What's next for Pro-Touring?

[go-fish]

Cheers go fish!

Is it the next big thing? I don't care. It would be cool if it was. I would enjoy seeing some Sunoco Camaro's and Gulf Mustangs being built for the street.
Alot of people wouldn't consider it because they would be afraid it would be out of style before it even went into style but I guess it would take nuts to do it up in the fashion.
I tell you what I hope is the next big thing; people building cars, disregarding re-sale and popular fads.
There is a place for billet and 20's, nothing wrong with it IMO, I wish there was more of a place for flat green paint and bomber art though. And vintage road race replicas.

[70camaro406]

I'd like to see a trend back toward home built drivers. Cars built on small budgets where good old hot rod ingenuity and adaptation over cubic dollars is the emphasis. That being said, I still want to see those who have the resources continue to push the limits. Without their contribution, many of the shops and vendors could not provide the R&D that trickles down to us little guys and I love seeing these cars! Maybe a thread on here showing first class budget builds.

That'll be me...built on a budget! I'm spending a lot of my spare time just surfing the net looking for the deals and preparing a list of parts "to-buy". I certainly want a good looking car when it's finished, but I plan to drive it a lot. So if (when) it gets little rock chips and blems from the road, I'll keep them as proof of being driven, and be proud.

[O'Neall]

So if (when) it gets little rock chips and blems from the road, I'll keep them as proof of being driven, and be proud.

[rocketman]

Personally I think the pro touring thing has leveled out into what is basicly a late model street rod. What I don't like is there consider the "street machine" now, I don't like how Goodguys has catered the SMOY to the pro touring cars now with all this you have to run a autocross course and etc, the 100 mile drive I like it proves there driven, but takes the true Street Machine which I think is more of a Street/Strip car that you used to see win it out. I have talked to acouple Goodguys people about a Pro Touring of the Year award. We'll see if it ever happens. I think the class needs it's own award.

[Tiger]

[quote=NOT A TA]Whats next? It appears to me as a daily visitor to this site that there's becoming more of an emphasis on the Pro-Touring "look" than performance.
I used to read threads about suspension geometry and modifications, discussions about MOI reguarding wheels and brakes, gauge installation threads, and other performance modification threads about upgrading the older vehicles from the 60's and 70's. Now it seems like the threads are mostly about appearance.
quote]

I agree with you so much on this ! I was more or less off this site for a couple of years and when I got back I noticed the change.

[vanzuuk1]

The cool thing is the vintage look never looks dated, ironically.


I like the high tech look, cars like the hammer and fuel also.

[Damn True]

I know what I'd like to see:

More cars being run at auto-x and open track events.

Do I think it'll happen?

Nope.

[69Nova]

I know what I'd like to see:

More cars being run at auto-x and open track events.

Do I think it'll happen?

Nope.

I'm right there with ya. I know I'm gonna keep running my car. It may not have the biggest baddest brakes or newest sub-frame but I'm gonna keep driving the tires off of it at more events than last year.

[TonyL]

What'll happen is the splitting of the genre. The Resto-TA type cars, the Musclerods, the High tech g-machines and profilers will start to break off into their own subsets, but all will claim to be pro-touring themed.

Those build styles have always been with us, all struggling to be the definitive "pro-touring" car. What will the next subset to gain the limelight? who knows. I'd say that the build style most attainable is always the one who comes out ahead. So I'd expect to see more "profilers" than anything else. Slammed cars with minor upgrades that look cool and get the job done.

What pro-touring needs as a genre is a sanctioning body like the NHRA. a NPTRA if you will, that puts on racing events where cars like ours can flex their muscles literally. Hero cars and DRIVERS that inspire other builders and force the industry to cater to those who want to join in.

[scogin918]

you ar NEX!

BOLO RULES!

[bigvegan]

Between NASA and SCCA, there are autocross meets / track events / HPDE a couple of times a month in most major cities (and some minor cities) and they're usually happy to put you in a class so you can compete.

We need to see more pro-tourers competing there. If they get enough, it would probably be easier to get them to offer a separate class or two than create a separate sanctioning body.

