[Howard Jones]

What I mean by Suspension Geometry is a chassis that has taken correct suspension geometry into account and has been designed correctly to begin with thus not requiring additional cutting and welding to achieve what should have been designed into the car from the first go at putting pencil to paper.

I will concede that weight would be second on my list as long as the chassis will accommodate the gearbox I have selected.

What I am trying to say is I believe that the two most difficult things to correct after the fact is a badly designed suspension and a re-design of the placement and mounting of a gearbox after changing the gearbox type.

So if the home work is to be done then I would do it in this order.

Get your head around a target power to weight ratio. Less weight is better than more power. Tires!!! You can't design a race car without knowing what tires will go on it.
AND if you are really going to RACE it..... RULES!!!! then...

1. Select gearbox based on power output from motor.
2. Refine list of chassis that will except gearbox choice.
3. Select best #2 based on:
a. suspension design, everything must be adjustable in the paddock (quickly)
b. weight
c. chassis stiffness (this might make you rethink b.) Correct geometry won't work if the chassis doesn't remain square when loaded.
d. Brake and wheel sizes. These are very intertwined. Go with brakes that will work best for the type of racing you intend. You can spend huge amounts of money here unnecessary if you are building a 30 min open track car verses a 2 hour wheel to wheel race car.
e. Don't order parts that you will remove from the car to race it. Carpet kit for example. Or a marginal radiator intended for a street car.
f. Buy proven parts selected for the intended purpose. Tell the radiator man what you are going to try and cool for how long and how hard you will run it as an example.
h. NO crate motors! Sorry I had to get that one in. You will need a quality, attention to detail engine built by a race engine builder that knows what you intend to do with the motor. The same thing applies to the gearbox. The power train will be about 1/3 of total budget. Do it right but don't overdo it.
I. light weight panels, bodywork, glass, wheels, etc.
J. Add roll cage during 1st phase of build.

I could go on for a long time but you get the idea. Start with a chassis and gearbox and add only the components and systems you will use on the race track. This way you will at least start with a kit of a "car" that doesn't have a lot of throw away parts coming with it.

Check out the RF race car in the build logs thread. Do that.