Whalen Wins Silver State Classic with RSRT & Scot Rods Garage

[StevenBlakesley]

Whalen Wins Silver State Classic with RSRT & Scot Rods Garage

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (September 26, 2016) – 74 year-old Tom Whalen won the prestigious Silver State Classic last weekend, held in Nevada on Highway 318 as one of the top open road races in the country. Whalen campaigns a 2002 C5 Corvette and earlier this year won the Big Bend Open Road Race in Texas well. His Corvette utilizes Ron Sutton Race Technology suspension set up and consultation, resulting in unlimited class speeds reaching as high as 215 miles per hour.

This is Tom’s second Open Road win this year after reworking the suspension with Ron Sutton geometry changes & suspension set up. After measuring & review Ron Sutton recommended that Whalen move the Corvette’s control arm pick up points as well as other front and rear geometry changes. Whalen won the Big Bend with all the changes except the control arm relocation. Tom had Scot McMillan Jr, of the Dallas based Scot Rods Garage, make the control arm changes before Silver State.

"When I won Big Bend, I had only completed about 60% of the changes Ron suggested," Whalen said. "Sandhills is a much tighter course but provided a good shake down of the relocation project." A test run in the Sandhills Open Road in Arnold, Nebraska had mixed results, but that event requires a "tech speed" (top speed limit) of 145 miles per hour. Whalen returned to the unlimited speeds of the Silver State Classic, reaching a top trap speed of 207 miles per hour, en route to the strong overall victory.

Open Road racing largely uses public roads and highways. Silver State uses a 90 mile stretch of Highway 318 between Lund and Hiko, Nevada. Whalen averaged a remarkable 183.6794 miles per hour. "This car is really powered and geared for Big Bend," Whalen said. "We went hard enough for 183 and change. The car is much more stable now and handles a lot better than it did."

The Silver State highway has several rough spots and has rumble strips across the center line, making for some hairy moments when Whalen crosses the center line to set up for a corner at the high speeds he is achieving. The increased car control as a result of the RSRT set up is a huge plus in the environment that Whalen competes in.

"The car bottomed out a couple of times so there are a few changes with wheel alignment or heavier spring rates I want to discuss with Ron," Whalen said. "I am having fun and life is good! Ron came to me with a cure to the stability problems I was having. I have been faithful to what he's recommended and it’s allowed me to continue to do what I do and continue to challenge myself!"

For more information on Ron Sutton Race Technology, visit them online at http://www.ronsuttonracetechnology.com/

ABOUT RON SUTTON RACE TECHNOLOGY

Ron Sutton Race Technology is a one-stop resource for winning car building or improving performance for Autocross, Road Course Track Days & Pro Touring Cars. Ron offers suspension, brake & aerodynamic optimization services, complete chassis/suspension designs, cutting edge suspension packages, consulting services, books, workshops & an online store with 600 brands & over 90,000 parts.
For more information on Ron Sutton Race Technology, visit them online at http://www.ronsuttonracetechnology.com/

[SSLance]

Averaging over 183 mph! Wow, that is smoking... Congrats to Tom and RSRT for the win.

[TheJDMan]

Those events are on my bucket list as well. I will be contacting Ron for advice when the time comes.

[813Demon340]

Way to go!!!