All you need for an autocross is a few bucks and a free weekend day. You can borrow a helmet and "run what ya brung" and have a terrific day.

http://www.scca.com/home.aspx
http://www.nasaproracing.com/aboutnasa/index.html

We need to see more PT cars at autocrosses. They're very low-risk events, as the only thing to hit is little orange cones unless you get completely stupid, and the only thing you'll really wear out is tires and brake pads.

Plus, they definitely add a dose of humility / realism. Nothing makes one realize the need to learn driving skills instead of adding parts than getting spanked by a guy driving a completely stock import.

[Tony_SS]

I'd like to see a trend back toward home built drivers. Cars built on small budgets where good old hot rod ingenuity and adaptation over cubic dollars is the emphasis. That being said, I still want to see those who have the resources continue to push the limits. Without their contribution, many of the shops and vendors could not provide the R&D that trickles down to us little guys and I love seeing these cars! Maybe a thread on here showing first class budget builds.

I agree Paul! Anyone can throw money at a project build something nice. The real challenge is sifting the piles of junk on ebay and craigslist, and finding the gems and making them work.

I'd like to see more builds like the Ecotec Chevette and other unpopular cars that have their own challenges, where no two come out alike. Don't get me wrong, big money builds are great - but I think the Foose clones have peaked. I guess my personal taste and interests are shifting to something that's more attainable for everyone.

[Paul_J]

That's the most times I have ever been quoted anywhere! The important think to me is how well the car gets built either low buck or high dollar. If you are the budget builder then take the time to research, design and assemble the best you can. Low buck shouldn't mean half-a##.

I am no expert in any of this but I'm learning. I would probably classify myself as more of the "Look/Street Rod" kinda guy but I have a desire for wanting the vehicle to perform. My wife just ordered "Chassis Engineering" for me as a small present so we will see if this dog can learn some new tricks.

BTW, you forgot Tony's 66 Corvair, NICE!!!!!!

[TonyL]

Thanks. The whole reason the corvair build happend is because I was worried people were getting the impression that cubic dollars had to be spent to have fun in the pro-touring world. It just isn't so. In fact, because I spent so little on the corvair, i spend far more time enjoying it, and less worrying about hurting it. The emphasis should always be on DRIVING the car. What good is a car that is never done? My car is ratty. I have duct tape on the seats fer crying out loud. And I get countless thumbs up, horn honks and smiles everywhere I go. And that's truely awesome. The look on guy's faces that hear that I have less than 3 grand in the car total, when they realize they could totally afford that, and build one too, is priceless.

[vanzuuk1]

Tony, where can we see more of your car?

[Young Gun]

The look on guy's faces that hear that I have less than 3 grand in the car total, when they realize they could totally afford that, and build one too, is priceless.

your getting that one right now from me...

[TonyL]

Tony, where can we see more of your car?

my Fquick garage is one place. http://www.fquick.com/TonyL
We're working on doing a cross promotional thing with them, if you look right under my post count there's a little Fquick garage Icon there. You could just click that.

[monza]

I know what I'd like to see:

More cars being run at auto-x and open track events.

Do I think it'll happen?

Nope.

I think you'll see more drivers for sure. More cars as it becomes main steam has to mean more drivers.
They are made to drive!

[Damn True]

Whats next? It appears to me as a daily visitor to this site that there's becoming more of an emphasis on the Pro-Touring "look" than performance.
I used to read threads about suspension geometry and modifications, discussions about MOI reguarding wheels and brakes, gauge installation threads, and other performance modification threads about upgrading the older vehicles from the 60's and 70's. Now it seems like the threads are mostly about appearance.

....and fashion:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=39046


Next month we will be discussing the winner of "Project Runway".

[Steve Chryssos]

People are gonna build what they want--or at least what they think they want. Instead of pushing any particular build style, we should all push a "GET IT DONE!" mantra and do so with almost a fundamental extremism fervor. Less talk and more wrenching. Don't get constipated by research. Don't get hung up on specification minutia. Make decisions, pull the trigger and turn that wrench. Driving is, hopefully, the next logical step for most. But the car's gotta get done first.

Run Thru the Hills is founded on the principle of "Get It Done" and we will continue to maintain that "push".