I wanna chop it up again - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

Consider this the "this guy's an idiot" entertainment post for the month, but ...

... a little background is in order: I've been a member for a while, but never really introduced myself. I've been building hot rods and drag racing for 30+ years, and converted to corner burning a couple years ago. My first car was a 68 plain jane Camaro. My dad was the original owner. I bought it from him when I was 15. I've still got it, and the 68 is the subject of this post.

I started open tracking in the 68, and planned on continuing, until my wife (a much wiser person than myself) pointed out that I'd never forgive myself if I put it into the k-rail at Thunderhill, so I found a "disposable car" (her words). Successful ex-A-Sedan 4th-gen, that I bought as a roller, built too much engine and added too much brake and tire for it to be A-Sedan any more, but that's ok by me ... I really just like to compete against myself, trying to improve my lap times each outing. Besides, I'm in the San Francisco SCCA region ... and flat don't have the cash to compete in SF region ITE, which is where my 4th gen would land now. If I were to go wheel-to-wheel racing in the near future, it would probably be in NASA AIX.. and I'd be far from competitive.

But I digress ... if you've been to many track days at Laguna or Thunderhill, you've possibly run into a 69 Camaro owned by Bob Owen. If you aren't a left coast dweller, Bob's car can be viewed here:

Got Blue Milk

Bob's a great guy to talk with, and his car is amazing ... and no longer remotely resembles a 1st gen when you start popping panels and inspecting suspension, engine setback ... everything but sheetmetal.

So here's the point (finally) Every time I see Bob at the track, or even view pics of his car, I get fired up to hack the 68 into a track car like his ... my 68 is currently a fully accurate SS clone, but with full GW suspension and an aluminum big block ... a trip to Alan Blaine for a cage, a fuel cell, some fender flares, and a lot of wide rubber and I'm there ... ok I'm not really that naive, but I keep getting these crazy notions of chopping up the 68 ... I could even sell the ZL-1 and transplant the engine, trans, Kirkeys, etc from the 4th gen before parting it out ... damn, stop me before I do something stupid!

johns68 View Member Profile	Apr 15 2007, 07:44 AM Post #1
Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 122 Joined: 21-October 06 From: Marysville, CA Member No.: 1,423	Consider this the "this guy's an idiot" entertainment post for the month, but ... ... a little background is in order: I've been a member for a while, but never really introduced myself. I've been building hot rods and drag racing for 30+ years, and converted to corner burning a couple years ago. My first car was a 68 plain jane Camaro. My dad was the original owner. I bought it from him when I was 15. I've still got it, and the 68 is the subject of this post. I started open tracking in the 68, and planned on continuing, until my wife (a much wiser person than myself) pointed out that I'd never forgive myself if I put it into the k-rail at Thunderhill, so I found a "disposable car" (her words). Successful ex-A-Sedan 4th-gen, that I bought as a roller, built too much engine and added too much brake and tire for it to be A-Sedan any more, but that's ok by me ... I really just like to compete against myself, trying to improve my lap times each outing. Besides, I'm in the San Francisco SCCA region ... and flat don't have the cash to compete in SF region ITE, which is where my 4th gen would land now. If I were to go wheel-to-wheel racing in the near future, it would probably be in NASA AIX.. and I'd be far from competitive. But I digress ... if you've been to many track days at Laguna or Thunderhill, you've possibly run into a 69 Camaro owned by Bob Owen. If you aren't a left coast dweller, Bob's car can be viewed here: Got Blue Milk Bob's a great guy to talk with, and his car is amazing ... and no longer remotely resembles a 1st gen when you start popping panels and inspecting suspension, engine setback ... everything but sheetmetal. So here's the point (finally) Every time I see Bob at the track, or even view pics of his car, I get fired up to hack the 68 into a track car like his ... my 68 is currently a fully accurate SS clone, but with full GW suspension and an aluminum big block ... a trip to Alan Blaine for a cage, a fuel cell, some fender flares, and a lot of wide rubber and I'm there ... ok I'm not really that naive, but I keep getting these crazy notions of chopping up the 68 ... I could even sell the ZL-1 and transplant the engine, trans, Kirkeys, etc from the 4th gen before parting it out ... damn, stop me before I do something stupid!

nape View Member Profile	Apr 15 2007, 08:47 PM Post #2
Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,511 Joined: 14-November 04 From: Homer Glen, IL Member No.: 540	Instead of chopping up dad's car, sell the AS car, find a cancer ridden 1st gen, cut the floors out of it, drop it on a tube frame, go beat the crap out of it (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

trackbird View Member Profile	Apr 15 2007, 11:16 PM Post #3
FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,432 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196	QUOTE (nape @ Apr 15 2007, 04:47 PM) Instead of chopping up dad's car, sell the AS car, find a cancer ridden 1st gen, cut the floors out of it, drop it on a tube frame, go beat the crap out of it (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) That's what I was trying to say.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

CrashTestDummy View Member Profile	Apr 16 2007, 06:07 PM Post #4
Veteran Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 3,889 Joined: 3-July 04 From: Pearland, Texas Member No.: 385	QUOTE (trackbird @ Apr 15 2007, 06:16 PM) QUOTE (nape @ Apr 15 2007, 04:47 PM) Instead of chopping up dad's car, sell the AS car, find a cancer ridden 1st gen, cut the floors out of it, drop it on a tube frame, go beat the crap out of it (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) That's what I was trying to say.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif) OR, you can get just about all the sheetmetal from the aftermarket. Instead of cutting something up that has a VIN, even some badly-eaten up beater, build the cage and attach the aftermarket sheetmetal to it and you are done. No one will biach you out for using up an original car, no matter what the starting condition was.