69 Camaro Project - Dead Pool

[Track Junky]

Originally Posted by Ron in SoCal

So I was yapping with Matt on the phone Saturday night and he asked if I wanted to join him at Fontana for the Hotchkis NMCA AutoX. There's so much to do on the car before I start running on the track I turned him down and hung up a few minutes later.

I thought about that for about two minutes and dialed him back and said I'll seeya there! What could go wrong?

We met up at about 8:am and set up. The PS steering assist was still very erratic, along with being notchy and slow to respond so we jacked up the car, unbolted the cooler and pulled a bunch of parts out of the way to get it to lay sideways and zip tied it to the core support and sub. We then yanked out 5 degrees of steering stops and called it good.

Sidebar - Fontana was rocking today. Exotic cars in one section, sports cars running the big track, karts on another and drag racing plus our AutoX. Pure awesome. The NMCA racer crowd is loaded with very cool people and the Hotchkis hosts couldn't be more accommodating.

Anyway, we finished wrenching about the time the drivers meeting started. Then they launched the run groups. Matt was a co-driver for a few sessions in a different run group and we tried to tune as we went.



The course was pretty technical for the first 3/4 with a slalom and chicago box right before the finish line. I found the car to be very touchy on the throttle and real tight. I had spoken to Ron Sutton the night before and he gave me a few tips and a shock tuning guide. Then right after lunch Ron gave me a call for some refinement tips. Thanks Ron, you're the man!

As far as results, I learned a bunch today. First, AutoX is a tough sport, Second, I suck at it (four DNFs?). Third, Matt is very good! Matt's third run in both my and his car put him in third place for most if not the whole day (two diff classes). Matt sacrificed his track improvement runs to help with my car. If I didn't say it enough, thanks again Matt! Also, the car and driver have a long way to go but it'll get there. I ended up taking about four seconds off my time during the day and about two seconds behind Matt (35.8 vs, 37.6), which is a mile in AutoX. Oh, and I see the merits of a quicker rack and 15" steering wheel.



All in all a great day. Probably the second most fun thing you can do in your car!

Very cool Ron. Looks like you have graduated from the jack stand army. Welcome aboard.

Now get ready for the sleepless nights trying to figure out how to improve car and driver

[waynieZ]

That's awesome Ron! Glad to hear you had a good time.

[DaleTx]

Great to see you’re out there enjoying the car! The autocross video was good, but I’m looking forward to some high speed stuff to hear the 427 wound up

The car looks awesome.

[cterry69]

Hey Ron it was nice to meet you and figure out where I had seen your car before. lol.
Congrats on the cars maiden voyage at the track and your first time auto crossing. Once you get the car all dialed in, you will really enjoy auto crossing in it. Your car turned out great.

[69x22]

Cool!!!

[Flash68]

Joking aside for just a few minutes, it really is refreshing and long awaited to see Big Bad Ron post a video putting his 69 through the paces. Wish I coulda been there.

It's just the beginning.

[tones2SS]

So awesome Ron. Glad to hear the car is running well and that you're enjoying it.
Keep it going bro!

[Ron in SoCal]

Originally Posted by 69x22

Cool!!!

Thanks man. Your car is an inspiration

Originally Posted by Flash68

Joking aside for just a few minutes, it really is refreshing and long awaited to see Big Bad Ron post a video putting his 69 through the paces. Wish I coulda been there.

It's just the beginning.

Thanks Davey!

Originally Posted by Greg from Aus

Great to see Ron, Now get it all sorted so I can pick your brains.

Already working on it Greg. Spoke to RS today

Originally Posted by efs69

Good to see you got the car out and are putting it through its paces. I can relate to the driving part but that will come. In regards to the steering could there be some debris in the pump? I would take the valve out and flush the system. With new stuff there is a possibility of some casting fragments getting loose and mucking it all up.

Possible Efrian. I think I started off on the wrong PS foot and need to get back to level ground. I'm calling you to go with me the next track day.

Originally Posted by tones2SS

So awesome Ron. Glad to hear the car is running well and that you're enjoying it.
Keep it going bro!

Thanks Tony! Appreciate the kind words, as always.

Skip

[Ron in SoCal]

Originally Posted by Track Junky

Very cool Ron. Looks like you have graduated from the jack stand army. Welcome aboard.

Now get ready for the sleepless nights trying to figure out how to improve car and driver

Already loosing sleep Gae.

Originally Posted by waynieZ

That's awesome Ron! Glad to hear you had a good time.

Thanks Wayne. So far I'm lovin' it

Originally Posted by DaleTx

Great to see you’re out there enjoying the car! The autocross video was good, but I’m looking forward to some high speed stuff to hear the 427 wound up

The car looks awesome.

Hey Dale! How's it going? I think my next outing will be Big Willow so stay tuned Brother. These LS7s are so much fun!

Originally Posted by cterry69

Hey Ron it was nice to meet you and figure out where I had seen your car before. lol.
Congrats on the cars maiden voyage at the track and your first time auto crossing. Once you get the car all dialed in, you will really enjoy auto crossing in it. Your car turned out great.

Dude it was great meeting you and the 5th Gen crew. I will definitely see you out at more AutoX events. You rocked that car, btw

Now get busy and start a build thread on your first Gen!

[Rybar]

Ron, congrats on getting the car done and on the road. I apologize that I missed the milestone.