minilite wheels

[redvetracr]

PLEASE don`t take this the wrong way but why would you want to race group 10, with "wings" & "slicks" ??
...redvetracr

[FIAracer]

redvetracr-
No problem , it's a fair question given the cars I've worked on and restored for the last 15 years. My answer is long though.

Plain and simple: I chose the SVRA Group 10 class of "wings and slicks" due to the out of control prices of the earlier cars. Back 15 odd years ago the pre-73 big name factory T/A cars were bringing about 125K with independent T/A cars from about 85K and the B/P, A/S cars about 45K to 60K. Several of those same big name Trans-Am race cars have sold for beyond 300K the last couple years. The good independent T/A cars are at or near the mid 150K range. Even the project cars are bringing big money. Some say since the Monterey Historic's started allowing these cars into their August event this helped boost values. What I can say is that many of the real T/A cars that have sold from the East coast and Midwest have gone West. Not all but many.

The Post-72 cars tend to be more affordable and more available. So I've stepped forward 10 years in racing history and for a fraction of the early T/A cars prices, I have a very well built race car with full factory support from American Motors Corp, driven by a variety of big name pro drivers and has a winning endurance racing history.

These 70s/80s Trans-Am and IMSA cars have been slowly rising in interest. I'm seeing this happen right now with owners of the early T/A cars, so like them I'm getting into it while it's affordable. So looking forward, that's why I've also acquired a tube chassis Camaro with 1987 season Trans-Am history as well. Being on the East Coast there's plenty of track time available thanks to SVRA and HSR. Just look at the October Feature Car on this website, Tom Clary's IMSA Yenko/Thompson tube chassis Camaro. Fantastic car and I look forward to seeing and racing with it in the future. Sure I would prefer a 1967-72 Camaro, but I'm getting into the later cars now before they follow the trend of the early $T/A$ cars.
Steve

[Leigh]

[ QUOTE ]
...are those "bosses" where the valve stem would be?
...It looks like the "minilite wheels" have the valve stem pointing out
...where the valve stems on these wheels point to the center of the wheel...

[/ QUOTE ]
I may be off on this one, but...I've seen a set of the new aluminium T/A wheels on a friends 69 Z28 and I noticed those bosses myself. Magnesium Aircraft wheels from the 50's and 60's that I used to work with often had thermal plugs in the rims that looked like those bosses. They were designed to melt and depresurise the tyre before an explosion if there was a brake/wheel fire.
It could be the original magnesium rims had these plugs, and the new rims are molded to simulate them......if indeed, thats what they are.

[FIAracer]

Leigh
The two solid raised blank bosses on our 15"x 8" T/A Minilite are alternative locations for the valve stem. Since our new aluminum T/A wheel has been modeled after our vintage magnesium competition wheel we duplicated this style. The Trans-Am wheels valve stem is further in between to spokes to prevent it from being knocked off in competition. All other Minilites have the valve stem out on the rim edge, on the raised boss area.

David Livian in Australia played a big role in helping me produce this aluminum T/A Minilite. I needed a 200 wheel order before the Minilite UK factory would tool-up for this wheel. David kicked in a 100 wheel order which helped me launch this project faster.
Steve

[Jeff H]

And I will say they are some sweet wheels. I can't wait to get them on my car, but that will still be 9-12 months away since it's still in the middle of the restoration.

[JoeC]

I agree - they are cool looking wheels [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Pantera]

I found my '69 L-88 vette when it raced the Trans Am race held at Hallett OK. Is it eligable to be raced vintage with this heritige? It is still in that liverly and in fact it has the original paint on it from when I bought it. I have upgraded it to a drysump and added a forward hoop to the roll bar to make it legal for more current racing. I quallified for the runoffs at Alanta twice.

See pic attached of it at the race.

[FIAracer]

Pantera-
I will leave this for redvetracr to answer.

[FIAracer]

Ok Pantera,
I'll take a stab at this even though Corvettes are not my specialty and I haven't seen a current photo of your car. I've been a member of SVRA and HSR since 1989 however not very active as I should be. There's several vintage race clubs coast to coast and car eligibility does vary. If the car raced before 1973 and your paperwork's in order, it should be eligible for SVRA Group 6 (this is where redvetracr can be of help). Now HSR is a bit more loose and will probably allow the flares and dry sump. The tougher West Coast clubs will tend to require the cars to be "year of manufacture spec". So being a 69 model no dry sump because as I recall that came into play about 1971-72ish time period. No flares and watch wheel width and engine size. Basically as the car raced or would have raced in the year 1969. So if the car raced pre-1973 and you want to run with most all clubs it would need to be prepared as raced in 1969. I've had replace all four corners of my 1966 car due to this rule (thank you Steve Earle-General Racing LTD!). If it's more wild than 69 spec perhaps look into HSR. Links to their sites~~> www.svra.com www.hsrrace.com

[redvetracr]

I agree 100% EXCEPT certain SVRA events are considered
"open events" (like Road America) NO medallion (pre`73 history) required, then you have the VSCDA "wheel rule" to contend with for the other two Road America races NO 10" wheels and they measure!! (I was DNQ right there sitting third on the grid at the `00 BRIC).As far as CA, I don`t think general Steve Earle allows anything newer than `67 (Monterey was an exception for the 50th) and NO VARA does not like Flares or Drysump motors, which (I believe) only leaves you HSR-west and if it`s like HSR then anything goes and I can`t imagine anyone in a non Porsche having fun. ALL this is assuming you are willing to travel!!
...redvetracr