1965 Corvette - Father / Son Autocross car
 

This great forum has seen my 1973 Camaro that I have built from an abondoned Camaro to the car that is has now become. I documented the build from my very beginning. The Camaro was a dream of mine since I was a young kid. After my Dad owned a 1974 Camaro and then a 1972 Z28, he purchased a 1965 Corvette that had already experienced a long history of automotive enjoyment. I was 14 years old when he sold the 72 Z28 and purchased the Corvette. That was 30 years ago.

The 1965 Corvette my Dad purchased made him the fourth owner of this amazing car. The original owner special ordered this orginal 1965 Fuel Injected coupe with two other friends that also purchased fuelie Corvettes. Ron, the original owner, picked up the car at the doc and as soon as he got it home, cut the fenders to allow for larger rubber. The original intention for the purchase of this Corvette was to autocross it and enjoy it. Not long after cutting the fenders, flares emerged on the car. The front flares have not changed since the 1960's. The car was also made into a beautiful show car and won many awards, including an award and the famous Oakland Roadster show. Many of the features that made it a show winner are no longer on the car, including the original Fuel Injection (in the garage on the shelf), cad plated suspension (worn off now), and chrome trim. A lot of interior trim and the entire Fuel Injection system were coated in type writer black wrinkle finish. After the original owner enjoyed the car for over 5 years, the second owner continued to autocross the car for another few years. He then sold it to a legend in the Corvette world, Larry Park.

This was one of the first Corvettes he ever owned. This was the very beginning of Park Performance Corvettes. Larry and his wife Pati autocrossed the Corvette very successfully for another handful of years while he grew the Corvette business. Larry also enlarged the rear flares as tire technology allowed for larger rear tires. 15 x 10 fronts with 25.5" x 12" wide Goodyears and 15 x 10 rears with 27" x 12" Goodyears. This combo was run from the late 70's until the present day.

In 1983, my Dad purchased the Corvette with the intention of running a brand new SCCA class called B Street Prepared. This new class was for muscle cars and allowed unlimited sized street tires on a street legal car. Basically, no internal engine mod could be done, suspension must remain stock except for shocks, springs, and sway bars. Flares and governed spoilers could be added. The only thing else open was intake and exhaust. In my opinion, this was the real beginning of Pro-Touring. This is 1983!

In 1984, I was 15 years old, I began driving the car in parking lots. I quickly learned how to drive a clutch and get the car moving. My entire youth was sitting in the passenger seat of all my Dads previous cars and this one, learning how to autocross. I had been at autocrosses since I was 6 years old. Four days after getting my drivers license, I started autocrossing. I have not stopped for 28 years.

Later, I will post some older photos of the car.

This winter, after SEMA and OUSCI, I spent the spare time repainting the car and de-chroming the car. I wanted to give the car a fresh look. It had been 25 years since it has seen fresh paint. I finished the car just about one week prior to RTTC 4. I have only driven the car twice in two years. My Dad ran it a few times at some local autocrosses. I put a fresh coat of red paint, blacked out the trim, and added some custom 18" black wheels.

RTTC 4 was a really fun event and the car performed great. We had a brake caliper - stock - develope and leak. That was replaced on Sunday morning, with the help of James Fields, located one at the local auto parts store. My Dad replaced it at the site and I was able to complete the event and win all of the events. It felt really good to get back in the car after a couple years off and to be able to do it with the help of my Dad. Without him, I would not even be there.

It is because of this Corvette, and the history before it with his two Camaro's, I am where I am today. He is the one that took me to the autocrosses when I was six. He took me for rides when I could not even see over the dash. Autocrossing has kept us together as Father/Son and best friends until this day. It has been the best bonding fun you could ever ask for. This car has been that for the past 30 years and it will continue for a long time.

Here are some photos from this past RTTC 4 and video. Later, I will show older photos and more history of the car.

Brian

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps2b5e9533.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps52f84406.jpg

Brian, thanks for sharing your story with us on this site. It was great watching you fly through the cones at Run to the Coast.

I wanted to see a a rear 3/4 shot of the car before the event and I remember you joking that all I'd see was the back of the car during the weekend. We got to go head to head on the autocross elimination, and I just wanted to say, I noticed your two left tail lights are out.

Great story and thanks for sharing! Has to be one of the baddest C2's I've ever seen. You knew I'd be tuning in here.. :thankyou:

John

ONe of my favorites
 

Did you get an invite as well?

Respectfully and appreciatively well said Brian. :thumbsup:

Two cars and one driver that are iconic in my world, and father and son relationship to envy.

:cheers:


:lmao:

Awesome car buddy:thumbsup:

Brian,Love the C2 vette.:trophy-1302:

Great car, better story! Congrats on the win.

That's one thing I learned from my experience in the hobby, it's all about the people. Talk about a great way to spend time with your Father.

