*edit* added a couple more. :)

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/auto-x1.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/auto-x2.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/auto-x3.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/auto-x4.jpg

Awesome, I like it. Looks like fun.

Nice.

Awesome pictures. I want to see more for sure!!!

Very very Nice!

thanks for the post!

Damn that's hoT!!
you're gonna make me go out and buy my tires early!

Hey Derek,
Are you still running the 235/245-45 series profiles tires on this thing? Looks amazing!

Awesome pics. Your car looks great.

Very nice 69 Derek! Looks good on the course! Thanks for posting!

Thanks guys! It was incredibly fun. :yes:

you're gonna make me go out and buy my tires early!Buy extras if you intend to do this. :D They wear quickly. ;)

Hey Derek,
Are you still running the 235/245-45 series profiles tires on this thing? Looks amazing!235/45 front and 255/45 rear. I definitely need more tire on it. :yes:

Awesome pics :thumbsup:

235/45 front and 255/45 rear. I definitely need more tire on it.

There is no such thing as too much tire or too much power.

Buy extras if you intend to do this. They wear quickly.

I personally have to maintain tire temps at smaller events that are pumping the cars thru.
If I pump out 3 back to back runs the rear tires turn into melty chocolate slicks.
My big heavy b-body has lots of power and weight so it puts temp in the tires really fast.
http://a26.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/88/l_82a5036cdd8b18a2083a4acd0fd14949.jpg
So I dont pull right back in line. I pull to the back of stagging lanes and wave the lighter cars thru.
Gives me time to check the car over between runs and let the tires & brakes cool back down.
Sometimes my hands shake after really fast an quick runs and I need some time to get my body back under control as well.

If I put BFG street radial on the car I can cook them to the hide in 1 or 2 runs.
The Nitto 555 street tires and even 555 drag radials hold up way better.
Puts some 275 Kumho V710s track shoes on and they will last alot longer.
If you can make the tire really hook and bite hard & square in the corners the lack of scrubbing will make the tire last alot longer.

http://a127.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/4/l_1d184caadc545309976d987ba4cd8a36.jpg

At 1.5 camber with a healthy camber gain with the tall factory B-body spindle the 710s wear 100% even and square across the tire.
I have 3 days of events on my v710s and they look bearly broken in.
Thanks Marcus!
** Warning! suspension porn** ** Warning! suspension porn** ** Warning! suspension porn**
http://a554.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/68/l_c2f6100b32ef5f76e5a1aa04487f1e49.jpg

Man that is simply beautiful, you've sold me on the tire size, i'm gonna have to order in a few weeks. Mine's not autocrossing (though it had crossed my mind), just cruisin on nice days... love your ride!

I added a couple more pics. :) These are the only 4 I have so far, and I don't have the original high-res photos yet, but I'm told he got about 20 good pics. :cool:

Tad, I don't intend to get that "serious" about it... I'm just running a good aggressive street tire (Kumho Ecsta MX). I ran too much -camber (-2*) so I wore the insides a little more than the outsides... next time I'll try -1.5, as I think that will be perfect. I'm just out to have a good time, and might try to do it about 2 or 3 times a year if/when the events occur on a weekend I have free.

All in all, it was more fun than anything I've ever done as far as car-related events go. :thumbsup:

that first pic is awesome

Looks great !
Where's your front air dam ?

Hey Derek-

Cool shots Amigo! Looks like a great time and I'm glad it went well for ya.

I'm anxious for next year...I really want to sit down with ya and plan to attend a few local events like this together. Our setups are so similar, we can share info and help each other get faster.

~S~

that first pic is awesomeYeah, that's my favorite too. :yes:

Where's your front air dam ?I haven't built it yet... I can't make up my mind on a design. Maybe this winter I will build one. :)

Hey Derek-

Cool shots Amigo! Looks like a great time and I'm glad it went well for ya.

I'm anxious for next year...I really want to sit down with ya and plan to attend a few local events like this together. Our setups are so similar, we can share info and help each other get faster.Definitely :thumbsup: Winona is kind of a long-haul for you, but there are other events run at Midway Stadium in St. Paul, and probably a few others. I just joined up on www.mnautox.com to keep an eye on the events around the state. Also, next year I'll be running 3.50 gears, so Brainerd might be a possibility too. :cool:

Nice :thumbsup:

Does that blue car only turn right? ;)

Looks great, but it looks like you are down on the front suspension stops on most of those hard corners though, time for some stiffer front springs? ;) (Or maybe a little more front sway bar?)

Who is in the passenger seat in the last photo?

Cool stuff Derick, thanks for posting

Does that blue car only turn right? ;)It kind of looks that way, doesn't it? :D I hope when I get the other photos there's a few from different angles.

Looks great, but it looks like you are down on the front suspension stops on most of those hard corners though, time for some stiffer front springs? ;) (Or maybe a little more front sway bar?)With the ZQ8 bumpstops, it's hard to tell if it was hitting them or not. It was pushing a little on corner-entry, so I think a little more rear roll stiffness will help. I took a stiffer pair of rear springs with, but they didn't leave enough time between run sessions to make adjustments.

Who is in the passenger seat in the last photo?She was a spectator that asked for a ride... her fiance also rode with for 1 lap, and my brother-in-law rode with for a lap as well. There weren't many spectators there, so most of them got a chance to ride with somebody if they wanted to. I ran my fastest lap with her riding with... guess scaring a girl was all the motivation I needed. :D

Badass D'rick! :cool:

So what was it like? Many old American cars there? Did you surprise a few import and vette owners?

