Why race your supercar

[KENNY_PASCOE]

I THINK ITS COOL THAT THESE GUYS ARE OUT HAMMERING ON THESE SUPERCARS. AFTER ALL, THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE MADE FOR. I MUST ADMIT I WOULD HAVE A LITTLE CONCERN GOING THRU THE TRAPS AT 7000 RPM KNOWING THE ORIGINAL #'S MATCHING ENGINE IS IN THE CAR AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. DONT WISH BAD ON ANYONE JUST A THOUGHT..... KP

[T Billigen]

I don't think there anything wrong with drag racing, I probably did more racing than most people on this site. I just can't see ruining thse valuable cars. If you want to race build yourself a tribute car and race that. Ala 2fast 2furious. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[JoeG]

I really don't agree with racing an original car on a regular basis-- but they were meant to nudged now and again [ my excuse , to blow out the carbon ] Originality means some sort of history and you can replace an engine when it launches a piston thru your hood, but you can't replace the hitory.All that said ---nice 1/4 time, but you'll probably get lower than that. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[olredalert]

------I have to tell you that when I was out cutting low 10 second times in "Red Alert" at various different Nostalgia drags,I really felt that I was somehow serving the history of the car.Bob Hamilton,the "man" who made it famous,was so happy I put it back on the strip he was in tears.If any car belongs on a race track,its "Ol Red".The old war-horse is now in a state of retirement,and deserves it,but it could be resurrected!If a car could talk,that old 70 Chevelle would say "lets get it on".
------Reading this back to myself it sounds kind of corny,but Im not changing a word...........Bill S

[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]

[JoeG]

If any car should be a part of automotive track history it should be RED ALERT [ I've always been a big fan -- even have the die-cast model].I was really commenting on numbers matching cars , not celebrity, in the spotlight caliber of car. To me those particular cars were a head above the rest. O.K. I've got the seat belt on my chair buckled --Fire Away [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[COPO PETE]

You guys racing these cars...... What are ya thinkin?????? It's OK to shift them on the street a 6 grand but not at the track! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
Peter

[SS427]

I've said it before and I will say it again using WWII warbirds as an example. Life will be different the day people quit flying their P51s, Corsairs, P38s, etc. They are just not the same on static display. A good example is one recently discussed here. The P38 Glacier Girl that was pulled out from under the ice in Greenland. A priceless airplane that they wasted no time getting airborne. What a waste it would have been to retore this airplane only to let it sit in some museum somewhere which thankfully they are not doing.

Like anything else, enjoy them but take precautions and care for them. Our younger generation needs to see these cars/planes in action if we can ever hope to keep the hobby alive.
Rick

[70 copo]

Guys, I really have to tell you Tom is 100% right. I did a fanatical no expence spared restoration to my 70 COPO 9697 RS Z/28, won numerous awards with it and have displayed it all over the country. It is now stored in a bubble. What do I miss the most is driving it. Problem is - the car is still competitive as a show car. When I get the show thing out of my system the car will be returned to the street/strip. That is what this hobby is all about. As I look back on my memories I seldom recall the many trips to the stage to get the award. What I do recall is power shifting the car at close to 8000 RPM, and looking in the rear view to see the guy next to (and behind) me fading fast. I am fortunate to have other cars to "beat up" on the street these days- but none have the same feel. That is why the car will return, and again be driven. If the original engine blows... that event will become part of my history with the car. I have owned it for 24 years now. For the non show car guys you need to definately drive them. That is where the fun is. It is too late to have fun with your friends when you are gone, because the cars do not have fun we do- this whole hobby is about friends who come together for a good time. If you are "in to these cars" it has gotta be because you drove one in the past and were impressed with the raw power!

Look at Mark Hassett - and the cars that he has run down the strip. His ZL-1 was at 7400RPM at the end of the track at the 01 SCR. He has no regrets about driving/racing it, or any of his other cars.

Mark's dad has Clark Gable's Indian motorcycle- Mark's Dad was hit head on last year while riding this (one of a kind) bike on the street. His life was nearly ended by a 16 year old. He lived - and has recovered for the most part. The bike is now being rebuilt. Mark's dad will ride it again. The guy that fixed the heavy damage to the frame on the bike - delivered it himself to assure it would arrive in perfect condition -all the way from out west

There is a friend indeed!

I guess the key is to pass through this life with no regrets!

Tom, keep up the good work.

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

[Mr70]

I Couldn't agree more.No sense in owning a 3500 pound paperweight.But I do understand what Tom B. and Tom C.are saying.
I enjoy the restoration process more,when I get out and feel the actual car driving down the road,Accelerating and Cornering.
It's like telling somebody they are loving their wife and kids wrong.We all enjoy these cars in our own Way. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]