Love the car..... How does it compare to the Camaro in each event?

No invite. Matt got it with the 1969 Camaro. Well deserved. I would love to take this car to OUSCI.

Brian

The Camaro has much more power (611 to 475) and it weighs about the same (3230) as the Corvette. The Camaro is better on the road course with the power and longer wheel base (108 to 98). The Corvette has about the perfect amount of power for autocross and the shorter wheel base helps. I am going to run the Corvette at the next few Goodguys events. Due to the small courses at Goodguys, the Corvette should be much better than the Camaro.

Brian

Great story! Gorgeous car. Thanks for sharing, Brian.

Great story and awesome car. What wheels are those? They look mean as hell.

They are Aristo Wheels. The company is new, but experienced man in charge. They will be debut their collection soon. They are one off wheels at this time. We custom designed them for this car.

Brian

And it shows.

I'll be hanging out with my dad this weekend at the So Cal Challenge; here's to many more years of fun together! :cheers:

And there is the reason I push through all the "old man aches" and work on the cars with my boys. That time in the garage with them is precious to me.

Great story and an awesome car!

And that's about the funniest reply I've see on here... I don't care where you're from, that's funny!!!
:lmao:

It goes without saying that the cars you bring to the table are awesome.

But that story is great. Happy for you and your dad. :thumbsup:

^^^ Ain't that the truth!!! ^^^

Congrats Brian! Very impressive car and driver! :thumbsup:

The Optima fans would love this combo! :cheers:

Walking around RTTC on Saturday I was just in awe watching this car...even idleing around in between events. From every angle it just looks harcdore, yet refined. Goes without saying, scary fast out on the course...

I forgot about the SoCal Challenge, good luck with that. I wished I could be there to see the Vette run! I know the Miata record is going down, and people are gonna be standing around looking like this:wow: :wow: :wow: :willy: :willy: :willy: :faint: :faint: :faint:

It looks like I am out for this one. We have some small issues that need to be addressed before Goodguys Scottsdale. I have it to go to So Cal in June.

Brian

Are you guys bringing both cars, to Good Guys Scottsdale?

No, just the Corvette.

Brian

The Vette was pretty bad ass before. Now it's just plain wicked!
I love the new new look. It's brought that car into the present without detracting from it's vintage heritage.

Great car with a great story behind it.

Congratulations!

So I heard the Larry Park story this weekend for the first time, and I went home and found a well written article on google. That is some absolutely crazy stuff, the fact that this is one of Larry's cars is supremely badass! I hope you can make it down to the So-Cal Challenge April 27th!

Driving the Corvette over the past month has been a blast. I have been fortunate to have some success these past few events. It was great to be home and spend some time with our local autocrossers. Here is a video from American Autocross Series at Marina, CA.

Love the look of the vette and it was nice meeting you at rttc!:thumbsup:

Saw the vette in scottsdale last week, it is unbelievable!
And let me tell you these guys are not afraid to drive this thing.

Mike

Brian,

Great family history, super job of driving and that is an A-list Vette...wow! :thumbsup:

Brian, loved watching your car at RTTC4, super impressive. I have a stock 73 Vette I'm just starting to modify... Any recommendations for early mods? Bilsteins and adjustable Strut rods are all I have on my early to-do list...

Here is a short clip I shot of you last weekend:

Brian,

I saw you out at the goodguys last weekend and man the vette is badass. I'm impressed at how quick it is around the track. Much respect :thumbsup:

for as basic as this car really is, Brian is VERY fast in it. he was just slightly slower then mike!

Update
 

My Dad and I decided to pull the engine out while it is still early in the year and either freshen it up or build a new one from scratch. It will all depend on what parts check out ok with the engine shop. The current engine is about 12 years old and it is well over due for a freshen up. We will know in the next couple weeks what goes in. I will give the details at that time.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psc31bdab3.jpg

The Corvette will be in the upcoming Chevy High Peformance September '13 issue.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...pse0b05143.jpg

Congrats on the CHP feature, well deserved. You did very well in capturing the King of the Coast!

Will you be bringing out the Camaro for the June GGs Autocross?

Thanks!

I will be taking the Camaro to Pleasanton as the Corvette will be out until the end of June.

That Vette is bitchin!

Check out the September issue of Chevy High Performance. Liz Miles wrote an article on our Corvette. The new engine is being installed as we speak. We upgraded the heads to Brodix Aluminum heads and a lighweight Scat crank.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psefc48680.jpg

Brian

Do you know roughly how much tq, hp, and rpm are you going to gain?

We will see the dyno results in a couple weeks. Our minimum goal is a 50 hp gain and 500 rpm redline increase. It should be at least 550 hp, 550 lb/ft torque, 7500 rpm redline.

Brian