Boy your dad is a lucky man to have a awesome car the color is great the carbon fiber is sweet just a great build:hail:

Such a great pic---outstanding car--quality = unbelieveable. Stoked you guys are going to run at El Toro---going to be a great time!

Doug

Matt,
First purple camaro Ive seen and its just a bad a*! color. Yea I know Ive been saying that since you painted it. Enjoy the seat time!

Thanks!!!
I appreciate you following up.

Wes

Went for a drive!!
 

It seems like its been a while since the car has been done, but in reality, it hasn't been long, and Dick has been the only one putting shakedown miles on it. We noticed the inside of the front wheels hitting our upper control arms a little, so we're working to resolve that, but it's not a big deal.

Anyway, I hadn't gotten a chance to actually drive the damn thing... until today. Holy Hell! I just cruised around the block a bit, but it was just about everything I imagined, maybe more. My dad also took it out for the first time as well... I think it will have to grow on him a bit. Not quite what he was expecting, I think. As for me, I've spent so much time looking at these cars and even riding around in them over the last two years, my expectations were pretty high. If anything, I was worried it would feel too much like a new car, too refined, smooth, new carish. I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about. We (at least I) see cars like the Ring Brother's Razor, or Roadster shop's 'Vette among others, and I just assume from the looks that they would feel like new BMWs. I kinda just assumed the same with the Camaro we've been building. I couldn't have been more wrong. In retrospect, I'm not sure where my expectations came from. After, we've assembled a 40 year old car with new parts, capable of being put through their paces on a track. After being out at Bondurant last week driving C6s and then open wheel formula Mazdas, this car reminds me of a cross between the two, all packaged into an old muscle car body. Steering feel is really light, but very responsive, while the manual brakes, and cable-throttle are heavy but crisp, providing an intuitive feel with tons of feedback. It doesn't feel like a new car at all - it's so much more exciting than a new car. It reminds me a little of a race car, being very raw, but at the same time it has amazing street manners. The suspension is firm, but not hash. The engine can sound pretty nasty at times, but idles along and drives incredibly smooth at low speeds. It's just really easy to drive casually. At the same thime though, t always feels like it is ready to be unleashed, but only if you tell it to do so. If not it just putts along making all kinds of wonderful noises.

Well. I think I NEED more seat time. All I can say is that El Toro is going to be fun.

Matt

Sounds great Matt!

I will be excited to see this in person... I'm certain that the pictures don't do it justice vs the real thing.

So what is it that your Dad didn't "like" or what didn't meet his expectations?

I liked your descriptions btw -- I could understand exactly what you were feeling and hearing.

:thumbsup:

Sorry -- just have to toss this in -- Isn't Bondurant a hoot!?

You're just now driving it?

Greg, my dad didn't like the really light steering feel, or the feel of the manual brakes. When he drove it he sort of complained that it took a long time to brake. In reality, I think he was only using, at most, an inch of pedal travel to make the car stop. I'm sure he'll get used to it. If not that's fine too. I can think of worse things than assuming his driving duties. Besides, about two months ago he started wondering what he was going to do after the Camaro was done. I think he's been eyeing GT40 kit cars online at work ever since :lol: .

And yes, Bondurant is an absolute blast. When they mentioned handling groups, I started thinking a 1 or 2 day pro-touring group meet would be cool. BTW, you aren't one of those guys that has taken every class there at least once, are you? Not that there is anything wrong with that. I'm trying to find an excuse to go back already.

Todd, we are just now driving it. I couldn't afford to drive it sooner and have to worry about engines falling apart and the like, while still writing checks for a couple other debugging issues :unibrow: Seriously though, I think Dick looks after this car like its one of his children. He probably didn't want to hand it over to either of its idiot owners before we passed Bondurant. He either woke up at 4am to take it to shows, or had it tucked away in the back of the shop under a cover, and behind cars, for the last couple months.

Matt

That's a good idea, especially if your not real handy. The race track will bring in some new variables that may need sorted. Look forward to seeing the car and you I guess. :lol: