!

There, you're done! It's not that difficult to build a race car, is it? Go grab your helmet, floor that pedal and let those tires screech as you race towards glory.

Go, speed racer, go!