I think I'm done

[TPI Monte SS]

Check my sig. I've called my '88 Monte SS "BudgetTouring" for years. Almost everything that's on my car is factory-type parts, but for different cars. This kept costs down, but still lets me drive the wee out of it. Even with the 305, it cooks along pretty good, and I was hanging right in the curves with Ralph LoGrasso's 4th-gen F-body and Mr. Angry's '68 Charger.

Bill, we have to keep this secret to ourselves - the G-body is the best bang-for-the-buck on the street! And congrats on the T56, you will love rowing gears. My car is 10x more entertaining since I yanked the auto and swapped in the World Class T5.

[Dan Sherwood]

I think Bills (and others) comments were right on the mark. I started with a primered 67 camaro for the street/strip and over the course of 4 years found it tough to make it do everything I really wanted. I decided my top priority was racing it both at the dragstrip and the roadcourse, and that's been tough enough for both venues, but I can run the road course friday morning with some really high dollar german cars (a certain $450,000 porsche I spanked comes to mind) and then set the shocks a little looser, put on the skinnies and slicks and go run 9's at the dragstrip. That car is finished out in a way I can't tell if it's got a new paint chip or not, and I don't care-I put it together to beat on, and that's what I do.

On the other hand, I have the 69 camaro that like Bill's goat, makes me nervous to drive it down the street, where I park it, or how hard I push it when I do take it to the track. It has somewhat taken the fun out of the build, especially when you figure the idiot in the next lane weaving his honda fart banger in and out of traffic may just take out your $60,000+ project you've spent screwing with the last few years.

I'm at the point I either sell the pt 69 or come to grips with driving it like I want and quit worrying about the $ invested. On the other hand, the 67 may not win any shows (I think you have to enter to win?) but I drive it like my sons would if I let them, don't worry about a ding or dent, and have half the $ into it, and would not think of selling it cuz I'm having too much fun with it. I think we're on to something! (remembering the FUN part)