[370camaro95]

Hello all,

Im looking for some guidance on what is necessary to prep a front or mid pack 4th gen f body for AIX. I am not new to f bodies, as i currently have a '95 z28 with a H/C/I 370lq9/t56 that is prepped for autocross/track days in the manner of koni yellows, strano springs, watts link, Brembo 4 piston caliper in front, all new bushing/balljoints, all the other usual suspension components. Ive decided a goal to get into AIX can be attainable because I am not too far off of the mid ohio track record according to their website. Mainly what i would like to know is:
What kind of power and weight does most of the competition have?

I have read the CMC/AI/AIX rules, but still have a few questions.

What is considered a NASA legal cage for AIX. Is a 6 or 8 pt sufficient?

I realize i would gut the interior, but I don't know if the fixed back corbeau seat I have is legal, I assume it has to be a metal type seat?

On the website regarding rules, you MAY use lexan for front windshield and rear window. By the cars ive seem I assume lexan is REQUIRED front and rear?

I see how CMC and AI are required to run toyo tires, is AIX open to any tire?

Thanks for any and all help.

This post has been edited by 370camaro95: Oct 7 2014, 04:58 PM

[Den 34]

370Camaro95
As the Midwest region CMC director I am going to have a bias towards CMC. But you need to ask yourself some realistic questions and be HONEST with yourself. Are you a guy who loves to tinker and constantly be figuring out the next thing that will give you a tenth or two? If this is you AI or AIX is probably for you. But be honest with yourself. DO you have the TIME to do that? Do you have the MONEY to do that? Do you have the SPACE to do that?
Are you the guy who loves F bodies or Mustangs and really loves the idea of racing but realistically does not have a lot of expendable income to build the car and campaign the car? Well maybe CMC is for you. Nape (TJ) is correct that his AI car is not much more expensive to maintain than a CMC car because his car is light....very light so he is easier on consumables. But your stereotypical AI Fbody will break $hit and more so with the AIX car. Honestly ask yourself can you afford to replace Tires brakes, trans or diff or clutch or whatever and also afford the monthly 300 to 400 entry fee and fuel etc and still be able to race? I see it way too often that guys are not honest with themselves and realize way too late that when the car breaks they are done for the season because they are so close to the edge financially..So when they break its.... Well thanks for playing ...see ya next year! I am not saying CMC is cheap but it is more economical than a lot of other classes. You can realistically build a pretty good car for 10 to 12 K. You can buy one cheaper. It is very easy to get to the limit of the rules in CMC without spending a ton of dough. With AI the rules are not quite defined and so is the limit of the rules is not quite defined so therefore the limit of the cost is not quite defined as well. With CMC once your get the car sorted and somewhat reliable, usually after your second season you just need to concentrate on race craft and having a great time at the track.
Everyone is going to try and sell the class they are racing. Such as I am doing here. But look at the fast cars in the class you are running and ask yourself, 1) Can I afford to build that car? 2) Can I afford to keep that car on the track? 3) Do I have the time to keep that car competitive? 4) Do I have the skills to keep that car on the track? 5) Do I have the talent to compete in that class? 6) Do you have a understanding wife, girlfriend, life partner, whatever? This is huge. 7) Do you want to race or do you just want to be the fastest car on the track or do you want to bring home a trophy every weekend? What is your motivation? I am not trying to be a jerk here, but, some people like to have the fastest car on track and pass a lot of out of class cars. That is OK. some people like to run in a class that is has no one in it so they can post on Facebook that they win every weekend. I am OK with that. Some people love to race and I mean serious competition, and that is the motivation. Figure out what are your resources. Figure out your motivation. The answers to these questions will direct you to the right class. Pick a class and get out there racing. The more honest you are with yourself UP FRONT. The more successful you will be.
This is was my fifteenth year racing wheel to wheel. I have been racing CMC since 2007 and raced AI from 2004-2007. I have seen a lot of guys come and go and more guys have had false starts never to be seen on the track......
Good luck.
Bob Denton
CMC #67
2000 Pontiac Firebird.