Why race your supercar

[Keith Tedford]

We put over 160K miles on our COPO car the first time around and never broke anything. There were a lot of 6K plus shifts in that time. Using heavier valve springs and a rev limiter and you just about can't hurt one of these engines. If you want to show the car, that's fine. If you want to race it, that's fine too. There seem to be a lot more people taking their cars out and enjoying them. It's almost impossible to have a perfect show car and drive it too. Personally my wife and I just like to hop in the car and go for a nice long drive. The most fun we ever had was the drive down to Maple Grove for the Super Chevy show in our L78 car. The run to Woodward Avenue was equally as fun. We video taped a lot of the run to Woodward and the tape entertains us during the winter months. Just make sure that you enjoy these cars, in whatever way you see fit. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[sYc]

As I have said in the past, if not careful, we are headed down the same road traveled by our "Vette brothers. Their hobby got to the point that cars were being restored/shown without any of the fluids ever being put in the cars. The cars were being pushed where ever they went. Many of the other ones, which did have fluids in them, could barely get out of their own way. And, we are talking about some of the rarest hi-performance cars built. Finally, a couple of the larger shows decided it was time to end all of that, so one of the requirements for the top award was a car must perform at a certain % it was capable of when new. To them, and I agree, a car is not restored correctly if it will not perform anywhere close to the way it was built and thus, should not receive top honors. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

Think how exciting Vettefest (or other large shows) would be if any car wanting to acheive top honors had to perform within a certain % of when new. Then, awards such as the "Top Gun" award would truley go to a car(s) that was befitting the title. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[T Billigen]

Everyone has there own opinion on this one! If you do a 40K frame off resto you really don't want to take it out where some idiot is going to run into you. I agree these cars should be able to start and run the way they did when they were new. I have been to car shows where they would not start the car. I don't think some of those cars even had pistons in the engine! All your big car shows now will ask you to start your car if there is any question about this. If you like to race em or show em that is your business. I had my day in the sun drag racing so now I just like to sit and relax and listen to the comments people make about these old cars. A couple of years at "Super Chevy" in Joliet I had my Yenko Chevelle displayed, there were people packed around this car for two days, most people have never seen a Yenko Chevelle. One fellow there was with his young son and his comment was " take a good look at this car because you will probably never see another one". 70 COPO, I would be willing to bet you never drive that car [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img] Rick, how many times have you taken that red Chevelle down the drag strip? This is one of the best Chevelles I have ever seen! I know you don't drive it on the street much either! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img] I won't take my car to the strip because all you drag racers would beat me, I would be afraid to crank it over 3K! but by the same token you racing guys can clean em up and bring them to Vette Fest this fall and I will line up with you in front of a judge. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[70 copo]

Have I driven the 70?

Yes. Over 8 miles total - since restored. Some of the worst:

Mid Ohio at the Camaro B-Day Party. 1.5 miles from trailer parking to the show- dirt return road to (dirt/grass field)

Mud at that show also.

Super Chevy at Indy 1997 2.2 miles from the trailer to the grandstand area-much of it stop and go in heavy traffic. 90+ degrees that day - hot and dusty. Yep, I even clipped into 4th gear that day.

PS. I am one of those Chevy-Vettefest Gold Spinner Judges.
Hope to see you at the show.


Phil [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[T Billigen]

Whoops! I won't say anything to get you upset! See you at Vette Fest! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif[/img]

[82z96ss]

THis is a good post. My comment is this: most of the Supercars were drag raced in the past. So woundn't those make for more valuable cars since they have a history of being raced? Bill S. racing Ole Red Alert, just brings more history to the car.

What was more memorable at the SCR-4 ZL1 beating the Clone or who won the best show car?

My vote would be the ZL1 beating its clone but I wasn't there.

[sYc]

[ QUOTE ]
but by the same token you racing guys can clean em up and bring them to Vette Fest this fall and I will line up with you in front of a judge

[/ QUOTE ]

Even though I gave up chasing trophys years ago, Super Chevy took care of that, I will make you a deal. You make a pass or two at SCR6 and I display a car(s) at Vettefest. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[T Billigen]

I never had any trouble winning 1st place trophys at "Super Chevy". I also won a lot of 1st place trophys at the drag strip. But as I stated, let the young kids race there new cars now and retire the old ones. My son has a 01 Camaro that is in stock trim that turns 12.2s at 117 mph. He tunes it with a computor! How do you compete with that! I would venture to say he would clean the clocks of most of the old muscle cars. You can still come to Vette Fest, you don't have to compete with any other car, just yourself. Its all in the detail! See if you qualify for a Gold Spinner! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[sYc]

[ QUOTE ]
never had any trouble winning 1st place trophys at "Super Chevy".

[/ QUOTE ]

Me either, got a jacket to prove it, but got tired of playing the games. And, no offense to VF, but a Gold Spinner does not interest me. Cause now the only detailing I enjoy doing is changing jets, adjusting valves and checking the timing, air pressure, etc. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

As per competing with the young kids, that is the whole point. To show them what these cars were/are all about. I am not afraid, or ashamed to run one of these young guns. Yes, they may out run me, but it is amazing the respect you gain by just showing up and trying. More times then not they come away with a whole new perpective of our cars. I for one am not ready to retire, me or my car(s). [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[Alwyn678]

To be honest I would be scared of blowing it up. Then what is it worth?? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]