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
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