Had a ball at Thunderhill this weekend
 

Spent the last three days with Charley and Mark Stielow driving one of Charleys 65/6 Mustang fastback track cars at Thunderhill for the Nor Cal Shelby Club mini-nats. I did do a school 20-25 years ago but have never driven a full-bodied car on a road course before. What a blast!

I was in the rookie group, and had Mark ride with me for the first section. He's actually a driving instructor for GM, and it shows. Showed me the lines and gave a ton of tips to help me go smoother and faster around the track. Riding shotgun with him in the faster class was a definite "E" ticket ride; he is just so smooth and sooooooooooooooo faaasssstttttt............ :eek: :D

I'm going to be looking for a 70-73 Camaro to build a track car out of. I'll definitely be getting ahold of David and Mary Pozzi at that time for some help with suspension selection and set-up tips. Going to try to do this on a budget of sorts. Don't need a world beater, just something that can keep up with Charley's Mustangs........... ;)

I want to thank Charley for the use of his car, and Mark for the help and advice, it was much appreciated.

Jody

Nor Cal Shelby Club events are fun to go to. Diverse group of cars and lots of friendly people willing to let you ride along with them.

Jody, I don't know if you're open to blue-oval stuff but you can pick up some already track-prepped 5.0's pretty cheaply and they're very competent on the track too with the right stuff. Seems like there's always a few for sale on C-C. It's a cheaper route than building your own. My buddy's 89 5.0 was a lot of fun at T-Hill and Laguna, and it didn't have all that much done to it.

I do agree an early 2nd gen would be cooler but it's hard to beat the 5.0 for a track beater; the cars are dirt cheap to buy and there are a million parts out there for them with plenty of track time to iron the bugs out.

I've thought about buying a track beater but it's out of my reach since I don't have the necessary truck or trailer.

yes, they make great track cars, and would be the smart thing to do, but I don't think I'd be happy with one. I want to do an LS engine and so the second gens seem like a good start. It'd be cheaper to buy a done car than build it, but after finishing the Chevelle my play money is wiped out, so I thought I'd get a stripped car and build from there over time.

Jody

yes, I've met several of the regulars from the Shelby club, and they've all been first-class.

Jody

:ttiwop:

Sounds like a blast... and nothing makes you feel slower than taking a ride with a really fast driver.

understatement of the day. Good drivers like Mark are amazing with what they can do with a car.

Jody

Ditto That, the first thing I asked myself: "Where's the pictures?"

Jan

Sounds like a great weekend Jody! Look forward to the build of the 'track car'!!

Jody,
All it takes is a ride at a track day and you're hooked! :)

A world beater would probably be a Mustang II with an LS2! :yes:

Mary's 73 Camaro does amazingly well for a 3500 lb car. Take some weight out, and it' would really haul. :unibrow: :unibrow: :unibrow:
David

yeah, not going to try to make it street/track, just track only so it'll be gutted. Hoping I can be somewhere in the 3000 pound range with an LS engine, not sure how light you can get the second gens.

Jody

Awesome!!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Sounds fun. Got video?

F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5


Nope... still nothing

no, we set up the in-car camera on Sunday. Mark took the car out for the morning warmup and the intake gasket failed, water on the windshield ending our day.

Jody

awesome! i'm doing a trackday there on october 17th. you guys should all go again!

I think I am going Oct 18-19

I'm a big fan of 2nd GEN f-bodies but a budget 79-93 fox body track-rat as a starting point w/a LS/6spd swap would work well too. Zoom, zoom, zoom :unibrow: .

But the camaro has way better geometry. Those mustangs are cheap and I have a 2003 GT track car, But the Camaro has way better geometry.

Rodger

plus it's a heck of a lot cooler track car. I could get a late-model Mustang or Camaro track car for a lot less, but it would not be the same enjoyment-wise.

Jody

Well Enjoyment wise it is about the same until you have to get out of in the pits. I have a pretty bad mustang with all the Maximum Motorsports stuff and the thermo piston wilwoods with BFG R1's and Fikse wheels. When I bought it salvaged but fixed for 5300 it had 20,000 miles. It is ton of fun, but it will always be a mustang. I have thought about putting an Ls engine in it ever since I blew up the modular motor that is in it.

Track days are very fun and Buttonwillow is very fun a 20 minutes away. I love the fun track clockwise, I think it is 27 with the bus stop. YEAH BOYEE.

Jody if you get a 2nd gen let me know, I'm working on developing some parts for those. I have some pretty slick ideas I'm putting togther currently.

Rodger

thanks Rodger. :thumbsup:

Jody