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Hey, Chad here from Midlife Classic Cars! Today, I'm working on a project that I’ve been looking forward to for a while—transforming our old car show trailer into a functional race trailer. We’ve had this trailer for over 20 years, hauling it all across the country for car shows. Now, it’s time to repurpose it for a new life in racing. Let’s dive into the details of what this project involves and why it matters.
This trailer has been with us for over two decades, primarily serving as a mobile display for our books at various car shows. We built shelving into it specifically for displaying our books, which, if you didn’t know, weigh a ton! Because of that, this trailer was built with reinforced beams and slightly higher ceilings to accommodate the extra weight. While it served its purpose for years, it’s time to convert it into something more useful for racing.
As we’ve shifted focus from car shows to racing, this trailer needs to reflect that. It’s going to help clean up the clutter in our shop and make it easier to haul gear to the track. We also need to ensure it can carry both our Legend car and a standard-sized car, which means clearing out some unnecessary shelving and optimizing space.
The first step in this project was clearing out the shelving that used to store our books. I’ve already started cutting out some of the shelving and can already tell how much space it’s going to free up. Shelving along one wall is staying, but I’ve removed most of the stuff on the other side to make room for the cars. My plan is to have a designated space for spare tires and tools, which will make things much easier on race day.
One of the most exciting parts of this project is getting everything organized in a way that makes sense for racing. I’ve already started figuring out where to store spare parts, bumpers, and wheels. For instance, I’m thinking of mounting bumpers on the wall and using ratchet straps to hold the wheels securely. It’s important to keep things tight and secure to avoid damage while on the road.
I’ve also added little touches, like Velcro straps, to hold spare suspension components and other small parts. These straps are a cheap but effective solution—honestly, they cost me less than $20! Simple solutions like this go a long way in maximizing space without spending a fortune.
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I’ll be honest—racing is expensive, and budgeting is critical. I could go out and buy a brand new race trailer, but that would take away from funds I could spend on the car or track fees. Instead, I’m repurposing what I have and making small, affordable upgrades. For instance, I’ll be reusing a lot of the shelving and beams from the old setup instead of buying new ones.
I’ve always believed in living below my means, which has allowed me to pursue racing without going broke. My dad taught me the value of financial responsibility, and it’s a lesson that’s stuck with me. For example, I’ve never had a car payment because I always buy used cars and fix them up myself. This same mindset is helping me save money on this trailer conversion.
I’ve made a lot of progress over the past few days. I’ve cleared out most of the shelving and started planning where everything will go. I’ve also done some welding to build custom brackets for mounting bumpers and other parts. It’s not perfect yet, but we’re getting there.
There’s still a lot to finish. I need to install better lighting, clean up some of the welds, and secure a few more parts in place. I also plan to pressure wash the trailer to clean out years of built-up dirt from its car show days. Once that’s done, I’ll start organizing the parts and tools that will live inside the trailer. With less than a week until the Asphalt Nationals at Old Dominion, I’ve got to hustle to get everything ready.
I’m getting closer to finishing this project, but there are always little things that pop up. For example, I’m still figuring out the best way to secure my gas cans—bungee cords don’t seem like the safest option, so I’m going to repurpose some straps for that. I also need to mount my scales and a few other tools in a way that makes them easy to access.
Once this trailer is fully functional, it’s going to be a game changer for our race days. I’ll have all my tools, parts, and gear organized and easy to access, which will save a ton of time at the track. While it’s tempting to buy a fancy new trailer, I’m happy with how this project is turning out—especially since it’s costing a fraction of what a new one would.
1. Why convert an old trailer instead of buying a new one?
Converting our existing trailer saves money, which can be better spent on racing costs like track fees and car upgrades.
2. How much does it cost to convert a trailer?
It varies, but in our case, we’ve kept costs low by reusing materials and only buying essential items like Velcro straps and a few tools. Most of the work was done ourselves.
3. What should you prioritize when converting a trailer?
Focus on functionality. Make sure there’s enough room for your car and equipment, and think about how to store everything securely for transport.
4. Do you need a big budget to get into racing?
Not necessarily. While racing can be expensive, you can save money by living below your means and being resourceful, like using a repurposed trailer instead of buying a new one.
5. What tools are essential for a race trailer conversion?
You’ll need basic tools like wrenches, welding equipment, and cutting tools. Don’t forget to invest in good storage solutions, like Velcro straps and ratchet tie-downs.
Transforming this old trailer has been a fun project that will make our race days much smoother. With a little creativity and a lot of DIY work, we’re turning something outdated into a tool that will help us stay organized and ready for the track. Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get into racing—just be smart with your budget and make the most of what you have.
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