more Musclecar Challenge info

[66SuperSport]

Bret

I would definitely like to get an instructor to ride with me on the road course. Count me in for sure!

[team 68 chevelle]

2007 mustang?? whats with that

[bret]

2007 mustang?? whats with that

Since we have opened up the event to all year American musclecars the Mustang is definately eligible to run. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how our old iron stacks up. If past track events are any indication the older musclecars will do quite well!

[team 68 chevelle]

dissapointing...to run against modern "muscle" the intial rules stated 1978 older one of the reasons we signed on. I have a full air ride set up and believe in the product after a 4000 mile rally but not against a 2010 camero, mustang etc which Im sure will sign up next.

[GRNOVA]

Game on!

[jknight16]

If there had been enough old cars signing up to pay the bills I'm sure they wouldn't have opened it up. If we have to rely on the late models to keep these events going until the classic car guys get their acts together (i.e. Get their cars finished and have enough budget left to travel for an event), so be it.

Bret, you don't have to confirm or deny if that was the issue with this event, it doesn't really matter. If it isn't the case for this event, it might be for the next one.

[DLinson]

Check out the results from the optima Faceoff event. The only advantage they had was the Speed Stop challange. The G8 won with the ABS brakes but not by that much. Brian was in second with his 71 Camaro and Jeff was third with his Tempest. Baer Brakes split up their contingency program to seperate they ABS and non-ABS cars.

On the track and the autocross, Kyle and Brian were at the top with their second gen Camaros.

There was a Corvette, a couple BMW's, a nice 2010 Mustang, etc. I was surprised how well I did relative to them. And who's going to vote for a new car in the show/design award? They want to go out and have fun too, they just don't have their old cars completed yet.

I wish I could make it but I have issues with my fuel system now. POR 15 gas tank sealer pealed off the inside of the tank and plugged up my fuel line messing up my pump. I'm making a new gas tank since I can't clean all that crap out of there, not to mention the new fuel lines, filter, and pump.

Anyway, I'm shooting for the Motor State Challenge up in Michigan.

Dennis

[Finch]

I say bring it.....

[tazzz25906112]

I say bring it.....

Now that's the stuff,,,, you've got the right attitude Brian. People seem to overlook our cars and also the drivers in them. Yes some of the new cars can be seriously fast,,, but so can we and some of us know how to drive them to the edge... Will the new kids on block know???? Guess we'll see....

[shmoov69]

Well, I ordered a set of tires today. Still waiting for no rain and me be off work at the same time so I can drive it a bit more. That way I'll feel good enough to register. But I do have rooms already!

New cars, old cars? It don't matter to me as long as they're muscle cars! Heck, mine will be slow enough that a Pinto will prolly spank me!

[tazzz25906112]

Jimmy, just enjoy the ride bud..... The company at these events makes up for any driver or car short falls and by 11pm in the bar Sat night,,,,, You'll own the fast dam car east of the Mississippi..... Just ask anyone there, you'll get the same response ROFLMAO

Join in on the fun and don't worry about the rest...

[GRNOVA]

I cannot wait for this event!

[bret]

If there had been enough old cars signing up to pay the bills I'm sure they wouldn't have opened it up. If we have to rely on the late models to keep these events going until the classic car guys get their acts together (i.e. Get their cars finished and have enough budget left to travel for an event), so be it.

Bret, you don't have to confirm or deny if that was the issue with this event, it doesn't really matter. If it isn't the case for this event, it might be for the next one.

Paying the bills is always a consideration in whatever endevour, including this one. But in reality, we had several inquirys about bringing later model cars...Malibu's, Mustangs, Camaro's, and Challengers. After much discussion we decided that these are musclecars too, just newer ones.

I have always run onder 60's and 70's musclecars. In nearly every event that I have run in, we have run against newer Camaro's, Mustangs, etc. I've not seen one yet that I feel intimidated by. And I am NOT any kind of rockstar driver [ask Mary Pozzi...she left bruises on my right shoulder trying to get me to keep my friggin head up on the autocross!]. It is a LOT of fun to drive around a new car with a piece of 40-50 year old iron.

