Autocross last weekend
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Actually, Mark70's car corners pretty flat. It looks good going around that corner.
I don't have a very good picture of my 73 cornering (the best is below). I use 16X9.5" C4 wheels with adapters and run on Kumho Victoracer V700 tires. It has 550lb springs and 1-1/8" sway bar up front with a 420+lb fiberglass spring and 5/8" bar in the rear and it still leans in the corners. In the second picture you can see how much it comes up and that is an easy left hand corner, but was under acceleration.
My 76 is setup pretty much like my 73, but has a 360lb spring in the rear.
I don't have a very good picture of my 73 cornering (the best is below). I use 16X9.5" C4 wheels with adapters and run on Kumho Victoracer V700 tires. It has 550lb springs and 1-1/8" sway bar up front with a 420+lb fiberglass spring and 5/8" bar in the rear and it still leans in the corners. In the second picture you can see how much it comes up and that is an easy left hand corner, but was under acceleration.
My 76 is setup pretty much like my 73, but has a 360lb spring in the rear.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
Both look good. I didn't mean to imply it was bad...in fact, it looks like the 73 yellow is maybe only 2-3" up on one side which I'd consider prtty good. I was just curious what I could expect with mine as I'm usually driving it and it doesn't feel like it dives or lifts much. Maybe I'm not pushing it hard enough either.
Nice looking cars all.
Thanks.
Lance
Nice looking cars all.
Thanks.
Lance
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: LaSalle ON
Looks like you had fun out there. I can't believe the number of Vettes at the event. So far, to the best of my knowledge, I'm the only person auto-crossing a C3 in Ontario. I've only seen one other Corvette regularly at provincial events - a C4. You lapped faster than stock Miatas? That's impressive.
I always get killed by them. However, our courses tend to be very technical, with lots of tight corners that 'big' cars like a C3 don't handle well. Right now, the weakest part on my car by far is between the steering wheel and the pedals.
I always get killed by them. However, our courses tend to be very technical, with lots of tight corners that 'big' cars like a C3 don't handle well. Right now, the weakest part on my car by far is between the steering wheel and the pedals.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
If anyone in the NorCal area is interested in seeing 100 corvettes auto x everything from a c1 to a 6c then come on out this weekend 30-31......Solano community college fairfield ca..
her is a slide from the last one in april..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n14wWy0paxM
her is a slide from the last one in april..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n14wWy0paxM
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Mark did great. His sidepipes makes everyone look around for the big block. He's got a big block hood too, so if he never opened the hood, he'd get big block priviledges.
The blue Subaru with race tires and the trailered burgundy C4, #32, with race tires got fast times of day, 29.9 and 30.0. The start of the course was a wide open 1st and 2nd gear drag way followed by a very fast 90 degree right turn. I showed up with my brand new 2500 rpm stall Pete K torque converter. It is a great converter for getting you up in the power band before launching. My 295/35-18 tires with only 28psi of air spun, and spun, and spun. The campus is only a few blocks from my house so I think I need to invest in some drag or race tires for the rear end. If I could have hooked up, I know I could have improved on my 33.5 seconds,.....or broke something. It was great seeing Mark again and he's coming back for the October event. Hey, Todd Elloiot showed up too, but had to leave early. California Stingrays were in the house. Like Mark said, we got 11 runs and had a blast. I got down to 1/4 tank and started sputtering around the corners. I need to weld on a bottom feed sump for my fuel injection. Summit has one for $80 that might work with my "unique" exhuast system.
Bee Jay
The blue Subaru with race tires and the trailered burgundy C4, #32, with race tires got fast times of day, 29.9 and 30.0. The start of the course was a wide open 1st and 2nd gear drag way followed by a very fast 90 degree right turn. I showed up with my brand new 2500 rpm stall Pete K torque converter. It is a great converter for getting you up in the power band before launching. My 295/35-18 tires with only 28psi of air spun, and spun, and spun. The campus is only a few blocks from my house so I think I need to invest in some drag or race tires for the rear end. If I could have hooked up, I know I could have improved on my 33.5 seconds,.....or broke something. It was great seeing Mark again and he's coming back for the October event. Hey, Todd Elloiot showed up too, but had to leave early. California Stingrays were in the house. Like Mark said, we got 11 runs and had a blast. I got down to 1/4 tank and started sputtering around the corners. I need to weld on a bottom feed sump for my fuel injection. Summit has one for $80 that might work with my "unique" exhuast system.
