Hi, the name is Mitch and as you all know i am new here. I live in Charlotte, NC and attend UNCC. I have a 1997 Trans Am and could give 2 shits less about the drag strip. Will still go a couple more times simply because its only $15 but i could care less how i do. I love back roads and road racing (well im sure i would if i could make it to the track). The car is a cam only LT1 with full exhaust, LCA's, Adj. Panhard, and 21mm sway bar in the rear. I have a 32mm bar up front with Penske 7500 Coilovers all the way around. Car rides rough as shit but i don't really care, it sticks to the fucking road hard, harder then i'd care to push it on public roads. I hope to learn a lot from this forum, again road racing is truly my only desire for this car but unfortunately a college budget can't really spare the $200+ price tag for a road race event. Car under steers a little bit so im going to put a 24mm rear bar on it from a 3rd gen and see how i like it, i can get it cheap so it's worth a shot. Hopefully will have all tubular k-member and control arms up front as well as a torque arm within the next year but again, college budget. Here are a few pics of the car...









No longer have any of the A/C stuff

Welcome.

Read up.

Yes, Welcome. sweet looking paint job. I like the lay out.

Welcome!

Do all guys named Mitch own Trans Ams?

Try autocrossing to whet your appetite. Not nearly as expensive entry fees as RR/HPDEs but still good fun. You've got a lot of mods, but if you haven't autocrossed yet, you'll be placed in novice for a few events.

Nice paint job BTW.

Yea, i'd like to try some auto crossing here pretty soon, i doubt i'll be very competitive because i can feel the car is much more comfortable with higher speed turning rather then short quick turns, im thinking putting more camber in it will help a good bit with that. Also it is still a heavy car, i have removed the A/C stuff and spare and some other small stuff but there is a lot left to be taken. As far as tires go, i got a set of KDW's which i like a lot but my first choice were KD's, but just too expensive. I guess i really just need to take it to the track and see how it goes.

Only the really cool ones ...

Hmm, how are we going to explain you then?

Ouch ... that hurt, Kevin.

Sorry, Midnight made me do it.

It's a tough crowd around here, and worse when I have to get up at 5:30am (like today)....

Now yer just breakin' my heart. I'm at work by 6 EVERYDAY

At first, you won't be competitive no matter what you drive. Fact o' life. You might be surprised by how well a big pig of a car can do on those tight turns with the right alignment and driving technique In fact, I'd slow down on the mods and devote the budget to some entry fees. You'll learn a lot that may guide you in a somewhat different direction on the setup.

I'll chime in on the beautiful paint job. Do you know what a red-winged blackbird looks like?

I'll second what sgarnett says. Spend your money on seat time. You can take it with you, and use in the next car. Many very fast road racers started, or co-compete in solo II competition. Solo teaches you car control. You can be a little sloppy on a road course, and still be competitive. If you are sloppy on the autocross course, you will get your head (and pride) handed to you.

You will be in Street Mod, or C Prepared, given the number of mods you have done to the car. Get yourself to a solo event, check your ego at the door, and go with the intent of learning the best car control you can. You will probably get outrun by stock Miatas and MINIs, but the learning experience and fun will be worth it. You may even find you really enjoy autocross, and decide you need a different car to use, or decide you need different mods for a class the car would fit better in. Autocross can be a very intense competition, requiring a lot of concentration and 'driving the proper line'. Enjoy.

Nice paint, and the under hood is very, very clean. I wish our 95 Z was that clean.

http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?showtopic=11337
I'd think hard about A arms, uppers seem to work well though.
Welcome to the board, there's more good information and helpful people here than you'll know what to do with.

First, welcome! I have a nice '97 TA also. It takes a little bit to get the autox hat on as folks have said here. I remember taking an autox school (Nick Steel, Jason Swindle and Chris Knight were there too, all great drivers) where a Neon had my lunch all day. Then my instructor spun my '97 TA out as she was used to driving a wimpy 3rd gen! LOL! If you can get in one of these schools I highly recommend it. Great way to learn the basics!

Welcome to the boards. I agree with what's been said already, invest your money in seat time. Also, when you go to your first couple of autox events, remember that you're there to learn how to drive your car. You're not there to win a race. Once you have some time under your belt and get comfortable with what the car can and can't do, THEN you start to race.

And you already mentioned it, but alignment can make a big difference in under/over steer. I would try to dial in more negative camber if the car can take it, and maybe a little toe out if your pocket book (tires) can take it. It made a huge difference on mine.

Autocross, Mitch, is where it's at.
Truly and verily I say unto you: Kill a cone instead of a guardrail and only your ego will be damaged.

I dig Autocross a *lot* because it's so fast-paced. All of your mistakes are magnified when the course gets shrunk. It'll teach you braking, shifting, apexing, and your presence in terms of where your wheels are located, better than anything. Once you can put your tire onto the very edge of each cone in slalom without knocking it out of the box, then you'll be going fast.

Nice car, by the way. Great color job. It looks like it's speeding just standing still.

Thanks guys, im pretty sure this summer im going to be starting a few events. This car will never be a competitive track car, unfortunately i have too much money in the paint and looks of the car, even if i just tag a cone...it would really really suck. But that wont stop me from still going. I do appreciate the advice, and yea im well aware that my first runs i will get my ass handed to me so i wont get too caught up in the competitive side of it until i get a bit more comfortable with it. Another car i'd been looking at buying was a cheap e30 which would be a daily driver and track car. This whole car has been a hell of a learning experience. It is my first car and to be completely honest in the beginning i didn't even know the difference between a formula and Trans Am. I'd like to think i've come a long way

Nice car, and welcome.

this is gonna get confusing ...

welcome aboard Mitch.
as some stated, spend the $ on seat time... and go from there.
AutoX is fairly cheap to get you started, especially if you are able to attend some of its schooling events.

Mitch2 (that might work!) - everyone starts from somewhere. You landed in a great place to learn a whole lot more!!!

Nice looking ride and a great paintjob. Welcome!

I've seen your car on the Musclecar Evolution forum. I'm also one of few LT1 f-bodies that visits ME from time to time. I'm relatively new to FRRAX myself. This forum is entirely different from the typical. Great wealth of knowledge here specific to 4th and 3rd gen f-bodies for open track / AutoX setup.

A good coat of wax, blue painter's tape on the leading edges, and SaranWrap behind the wheelwells will go a long way toward preserving the paint. I'd expect to be driving regularly for a year before getting competitive. You'll improve, then plateau, then improve, then plateau, etc. It is a maddening cycle. Hook up with experienced drivers, and ride, or have them ride with you as often as the rules allow. You'll learn a lot. I'd also recommend one of these:

http://www.evoschool.com/

As we've said, spend the money on yourself first, then the car. You'll enjoy the sport more.