Sounds like a load of fun...


I took my convertible once, years ago, but I didn't have a top or a roll bar, so they wouldn't let me run (stock spindles anyway)... Hoping I'll get to do it sometime in the next few years...

So what was it like? Many old American cars there? Did you surprise a few import and vette owners?There was only about 20 cars total... mostly imports, and a few late model Mustangs & Camaros. I was one of the slower guys, but I've got some tuning to do, and need some more seat-time to get faster. I think an experienced driver could have cut 5 seconds or more off my laptimes. I was about 8 seconds slower than the fastest guys there.

There was only about 20 cars total... mostly imports, and a few late model Mustangs & Camaros. I was one of the slower guys, but I've got some tuning to do, and need some more seat-time to get faster. I think an experienced driver could have cut 5 seconds or more off my laptimes. I was about 8 seconds slower than the fastest guys there.

yeah, next time I want to see some wheels off the ground :)

Cool pictures Derek! Autox'ing old American iron is a blast! Here's a shot of my Elky going through the cones last month...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii131/hlumpp/RTTH-4/RTTH-4%20photos/DSC_0701.jpg

There is a Solo event in Lincoln this coming weekend, I should probably take the MR2 out there since I hardly drive it anymore as it is and at least get a feel for how it all works. BUT, I've got plans with the wife so I'll probably miss it.

Cool pics Derek! When you get a chance give me a call. I`d like to go over details of your cars performance with you and I can help out with the tuning for the next time. Mark SC&C

Cool pics Derek! When you get a chance give me a call. I`d like to go over details of your cars performance with you and I can help out with the tuning for the next time. Mark SC&C

Or, you two could chat about it here and we'd all learn some stuff! :D

How bout both! :thumbsup: Mark SC&C

How bout both! :thumbsup: Mark SC&C

Even better! I for one would like to hear about Derek's experience bounced off your knowledge and suggestions. Then I may be able to get off to a better start when I get the wagon done by avoiding a few of the typical rookie mistakes!

by avoiding a few of the typical rookie mistakes!

Here are my most of my tips;
-get as much track time as possible
-smooth! smooth! smooth! *smooth is fast! Smooth on the brakes, gas, & steering
-you can brake, steer or accel, @ 100% PICK JUST ONE!
-If you can get the fastest guy on track to drive your car with you passenger DO IT!
-slow in fast out
-always enter your turn from the outside, pull to the inside and leave to the outside
-draw a straight line out of every turn
-try to nip/clip/hit the inside APEX cone!!! *it's harder to do than you might think
-remember slow is fast and fast is slow
*it is surprising how close a good driver can get to best lap time just cruising around the track with a clean line and a "good average speed" best average speed wins this contest!
-when in doubt get out (of the pedals and steering) when in spin all in (of the pedals and steering)
-never stand on the brakes, a smooth stab to move some weight balance around and scrub some MPH is all that is needed
-If your front tires are NOT making a slight / mild vowel sound in the corner you tire is too hard or our going to slow in the turn
-if you have too much power you have to squeeze the throttle out of the turn
-minimum 40PSI in the front tires
-super short on and off the gas courses consider dropping the rear tire pressure to 25PSI
-bigger quicker MPH courses no less than 35PSI in the rear maybe 40+ PSI*depends if you need the bite at higher HP levels
-Most courses start with a straight that 60' time counts when your looking for that last .5 secs.
-It aint over till its over. Most courses end with a S or quick turn. Run the it out!
-coolers and gauges keep you unbroken and" on course" and "in the grid". *see the first tip.
-test your brakes 100% in an empty parking lot *you need to know how quick you can Woe Her Up.
-consider bringing some rubber spring spacers and test what a higher spring rate will do for you. *it's temporary you can go back quick
-actuall bump stop contact is important for street cars check for it
-Race tires are king. Winner is usually on the biggest / stickiest tire.
-film in and outside the car so you can play it back and scrutinize your own driving
*edit*
-the car goes where your eyes are pointed look ahead far ahead.
*things happen really fast on a cone course it is so easy to get lost
*If you are watching the outside bumper to make sure you miss a cone you'll hit that cone and go off course
*the course will come into focus and the car go where you need it if you look way down track

I have taken drivers that were stuck at XX:XX time around track in their own car after sticking in some spring spacers and pumping them up to 44 on all 4 corners, and seen them drop 5-6 seconds onver their next 4 runs.

Under sprung, under inflated, took jerky yet too timid, w/ bad corner setp seems to be very commen for newer drivers on course.

Those are great tips. At this point, and until I can get some track time (the car is still under construction) I'm concentrating on building and setting up the car properly for what I have (and could afford). I don't plan on running on the track a lot, but I want to build the car so it can do so with aplomb. I should probably practice with the MR2, but an MR2 is world apart from a Chevelle.

-slow in fast outIn fast, out backwards. :D (stolen from sig line of a guy on another forum :o )

Good tips Tad. :thumbsup: I know there were at least 5 more seconds on the table just from the driver alone, and probably only another 1 or 2 seconds in getting the setup right... so it's pretty clear where I need to work on it.

And Rich, don't be too concerned about the cars being "different". Any experience is going to help tremendously.

Mark, I'll give you a call next week some time. :)

In fast, out backwards. :D (stolen from sig line of a guy on another forum

Classic!