[killer_bluebird]

Hey I just wanted to say hello! And possibly ask advice I'm in the Cleveland Ohio area and am looking into getting into racing a bit more than in the past. I've taken the car to the dragstrip a couple times but after going to Nelson Ledges to 2 of their Open track days, I can honestly say that I'm hooked. So far is looking like I'm going to be joining NASA as it seem that the rules are a bit less complicated and restrictive. My car has the Mod's on my sig and I'm hoping santa has under the tree a 4pt. bolting rollcage (design is similar to autopowers 4pt. bolt in) and a nice cam. But before I go throwing more money into my ride I would like to hook up with someone local or semi local that might be able to help me navigate through my first year. I know that the best mod I can do to my car is a better driver and I'm hoping I can start learning to drive my car like it was meant to be driven this comming year. But I'm a tech junkie also so I can't help wanting to tinker with my car. BTW my car is a daily driver so I want to keep it streetable until I can get into a dedicated track car or I build myself a GTM 200.

Any sugestions? Volunteers? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[killer_bluebird]

I guess my first question is what are your short, medium and long term goals.

My assumption is that you would first want to run HPDE (open lapping) for a while to get more experience and seat time while also deciding what the next step would be.

The nice thing about HPDE is that you can "graduate" to HPDE 4 and then run the Time Trial program (I did this in my old LS1 Camaro).  Time Trial is essentially open lapping with a transponder.  Your car will be classed according to mods and the faster recorded time of the day in class wins a trophy/points.  The requirements for the car are the same as regular open lapping so if you can open lap, you can time trial.

After that is wheel-to-wheel racing.  An LS1 f-body cannot run Camaro-Mustang Challenge, but it can run American Iron.  In the coming few years, the LS1 will likely be included in CMC, just not right now.

This is all just a brain dump.  I guess I am interested in where you want to go.  I would be glad to work with you both at the track and with your ideas on mods...

Note that my car is (mostly) street-legal, has license plates and emissions stickers.  You *can* run a competitive CMC car and be streetable but it is impractical to have a competitive 4th gen AI car that is streetable.  My car should be completely prep-ed for CMC by June...

KeithO, You nailed it in the head that is exactly what I had in mind. The end goal will be wheel to wheel racing in a dedicated car (preferably not mine (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) But I would like to get as much experience and training in my current ride. My goals for the car are a street driven, full interior car that handles like a racecar in the road course and has good hp (to move his 3600 # butt around), that I can still drive to work without having to wear a firesuit and helmet (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) . So I will use it until the point where I'm going to need a full welded 8 or 10 point rollcage (this can change). As far as goals for the driver I think I can be a "ok" driver, I just want to know if reallity agrees. So right know I'm trying to learn as much as I can about my car and about racing. I'm a bit of book worm, but unfortunately I haven't seen any good books or material that has good information in the mechanics of racing. Then when I'm at the track I can start focusing in the application aspect of it.

This post has been edited by killer_bluebird: Dec 16 2005, 03:50 PM