If you are concerned about not being able to compete against a newer car...know that the car itself is not neccessarily the advantage. We have seen this time and time again at other events. Probably the most extreme example of this was the 2010 Camaro that Paul Tracey [Indy car driver] drove at the optima event in Vegas last year. Obviously Paul is a professional, and I saw him drive that car 11/10ths, but that car was not even close to being the fastest that day. The fastest cars were 40-45 years old with off the shelf parts on them.

At any rate...there is no way the presence of a newer car can diminish the fun factor!

[JEFFTATE]

The older , classic musclecars usually stack up very well against the newer models..
I like seeing all the year models at the events ..
That way we get a true comparison...

[perple76]

I guess I'm also inclined to put my 2 cents in on the idea of allowing "new" cars into the event.

For my part, I'm not too wrapped up in "competing" against newer cars. At other track days I've attended, this is common practice and really isn't that big of a deal. At the roadcourse especially, skill becomes the common denominator and a great deal of a newer car's advantages are neutralized to some degree. I've seen Honda civics, in the hands of a skilled driver, lay the wood down on Corvettes, Porsches, and other high end "muscle" cars. Even if the trophy was my motivation (which it is not), I don't think letting in new cars would diminish my chances, or anyone else's.

I am concerned, though, that by extending (or, in fact, eliminating) the cut off that some of the "flash" of this event has been taken away. Like some others have indicated, the fact that this was an "old car event" was my primary motivation for signing up - and I signed up very early. I do feel a little cheated that the rules were changed in mid-stream. Normally, I'm not a big fan of year breaks or cutoffs (mainly because I'm usually on the wrong side of the line) but in this case the cut off was what made the event special. I can go to the track and run with modern cars any weekend of the summer - running with old cars is something truly unique.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that the economics drive certain decisions and the blame, if there is any blame, falls with our fellow pro-touring brethern for not signing up. I can only imagine how disappointed the event organizers have been at the low number of participants, but I fear that opening up the event in this manner may do more long-term harm than good.

Would I have still signed up knowing what I know now? I don't know for sure, but I certainly would have sit on the fence a lot longer - maybe even waiting to see what the weather was going to do. The fact that this was an old car only event convinced me to jump in at the very beginning.

All that having been said, I don't want my comments to reflect that I have some problem with new cars or that I'm going to turn my nose up at them - nothing could be farther from the truth. I love the newer muscle cars and will eventually own one myself. In truth, I expect most, if not all of them, to run circles around my "muscle car,". I have nothing against them per se, I'm just disappointed that the rules were changed in mid-stream, because my commitment to the event was in no small part based on those rules.

It's still going to be a great event and I'm going to have a great time, but I hope the event organizers read this and realize that their original decision to keep the event "old" was a good thing, even if the level of participation doesn't support it. I know the organizers will do their absolute best to ensure that we all leave with a smile on our faces.

Don't mean to hurt any feelings, but felt my .02 should be heard on this one. . .

J

[shmoov69]

Is there going to be gas (good gas!) avaliable at the track?

[tommycomfort]

Is there going to be gas (good gas!) avaliable at the track?

"Sunoco 104 Unleaded and 110 Leaded race fuel is available. It is sold before and throughout the day upon
request."

Pulled that information off the putnampark.com website.
Tom

[shmoov69]

Awesome!! I drove the car a bit today......I'm in!!

[jermsjunk]

I registered for the show only as I dont have a car to enter the compitition, only a cruiser 63 chevy truck. I registered before the April 1st deadline and have recieved no info or tickets. Do I just show up and tell them my name and they will have it on file or, or do I need tickets? Thanks

[tazzz25906112]

Awesome!! I drove the car a bit today......I'm in!!

Thats the spirit Jimmy,,, see ya there bud....