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Jul 30, 2011 at 04:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 1
From: Atascadero CA
- Slalom springs, front/rear
- Bilstein shocks
- Poly bushings, front/rear
- Spreader bar
- Bump steer blocks
- HD tie rod sleeves
- Adjustable aluminum rear camber rods
- Rear suspension locating kit
All the other components are stock (control arms, trailing arms, front sway bar, steering components, etc.). My brakes are pretty much stock too, other than the o-ring piston seals which are normal replacements. Dick recommended that I keep the stock front sway bar, and to not add a rear bar. I'm very satisfied with the results of his advice.
It looks like I was cornering flat, but I left out the pics of me trying to overcome some grinding understeer!
Initially, I was going way too fast entering the tight turns, and I had the car at full steering lock to make it around the tightest turn...I looked like a doofus, so I decided to exclude the evidence 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 1
From: Atascadero CA
I don't have a very good picture of my 73 cornering (the best is below). I use 16X9.5" C4 wheels with adapters and run on Kumho Victoracer V700 tires. It has 550lb springs and 1-1/8" sway bar up front with a 420+lb fiberglass spring and 5/8" bar in the rear and it still leans in the corners. In the second picture you can see how much it comes up and that is an easy left hand corner, but was under acceleration.
My 76 is setup pretty much like my 73, but has a 360lb spring in the rear.
My 76 is setup pretty much like my 73, but has a 360lb spring in the rear.
It looks like the course you ran was a lot faster than ours. We really didn't have much speed in the turns, so the springs didn't compress as much. I think you'd see a lot more lean on my car on a faster course...probably more than your cars. It looks like your spring rates are pretty close to mine, however I'm not running upgraded sway bars.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 1
From: Atascadero CA
. You lapped faster than stock Miatas? That's impressive. I always get killed by them. However, our courses tend to be very technical, with lots of tight corners that 'big' cars like a C3 don't handle well. Right now, the weakest part on my car by far is between the steering wheel and the pedals.
I always get killed by them. However, our courses tend to be very technical, with lots of tight corners that 'big' cars like a C3 don't handle well. Right now, the weakest part on my car by far is between the steering wheel and the pedals.Yeah, the really tight areas made my car feel awkward, but I learned a lot by watching the faster Vette drivers.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 1
From: Atascadero CA
Hey Bee Jay it was great seeing you too! Too bad we didn't have a few more runs, because you were just getting your car dialed in. You have an awesome car, and I'm always impressed by the quality, and quantity, of your mods. I'm looking forward to seeing you, and the bunch, in October.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
The first picture was taken at The Tire Rack's test facility here in South Bend, IN. That is part of their skid pad. As you can see I had a major push going in the front end after going around the cone with the indicator next to it. I also have the next picture in that sequence which shows me just barely missing the cone you can see past the left front, still with a smoking tire. My club will be hosting events here next Saturday, Aug 6. There will be 7 events on their newly repaved and reconfigured test track.
The rest of the pictures were taken at Grissom Air Base in Peru, IN where we generally can set up a course where even our "old" cars can see 50-60mph on a NCCC sanctioned Low Speed event. That is a very fun place to run and we will be there August 20-21, Sept. 17-18, and Oct 29-30. All three weekends will be 14 events.
Also, for my cars and the class (2C/D) I run with NCCC, I can only use equipment that came on a car in my class. The only reason I can use the 550# front springs, fiberglass rear spring, and 1-1/8" bar is becasue they put them on cars with the gymkahna suspension. The fun part comes when I can generally beat stock, base C5s & C6s all day long in my 35+ year old cars.
The rest of the pictures were taken at Grissom Air Base in Peru, IN where we generally can set up a course where even our "old" cars can see 50-60mph on a NCCC sanctioned Low Speed event. That is a very fun place to run and we will be there August 20-21, Sept. 17-18, and Oct 29-30. All three weekends will be 14 events.
Also, for my cars and the class (2C/D) I run with NCCC, I can only use equipment that came on a car in my class. The only reason I can use the 550# front springs, fiberglass rear spring, and 1-1/8" bar is becasue they put them on cars with the gymkahna suspension. The fun part comes when I can generally beat stock, base C5s & C6s all day long in my 35+ year old cars.
Cool pics! Nice cars!
It looks like the course you ran was a lot faster than ours. We really didn't have much speed in the turns, so the springs didn't compress as much. I think you'd see a lot more lean on my car on a faster course...probably more than your cars. It looks like your spring rates are pretty close to mine, however I'm not running upgraded sway bars.
It looks like the course you ran was a lot faster than ours. We really didn't have much speed in the turns, so the springs didn't compress as much. I think you'd see a lot more lean on my car on a faster course...probably more than your cars. It looks like your spring rates are pretty close to mine, however I'm not running upgraded sway bars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Hey Bee Jay, I see you have removed your Indy style front spoiler. Any particular reason why? I remember you had done a front splitter on that also. How did that work out? I love the looks of them on the front of our cars. I will get one on mine at some point. As you can see on my 73, the front bumper is completely gone. I have a new tru-flex bumper to go on, just haven't had the time to do so. Maybee i will save up for a spoiler and do it all at the same time.
