minitech

I've never seen an older Corvette or an older car of any type it seems at an HDPE. Any reason for that?

burners

I think the biggest reason is that there are fewer older cars around when compared to new cars and they tend to require more maintenance than new cars unless they've been gone through completely. An additional reason is that most are garage queens rather than drivers but, there are some out there that regularly participate in track events. The more racer types are vintage racing so they stick to their own events and don't mix so much with the new cars. I have to say that it is a lot of fun to share the track with the other generations C4 to C6's but I don't race wheel to wheel so it's a different story. Also, in competition the new cars have huge advantages over the older cars.

RideZX6R

My dad has a C3 and after I did a few HPDE events he wanted to get in.
Problem is, he will drive it on the street and every time he does something breaks or need adjustment lol.
He doesn't trust it for a full track day yet.
PDA does hypderdrives, I told him to do that first.

bb69

I started doing track days in my 69. I also took my 69 Camaro to the track a few times. I have a regular who comes out in a 65 Mustang and another in a 69 Camaro. They are a ton when they are on the track. The issue is keeping them on the track. The things that bothered me were the little items that could turn serious. Fluid leaks are the big one. Many people just don't realize how far gasket and seal technology (as well as the basic joint design) has improved. Trying to keep a big block dry, or even the rear diff, is a PITA. Then you get into other things like oil starvation because the oil pans are worthless. The steering was sloppy when the car was new, and 40 years of usage doesn't make it any better.

All that being said, I drove mine at track events for 4-5 year. I finally decided it would be easier to build a car from scratch for the track. I don't think I will be going back to the 69 any time soon, as much fun as it was.

Ken

BrianCunningham

I see more at NCCC and vintage events.

69427

I love the looks of my '69, but I got tired of having to work twice as hard (driving wise) as the C4-C6 guys. The C3 suspension design is just a piece of crap, and you can only band-aid it so far. I finally stuffed a C4 suspension under it for a bit better handling, and I'm assembling a ZL-1 for it to take some additional weight off the front. The car has always done just fine between corners (I don't get outpulled by many guys), but I just got tired of giving up corner exit speed.

rfn026

There are a ton of C3 vintage cars. You seldom see them at HPDEs though. Go figure.

I think the late model folks come out to play for a couple of weekends and then go back to waxing. I only know of a few C5 and C6 Corvettes that are regular.

I would really love to dive a C1. I have one but I just haven't go the courage to turn it into an HPDE car. It would be fun though.

Remember, HPDEs are not racing, even though we have a bunch of people who think it is. HPDEs are for fun. Who really cares what you run.

Richard Newton

69autoXr

Too many reasons to list. Probably most don't want to risk an older car. And for the amount of work and money required to make it rewarding to drive at the track, one can get into even a base C5 and go faster, longer. That said, it is very rewarding to make an old car go faster than some of the newer ones, and get reasonably close to new Z06's.

Myself, I've focused mainly on autocross, because of the expenses involved in running track events. However I do get to the track when I can afford it-which is not that often.

BrianCunningham

some pics from the vintage threads

63Corvette

We don't do HPDEs................We RACE them

DaveL82

If it's a street driven car it takes quite a bit to make them fun on the track.

Below is a pic of mine coming off the track at MSR Cresson TX. Will have it out again this fall. Also thinking about running some of the time trial events with NASA.

sothpaw2

Thought about this subject a lot this summer. Why don't you see guys in early 90's cars at events? There was 1 C4 ('96 GS) at the NCM VIR.
Not even that many C5 coupes anymore; none in intermediate.
Where are the guys who maybe just bought 50kmi '92-'93 C4's for $8-9K? Hell my neighbor bought a redone '87 w/ 38k mi on it for $10k several years ago.

The reason I think is mainly demographics/economics. Most buy the nicest car they can reasonably afford in the first place. If an $8k early '90s sports car is the best, then they can't afford to HPDE on a regular basis. A lot of the costs of HPDE are the same new car or old: track fee, gas, overnight stay all the same. Parts for the old cars might not be much less and they are going to be less reliable which is not a good thing. Why spend $800 on a HPDE weekend only to have a mechanical take you out in the first session because it's an old car?

Simply put: I think most people that can afford $800/weekend for HPDE bought a more expensive car to begin with; people with the older cars can't afford HPDE. This doesn't of course apply to classic antiques but isn't it obvious why nobody would run those in HPDE on a regular basis?

The new cars are the only ones that might be protected by factory warranties.

DaveL82

I've owned my 80 since 1983 and have been slowly doing mods over the years.

The biggest problems with running the older cars are not enough fender well to run real high performance tire (can go to dia larger rims but rim width can be an issue), brake up grades can be quite expensive, stock suspension is not track worthy, and the biggest problem is the lack of track parts for these old cars. I've had to build a lot of parts myself including the 5 link rear suspension.

Top things that made my car better of the track:
- roll bar really stiffened up the flimsy chassis
- ZZ4 crate motor really improved power over the anemic motor from that gen car
- VBP front fiberglass transverse spring and control arms
- 17x10 front and 18x12 rear CCW wheels with Kuhmo tires
- improved seats
- rear coil overs
- 5 Link

sperkins

I pay extra attention to any older car while on the track. I feel they are more prone to fluid leaks and falling parts. Especially since you can pass tech at most events if your brake lights work and you have a helmet.

rfn026

I don't even want to go there. I've seen more than a few late model Corvettes stuck in the gravel.

Richard Newton

DaveL82

Oh and one more reason you don't see a lot of older gen vettes on the track is negative comments. I didn't buy my car I built it.

BrianCunningham

hey, let's play nice people.

69427

I'll confess, I do have limited patience regarding negative comments from "checkbook racers".

bb69

I tried not to let it bother me, but comments from people that have never had to invent solutions can be really discouraging. For instance, I built my own rack and pinion converion; installed a Megasquirt fuel injection and ignition; installed electric fans; rebuilt suspension and brakes; and more, and then some unknowing person would come up and comment that the car hadn't been washed. Thanks for the heads up Captain Obvious. Did you also notice I was all over your rear end during that last session with my 40 year old dirty car?

On the other hand, it is great fun to go to track events with other die hards and there piles of blood, sweat, and tears.

As for the comments about the values of cars, purchase prices, etc: go try to buy a 69 big block four speed vs a high mileage C5 and tell me which one is cheaper.

Ken

sothpaw2

I think everyone has the utmost respect for those making the older cars work. It's just that I would guess there are few folks out there with the time or know how, which is why I don't see many older cars (I'm mainly thinking of even C4's).

As for the '69--it's a classic--the high pucker factor and the work involved as said would keep most owners away. I was more thinking of the late C3's and C4's which I still don't see. I'm still guessing on economics & reliablity there.