PDA

View Full Version : New photos of the '69. Commerce Challenge



Nine Ball
10-12-2004, 05:30 AM
Just got home last night from the Year One Commerce Challenge. Everyone that attended had alot of fun, despite the negative weather forecasts showing rain. It actually only sprinkled on Sat night for about 10 minutes total. Damn weathermen.

Anyways, I had the car shot for Popular Hotrodding magazine, as well as a Year One ad. Those made the trip worthwhile. Hey Johnny, sorry to hear you were ill, hope you feel better today. The photo shoot went well, I'm sure you will enjoy the shots that were taken.

As some of you know, my 3rd gear sync is shot and it pops out of gear. On Sunday I was bored and decided to run the car down the track a few times for the hell of it anyways. I made 6 hotlaps in a row (no waiting, there were no lines) and it popped out/grinded 3rd gear the first 5 runs. On the 6th run I held it in gear with a nice loud grind and finished the pass. Ran an 11.70 @ 122.5 with a light 1.93 60' (on the radials). Of course, by that pass the engine and blower were scorching hot, I was probably down 40-50 rwhp by then. This blower setup is fun, the car feels like it has a large stroker in it with the instant torque. I was leaving at 1900 rpm on the radials, and my best 60' was a 1.80! Too bad that one didn't go into 3rd. The blower makes a sweet sound going down the track.

I got to spank 4 different LS1 f-bodys on those crappy runs. It still ran low 12s coasting past the 1/8 mile (essentially skipping 3rd, going into 4th). Also smoked a 69? Hemi Roadrunner.

Raceweight was 3520. This car is heavier than I guessed it would be. What is sad is that my upcoming rollcage will just offset the drag wheels I plan to put on it. So, looks like I'm stuck at that weight for now.

Anyways, here are some photos I took.

http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce01.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce02.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce03.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce04.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce05.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce06.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce07.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce08.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce09.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce10.jpg
http://www.ls1tech.com/69Camaro/commerce11.jpg

Steve Chryssos
10-12-2004, 05:53 AM
Niner,
Car looks awesome. Congratulations. LSx motors are less than attractive in my opinion :box2: (coil packs and flat intake manifold). Yours is by far the best looking LS I've ever seen.
/Steevo

Steve1968LS2
10-12-2004, 07:44 AM
Congrats Tony!! Great runs even with the "issues".. :cool:

And Steve is right.. your LS1 engine is beautiful! (and I know a good lookin LS1 when I see one).. I can't wait to see you're car shoot. Trust me that it be the longest few months of your life as you wait for the mag to hit the stands.

I look forward to parking next to your car someday at some event..

See ya,
Steve

Ralph LoGrasso
10-12-2004, 02:56 PM
Congrats on the completion, Tony!!! Car looks GREAT!!!

colt zantop
10-12-2004, 03:34 PM
Tony, your car looks absolutly STUNNING!! congrats on the mag shoot.....well deserved!!!!!!


colt45

will69camaro
10-12-2004, 04:07 PM
The car looks absolutly awesome! What kinda headlights are those?

William

Nine Ball
10-12-2004, 05:02 PM
They are just factory replacement Halogen lights, but with the old school street rodder chrome covers. I mainly did them so I could drive around with the high beams on without blinding oncoming traffic - and to see better.

Thanks for the compliments guys. Its been alot of hard work!

Interesting facts:
1. This car was built in a 1-car apartment garage.
2. To this day since I've owned it, it has never been on a lift before.

So, you definitely don't need a fancy shop to build a nice car :D

Piet
10-13-2004, 07:49 AM
I have a new desktop.... Very Nice work
A real inspiration!

Streetking
10-13-2004, 12:33 PM
Looks great Tony, wouldn't expect anything less from you. :worship: I know you have a lot left in it after you get the trans fixed. Just awsome!

SW

KendallF
10-13-2004, 01:06 PM
Tony,

Enjoyed talking to you and seeing your car! I loved seeing the engineering on a lot of the cars around the Year One tent; the craftsmanship and attention to detail were amazing.

Having said that, I was glad to see at least one of the pretty cars (yours) make a decent pass. I was underwhelmed at the performances of some of the high $ cars that looked like they should've been making big power. Yes, I know that most of them weren't set up for the drag strip, but the MPH numbers weren't there either. OK, I officially reprimand myself for being mean spirited. :pat: :enguard:

We had a good time. My buddy Mike's "leftover junk" motor in his street car (87 GN) drove up from Orlando, ran consistent 11.70s with a best of [email protected] on Nittos, and drove home. Not bad for a $50 U-pull-it 4.1 block, hyper pistons, a $70 cam, and stock heads that I bowl ported. :)

CAMAROBOY69
10-13-2004, 01:21 PM
Congrats Tony! Its nice when things go your way for once. I cant believe how huge those rotors look on those wheels. That has to be a tight fit but looks great.

cjhutch
10-13-2004, 09:05 PM
Tony, time to give up the info. Where did you get the Stewart Warner gauges from? I've been looking for almost 4 months for a set of those gauges with the blue trim and cannot find them anywhere.

Nine Ball
10-14-2004, 06:56 AM
Kendall, I'm in full agreement with you when it comes to underperforming showcars. Personally, I'm 75% interested in making a car perform, and only 25% into making them look show quality. There is no rule that says you can't build a car that hauls ass and looks good. I just costs more to do both!

I may have had the quickest LS1 powered car at the event, funny!

Adam, the rotors/calipers were a very tight fit on my wheels. So much in fact, that I had to grind the fins off the backside of the calipers to get the wheels on. Really sucks when you have to take a grinder to a brand new part, but thats hotrodding.

Corey, if you use their site you can find a list of distributors. Most of them are big rig trucking supply shops. http://www.stewartwarner.com/Contact/dist.html

The gauges got a ton of compliments at the show, most people thought they were old school restored gauges haha. Just the look I wanted

Steve1968LS2
10-14-2004, 07:06 AM
Kendall, I'm in full agreement with you when it comes to underperforming showcars. Personally, I'm 75% interested in making a car perform, and only 25% into making them look show quality. There is no rule that says you can't build a car that hauls ass and looks good. I just costs more to do both!

I may have had the quickest LS1 powered car at the event, funny!


I agree.. I HATE when people refer to my car as a "show car".. sure it goes to car shows.. but my cars DRIVE there.. I want it to perform and the most important part is for it to be fun to drive..

Like Tony said.. you CAN look good going fast :)

I think im going to need to up my hp to keep with Tony though :help:

Nine Ball
10-14-2004, 11:42 AM
Hey Steve, alot of people are gonna have to up their hp to keep up with me. I'm working on a deal with Nitrous Express to sponsor the car. I'd like to run 9s eventually.