Mark did great. His sidepipes makes everyone look around for the big block. He's got a big block hood too, so if he never opened the hood, he'd get big block priviledges.
The blue Subaru with race tires and the trailered burgundy C4, #32, with race tires got fast times of day, 29.9 and 30.0. The start of the course was a wide open 1st and 2nd gear drag way followed by a very fast 90 degree right turn. I showed up with my brand new 2500 rpm stall Pete K torque converter. It is a great converter for getting you up in the power band before launching. My 295/35-18 tires with only 28psi of air spun, and spun, and spun. The campus is only a few blocks from my house so I think I need to invest in some drag or race tires for the rear end. If I could have hooked up, I know I could have improved on my 33.5 seconds,.....or broke something. It was great seeing Mark again and he's coming back for the October event. Hey, Todd Elloiot showed up too, but had to leave early. California Stingrays were in the house. Like Mark said, we got 11 runs and had a blast. I got down to 1/4 tank and started sputtering around the corners. I need to weld on a bottom feed sump for my fuel injection. Summit has one for $80 that might work with my "unique" exhuast system.
Bee Jay
The blue Subaru with race tires and the trailered burgundy C4, #32, with race tires got fast times of day, 29.9 and 30.0. The start of the course was a wide open 1st and 2nd gear drag way followed by a very fast 90 degree right turn. I showed up with my brand new 2500 rpm stall Pete K torque converter. It is a great converter for getting you up in the power band before launching. My 295/35-18 tires with only 28psi of air spun, and spun, and spun. The campus is only a few blocks from my house so I think I need to invest in some drag or race tires for the rear end. If I could have hooked up, I know I could have improved on my 33.5 seconds,.....or broke something. It was great seeing Mark again and he's coming back for the October event. Hey, Todd Elloiot showed up too, but had to leave early. California Stingrays were in the house. Like Mark said, we got 11 runs and had a blast. I got down to 1/4 tank and started sputtering around the corners. I need to weld on a bottom feed sump for my fuel injection. Summit has one for $80 that might work with my "unique" exhuast system.
Bee Jay
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Orange Ca
I did better than I expected, plus Bee Jay was there! I was in the area for my Dad's birthday. My Dad is a Corvette club member locally, and they were hosting an autocross. Here are a few pics...
Awaiting tech inspection
I parked right behind Bee Jay
Some of the other cars
A few racing pics
Several people told me that I had "by far" the loudest car there...I guess those new Hooker Max Flow inserts ARE pretty noisy. I had a great time, and can't wait to attend the October event!
Awaiting tech inspection
I parked right behind Bee Jay
Some of the other cars
A few racing pics
Several people told me that I had "by far" the loudest car there...I guess those new Hooker Max Flow inserts ARE pretty noisy. I had a great time, and can't wait to attend the October event!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Hey Bee Jay, I see you have removed your Indy style front spoiler. Any particular reason why? I remember you had done a front splitter on that also. How did that work out? I love the looks of them on the front of our cars. I will get one on mine at some point. As you can see on my 73, the front bumper is completely gone. I have a new tru-flex bumper to go on, just haven't had the time to do so. Maybee i will save up for a spoiler and do it all at the same time.
Bee Jay
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 1
From: Atascadero CA
A Snell rated helmet was required, and during tech inspection they checked for seat belts. There were some cars running roll bars/hoops, but they weren't required. I believe that rollbars are required on convertibles at lot of racetracks.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Bee Jay
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
If you show up in a really cool chrome bumper/sugar scoop rear window corvette with side pipes, they might let you park with Bee Jay.
I think it is absolutely amazing how the C5s and C6s launch with 400+ horsepower with no wheelspin. Traction control is wonderful. I need a C6 Z06. My health insurance should pay for it, it's therapy and blood pressure medicine. I bet ABS brakes help too. But we C3 Sharks keep showing up and matching and sometimes beat their times.
Four wheel drive Subarus and 911s seem to rule. I guess the Corvette will never be all wheel drive. But think about it for a minute.
Bee Jay
I think it is absolutely amazing how the C5s and C6s launch with 400+ horsepower with no wheelspin. Traction control is wonderful. I need a C6 Z06. My health insurance should pay for it, it's therapy and blood pressure medicine. I bet ABS brakes help too. But we C3 Sharks keep showing up and matching and sometimes beat their times.
Four wheel drive Subarus and 911s seem to rule. I guess the Corvette will never be all wheel drive. But think about it for a minute.
Bee Jay