Hmm. Lots of emotions and facts here. Odd mix...like good booze mixed with bad coffee...I might not love it, but I'll still drink it all in.
Anyway...
I'm building my '65 GTO for ORR. I also have 1,100 hp capability on squeeze. I'm also going 4L80E.
I have a Schwartz chassis though - and it'll get full monkey bars before I ever go fast in it.
The trick is to creep up on it. That's why Silver State and the other successful ORRs work. They give you a chance to creep up on it. I mean, I'd love to touch 200 in my GTO someday too, but you can bet you sweet intercooler I'll be starting at 130, then 140, then 150, etc. Not just touching on these speeds in straightline bursts, but actually maintaining them for a time (like 4-6 minutes) and seeing what the car (and I) feel like 'up there'.
If you're thinking purely straightline, that changes things. Like the High Noon Shootout or Z2Z - if you're wanting to just lay the hammer down and run WOT, that's one form of going after 200. But actually driving a course (be it a road race course or open road course) is a different animal.
Yes, 200 is 200. But the need to manueuver at that speed versus simply trying to maintain a straight line offers a completely different dynamic.
FYI - I'll be out there once my stuff is ready. I hope to see you out there too.
Going after the straightline deal and then backing it up with a 140-150-ish average in the road race portion of the event is plenty respectable. Personally, I don't feel the need to want to average 200-plus in the unlimited class at Silver State. But I'd love to touch 200 in the High Noon Shootout or Z2Z. If I can get a '65 GTO to average 150 in the road race and be competitive in the straightline events, I'll be satisfied with the car.
Yes, I'm investigating aero for mine as well. It will have an adjustable splitter up front and a wing on the rear. It will have side skirts and leading edge mods. It will have headlight covers and the grille will be covered for racing. But, it will also be easily converted back to street use.
I think we're looking at similar goals. Get a full rollcage and a fuel cell installed.
~SP~
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