Big, freakin' hauling. I have a friend that had run 1:22 in an American Iron Extreme Mustang for the record a few years back now (not sure if it still stands, he is out of it now) and I heard about those trucks and I swear I recall thinking it was right there. Maybe 1:24, brain is hazy and I don't even know if that class still exists. Pro Truck maybe? Anyway, I recall looking into it a bit and you could pick up a used truck with decent qtys of spares (shock, springs, wheels) for around $15-20K. I certainly remember thinking it was serious bang for the buck. Heck, if you can run under 1:30s on that track in that price range you are doing pretty good :)

I went to look at the track records and while the WSIR site looks decent, the records haven't been kept up at all - it still shows my old friend Chuck McKinney holding the GT2 record. That would have been probably close to 20 years ago now in a Porsche 914 with a 6 cyl at 1:27 - I highly doubt that would stand in GT2 that long...

edit - after hitting send I popped over to the WSIR site and realized the date is there - 5/95 on Chuck's record, yeah, I doubt that can hold that long haha.

I was looking @ buying a American Iron NASA car, Super Truck or Late model asphalt to set up for Auto-X so that I could use it as a learning car & to get some driving experience on the road course.. I wanted something inexpensive to serve my purpose.. Everything I saw was between 10k to 30k.. Even wanted to see what it would take to make these cars street legal.. My buddy that works for the CHP told me that it would not be easy but could be done @ a cost..

My compromise! I just bought this 1999 Corvette that was on the West Coast Auto-X circuit that was owned by Steve Abbott.. The car is already shaken out & proven on the track..
LG Spindles, Blisten Shocks, Heim joints on the control arms, LS6 stock motor with Kooks headers, Z06 transmission & diff, Dewitts Radiator, Accusump, CCW wheels on 315’s on all four corners… The car is gutted & weights 2750.. and the car is street legal.. bought the car for under 20k… I think I got a smoking deal! When I picked it up this week.. I drove it home for about 70 miles.. I just got to deal with CA smog laws!

Sometimes we all have this great crazy ideas but it all comes down to $$$.. This car will serve my purpose.. & when you are racing & learning you have to make decision that if you hurt the car .. what cost are you willing to walk away? I drive some pretty expensive Pro-Tour cars & my driving experience on the track is limited.. SO it is time that I get seat time.. You can build a car with all the best handling components with 1000 hp to the crank.. but if you can’t drive it.. then you just limited the abilities of the car… Just my opinion!

This weekend I host my own Auto-X event! & now I have something to drive till I get my Camaro or Challenger done..


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