X 3 very cool

I also won for Racing Picture with my Ultra Low Budget Barracuda.

Man could I have used those rims, I found out I bent a front steel rim the last time I was out at Willow Springs.

Thanks a ton Hotchkis!!! You guys rock!!

http://www.performancetherapycontest...6946530096.jpg

Big congrats to everyone who one!!:cheers:

I know John will be wearing out tires and brake parts as soon as they are on the car. And the suspension will get no rest either. Way to go John!!
I also hope you never need to activate that fire system. I know how much time and thought you put into the safety of your car and it will be an added feature for piece of mind. :thumbsup:

I love this car! It's out there running not mothballed up or being restored with chalk marks! He's not worried about being the fastest or prettiest etc. he's just out having fun!!

Thanks!

Run whatcha you brung!!

It's actually a real numbers matching, original engine (original bore) 68 Barracuda Formula 340-S automatic coupe. 1 of 867 340 coupes and 1 of 351 auto coupes.

Here's when I went off track at Willow and bent my rim (and valance and bumper).

http://www.cpwclub.com/sf08pics/stev...F08Pics058.JPG

http://www.cpwclub.com/sf08pics/stev...F08Pics056.JPG

....Then immediately drove it 50 miles back home. So I could setup the Spring Fling car show the next morning.

The front has always been bent some since I bought it in 1993 then rebuilt/modded the suspension and re-ringed the motor. Chassis first, some interior next, outside last. I've put about 70K miles on it since then. From L.A. to Iowa State for school (snow/sleet/rain), then commuted 80 miles round trip from West L.A. to Thousand Oaks for work. It's my only running car right now.

Sure it doesn't have 500 H.P. It's really set up for E-SP Solo II autox rules. But my track skill level isn't 500 H.P. yet anyway. Guldstrand said he used to take a car load of students out in his Caprice and he was faster than the novices with high dollar gear. I'm a realist. For a relative novice, big H.P. is probably going to hinder my learning curve rather than help it.

It's got a big trunk, good sized interior, and a sturdy roof. Great for moving across country...

5200 lbs loaded on grain elevator scale. 3350 unloaded !! The stuff on the ground only what was in the car top carrier....

http://www.cpwclub.com/images/UhaulUnload.JPG

Congrattulations!! :lateral:

congrats to the both of you and very cool pics :cheers:

Steve and his car are a perfect example of what I've been preaching whenever I see a soapbox to jump up on. He's right on the money with several points.

Drive it! He's had 70,000 miles of fun with it and loads of memories that came from those miles!

500 HP not necessary. I ran a 4 dr 4 cyl. Cobalt rental car at Road Atlanta one weekend because the Firebird wasn't ready. I learned a lot about carrying momentum and the importance of being on "the line" to maintain speed. The lessons learned carried over well to my relatively underpowered Firebird. (dyno proven to have less than 275 RWHP! LOL)

Trunk space. As he uses his car for a driver he needs to use the trunk. On my car we only ran the rear bars on my cage to the shock mounts in my Firebird so I'd have a full trunk. I fit three 5 gallon cans of race gas and my other stuff in the trunk if I'm going to drive to and from the track.

Since the soapbox is already out I copied the following from a post I made on another forum yesterday


I keep trying to tell everyone, just put it together and run it! If you wait till it's "perfect" you're never gonna get to the tracks. My cars been on the cover of PHR, had a feature in PHR, had two 2 page pics in HOT ROD, a pic in another PHR, and won this contest. Why? Because I'm out driving the car having fun. It's not the fastest, prettiest, most expensive, or technologicly advanced car and it's certainly not "perfect" but it's out there being driven and raced all the time. You don't need to win anything to have fun at a track or other event.

Don't think your brakes are up to the task at a road course? Go to a land speed race where there's a mile to slow down. Just let off the gas and don't even touch the brakes till wind resistance slows you to 75.

Don't think you're gearing's right for high speeds at land speed racing or road course days? Hit up an auto X and have at it.

Don't think your car's set up to go around corners like you want? Go to a dragstrip or land speed race.

Don't think your cars fast enough for a dragstrip? Call me and I'll bring my blazing 13.9 second car and get in the other lane. I'll bet almost all the cars on this forum can beat my car at the strip.

Point is GO DRIVE THEM!

^^^^^^^^

And to re-iterate if the car is in pieces, please, please just take out a rental or your daily driver and do a track event or auto-x. If you dont get the bug, have fun sitting at car shows or cruzing, its your perogative. If the bug stings, put the pieces together and drive it. Perfect does not go well with racing, trust me.