Mosport Circa 1960 January 7, 2009
Posted by wilsonniblett in Auto Racing, Enthusiastic Commentary.add a comment
The Mosport International Raceway Grand Prix Track is held in high regard amongst both racers and fans of motorsports. To those of us that have driven around it at speed honing our skills, it is a very special place.
This appears to be a clip of the track while still under construction. If you have been at or aon the track, you will be able to recognize the corners even though there are no telltale landmarks such as the pedestrian bridges. The scenery is still as beautiful around the track today, albiet not as rustic as back then.
Living only 20 minutes from the track, sometimes I will just drive up there on a weekeday morning. Sitting by the deserted trackside early in the morning is an emotional experience. All the excitement, history, energy that racers and fans alike lingers like an invisible energy. Just peacfully waiting for the next HPDE Day, club racing event or major event such as the ALMS weeked, to come back to life.
The days that I take Corvette owners out to the track with John Powell and his team are wonderful. John and Devon skillfully instruct the attendees so that they can learn the proper way to handle a Corvette and what the car is actually capable of doing. If I do not have a company Corvette to use on the track with them, I will ride with various drivers and listen to their take on this beautiful track. Sometimes I will take my 1965 Corvette Fuelie Coupe around the track to remind my self how far the technology has come over the years and how much fun driving can be!
Occaisionally I will stop in to see Phil Strudwick since his shop is on the track grounds. We talk shop and race tech and he will show me his latest project. If I am real lucky, they will be testing one of his vintage race Corvettes and I can get my soul refueled before heading off to work.
Whether you have been a racer or a fan, dragstrips, stock car tracks and road race facilities are all spiritual places. See you at the track!
The Chevy Enthusiast
2010 Camaro – Body in White! January 23, 2009
Posted by wilsonniblett in Auto News, Auto Racing, Enthusiastic Commentary.2 comments
RACERS REJOICE! GM PERFORMANCE PARTS TO OFFER NEW CAMARO BODIES IN WHITE
GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Racers who want to slip into something more fashionable at the track next year will find the 2010 Camaro is just their size. GM Performance Parts will offer body in white packages of the new Camaro starting in the first quarter of 2009.
The basic package lists for $7,000 US and includes an assembled body structure, including the front fenders, hood, roof, doors, rear quarters and trunk lid. The structure also includes the complete floorpans and chassis rails.
Racer must fill out an online application to be eligible to purchase one. The form is available at www.gmperformanceparts.com. Bodies will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no limit to the number an approved racing team can purchase.
“This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to build a race-ready new Camaro,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, product marketing manager, GM Performance Parts. “We envision racers using these bodies for all types of competition, from Pro Street and Competition drag racing to road racing.”
The body in white includes only an un-painted body shell and no additional components or materials. The bodies do not have vehicle identification numbers, so they may be used only as racing vehicles that will never be licensed for street driving.
Racers will add the powertrain, fuel system, suspension, interior components, glass (or sanctioning body-approved alternative) and safety equipment, then go racing.
“For the racers who would strip down the entire car and replace most of the components with racing-spec parts, the body in white saves time and money,” said Dr. Meyer. “Drag racers, for example, won’t have to worry about swapping out for a solid axle – they can just bolt one up and go.”
The body in white’s unadorned interior also saves time and money by allowing racing teams to eliminate the process of stripping a fully equipped production car in order to reduce weight and prep the chassis for a roll cage.
And when it comes to building up the body in white, GM Performance Parts offers crate engines, engine controllers, high-performance transmissions and hundreds of other parts to help complete the project – including dedicated drag racing engines and engines suited for circle track and road racing competition.