So, im thinking about building an Fbody of some sort. What im after is an autoX'er, drag race toy, and maybe some club racing if they run a class for me.

I found an Fbody road race and autox website, but for some reason im not getting the confirmation email so i guess ill ask here and hope.

I am thinking about going with a 3rd gen. Is this a good choice? To me it seems like it would make a good cheap car for general purpose fun. Does anyone know if there is a club racing class for these cars??

I was thinking i should buy a late RS so its got decent power but not great and good for learning the suspension and handling characteristics, then upgrade to some 305TPI heads and a Super-ram setup.

Also could anyone help me out for finding events in the bay area. I found the SF SCCA website, but their autoX events are listed as numbers as if they were in the middle of a series.

The drag racing part isnt the most important, i just plan to run the strip on a few occasions for fun. Im not chasing a big 10 second 3rd gen. My end all goal would be low 13s/high 12s and still having the ability to autoX without changing the suspension

Any help is appreciated

 

Somehow..... trying to both "drag race" and "Auto-X" the same car seems like a difficult thing to do, since they would have much different suspension requirements. In any case, we have an "Auto-cross and Road Racing" forum right here on CamaroZ28.com that might offer better responses.

 

well, as Injuneer said, drag racing and autox are on two totally opposite ends of the spectrum..


Now, no matter what you do, drag racing, autox, roadracing, etc. You gotta read up on what event/series/class you want to run in, and see what they require and allow. At the very least, for safety. Then it depends how competative you want to be..


For example, for AutoX, I've run in Street Modified class before simply because I had sub frame connectors.. (Dunno what the classes are now) I had fun, but my car, nor the driver wasn't really competative... but it was a blast.. my Camaro is mainly a street car anyways, so I don't care.


For actual roadracing safety requirements are much more strict than autox or drag racing IMO, by the time you simply finish caging the interior, and putting the safety stuff, streetability suffers quite a bit. with bars, non dot compliant harness's, and racing seats.. some may require the interior to be mostly gutted.. But that may not be an issue. CamaroMustangChallenge comes in mind.. NASA AI/AIX... SCCA ITE? You can get a great deal on a used and wellsorted out setup there that can easily fit between those class rules.


However, if you are doing just open track lapping days, then usally you aren't required relatively much (minimum) for the avg street car.


If I would do it, I'd build the car to handle to whatever autox/rr/daily driving build/vision I want(and willing to spend $ on).. Then for drag racing, just do open bracket racing and/or just the usual fri night drags just for fun.


Either way whatever you do, you want to make sure your car is well maintained, safe, and reliable.. You want to be actually be able to go out and enjoy the event.. Not worrying about your car and your and others safety.

 

I should have been a little more specific i guess. By drags i did mean the fun drags and test/tune nights. Not really competitive stuff aside from maybe getting into the bracket racing during the fun drags.

Do they still do the CMC competition? i didnt see a listing on the SCCA website.

For the track lapping do you need the SCCA license?

Maybe for now ill do the autox/track lapping and someday do the full out road racing. Either way it should be fun.

As for the maintained part, ive been kinda shocked into that because of a dumb friend i have. He is a big BMW nut with a 528e that he is "decking out" and has spent a ton of cash on his suspension. But his control arms and bushings are completely shot. Its got bilstein shocks and some stiff lowering springs all around, but it rides like it has no shocks and 20 year old springs.

The reliable part was kinda why i was after a 3rd gen. Originally i wanted to pickup a bmw E30, but it seems like it would be somewhat unreliable and expensive to maintain.

Also what about a 4th gen V6? would that be a better choice then a late RS 305 3rd gen??

 

SCCA isn't the only organization in the world.

For example,
http://www.camaromustangchallenge.com/
http://www.nasaproracing.com/

You most likely probably have some regional clubs/series too that run schools, events, races, etc too. Besides just talking to people, you can check your local track schedule events to see who's booking events.


Open track lapping, high performance driving events requirements depends totally on who's hosting it. But mostly, no, you don't need a competition liscence.. and usually a street car in good maintanence meets the minimum requirements.. (t-tops may be a hazy area on open roof requirements)


I don't follow the 3rd gen's.. And how many 3rd gen's are left out there, that haven't been modded or worn out?

IMO, the whole point of a Camaro, from a performane standpoint, is to have a V8.. (not saying there aren't any fast V6's)

 

The road racing forum here is always dead. He is better off asking questions at the dedicated fbody road racing site he knows.
I definetly agree with Injuneer's first statement though. There really isn't much of a good way to make a really good drag car and a really good autox car from the some car. The suspension setups are too wildy different.

 

Thanks! The last time i looked at the CMC it was linked off of the SCCA website. So i wasnt sure if it was still around.

On the T-tops, i could be wrong, but last time i read formal rules, they make you remove the glass and run topless. Im guessing that like the C4 vette, someone makes a support structure to strengthen the roof area.

As for modded/ worn out, i dont really mind that. Personally im expecting to find a beatered out one for 2k or so. those TBI RS's are still dime-a-dozen. I just might have to spend a little cash to make it nice. It would be exactly the same if i bought a bmw E30, id have to redo the suspension for safety and freshen up the motor.

russstang- well if i have road racing suspension, drag radials/comp. slicks, a super ram w/ TPI heads, and a vortech blower it should pop off some respectable times right?

 

Yeah, you will, but there is always going to be compromise. You could pull off better times with a setup designed for total weight transfer to the rear, but that would suck for handling.

That being said, I think you would probably be satisfied with just drag radials/slicks for drag racing and an autox/road race suspension setup.

 

Yeah thats what i was thinking, i mean those STIs get away with drag racing with a handling suspension and pull respectable times.

I checked on the rules for CMC and i might steer clear for awhile. The specs are insanely tight. for now i think the autox/HPDE/Time trials is more up my alley.

Hopefully i can get some friends into this as well. I know a buddy of mine has a 1980 Cutlas', and maybe he will get into building it for similar stuff once i get mine going.

 

Nothing says you have to go gonzo right away, either. I say get a decent 3rd gen and get some Kuhmo V720s and go hit some SOLO II events. Hell, there's a guy in my region that can posts fast times of the day on a mostly stock 3rd gen IROC with those tires. It's all driver, man!

p.s. i'm running mine in SOLO II f-stock.