SAAC Forum

Welcome to the Club. Nice looking car!

I have autocrossed since the 80's and just started doing Track Days in 2019, so I'm fairly new to them as well. I started with a HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) group called Hooked-On-Driving, or "HOD" for short. They have a nice write-up on their website about getting started with Track Days. This is the HOD website: https://www.hookedondriving.com/first-timers/#beginner. There are several other organizations, like SCCA, the have similar introductions - just search for "beginning HPDE".

I ran the Track Day at SAAC-46 last summer in Sonoma and had a blast. SAAC runs their sessions slightly differently than HOD, but they are very similar. This HOD website might answer some of your questions.

On a (maybe) related note: At SAAC-46 last summer, a member by the screen name of "gt350hr" organized an informal drag racing session. I had never done that before. That was an absolute hoot as well. I don't know if SAAC will have access to a drag-racing track at Indy, but if they do and if gt350hr (or someone else) repeats this at SAAC_47, I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, I won't make it to Indy. Have fun!

Thx Bob!

I'm confused about where the solid-wood-outside wheel fits in the early GT350 builds. From earlier conversation (see below), I'd concluded - perhaps incorrectly - that all '65 steering wheels had the exposed metal rim, but that there was a running change after about 150 cars from a 16" to a 15" wheel. Did this running 15" change include a change to wheels with a solid-wood-outside edge?

Quote from: Vernon Estes on November 20, 2020, 02:33:05 PM

Quote from: Jim Herrud on November 20, 2020, 12:54:46 PM
On a related note, the GT350 5R002 appeared to have the slotted steering wheel with an aluminum ring showing around the rim exterior when it was auctioned this summer.

Was that unique to the '002 prototype? It looks like an AC Cobra wheel.

16 inch cobra wheels were used on the first 150 +/1 cars, then they switched to 15 inchers.
The discussion here is specifically about 15 inch, slotted style wheels.

Kind regards,
Vern

"PS - quit calling that engine in your ICE car a motor......."

I laughed when I saw this. Back in my school days, my ancient crotchety Electric Power professor said he'd flunk anyone who referred to an ICE as a "motor".
Seems that GM never got the memo.

What are you talking about? There is no passing lane at Monaco!

Just kidding. That model track layout is impressive. Thanks for posting!

Hi JB, After autocrossing for 33 years – most of those in my '65 Fastback - I started doing track days in 2020 using a '19 GT350.

To get started doing track days, "mark p" listed some great resources. I began with the organization he mentioned called HOD https://www.hookedondriving.com which caters to track day beginners as well as more experienced drivers. The HOD website has a lot of information on how to get started doing track days. HOD provides track rental, guidance and instruction at many tracks in the western US. After some track days with HOD, you can qualify to run at other events which require experience.

One good & free resource to find programs and events around the country is a motorsports clearinghouse & registration site called https://www.motorsportreg.com/. From here, you can search for many types of motorsport events that are happening anywhere in the country, including door-to-door racing, carting, hill-climbs, drag-racing, autocross, driving schools, motorcycle events and, of course, track days. The events where I run most often use Motorsport.reg to register entrants for their track days.

In my experience, track day events cost about $300-$500/day. Instructor prices vary but are roughly $100/day for full-time instruction. I started with an in-car instructor, but due to COVID, instruction has recently taken the form of using two cars – student and instructor - in a lead/follow configuration using a two-way headset. I think it's a good idea to hire an instructor at least for orienting yourself the first day at a new track.

As with Autocross, the main equipment cost (other than the vehicle!) is tires and brakes. My track tires lately have been Falken Azenis RT660 which last about 6-8 days when I drive a typical 2-hour-tracktime track day (6 sessions at 20-minutes each). I burn through them faster if I run an open-lapping track day with unlimited track time. – maybe 4-5 days per set.

The stress on the car from a track day is obviously more severe than for autocross, so regular fluid changes and maintenance are more frequent.

I use a tow-rig (with a winch!) to transport my car and equipment to the track. While not required, it's a nice insurance policy which I cashed in last summer when my GT350 blew a coolant connection at Oregon Raceway Park that precluded driving it home.

At the SAAC-46 convention last summer in Sonoma CA, we ran a track day and a drag race. That was a hoot!

Hope to see you out there!

When I got my '97 Corvette, my hair was brown, high and tight. My wife was (and still is) 2 years younger than me. Manual?...Check. I owned the car for 20 years, 175K miles and lots of Autocrosses. For me, it's all about the fun!

I enjoy the good natured rivalry between car brands, but never understood those who take it to the level of vitriol. My brother-in-law is defiantly in the "Mopar or No Car" camp.

I drove my '65 Mustang in Autocross for many years before taking it down for a rebuild in '93 (my never-ending project – "I'll get it done this year!"). I showed up at the next autocross with my '94 Firebird Formula that "I bought for my wife" . As expected, most of my Ford buddies gave me a ribbing, but there were a few who were genuinely peeved. I had a ball with that car!

In '97, I doubled down on GM with the Corvette. It is one of the best cars I've owned. I might still have it except Chevy no longer supports the electronics, so I raided a wrecking yard, found my module and sold the car.

In 2019, I wanted to start doing track days. I've always had a passion for Shelby's and for me, the '19 GT350 has turned out to be the perfect weapon.

The first time I showed up at an Autocross with the GT350, the Ford guys obviously approved and most of my Chevy buddies gave me a ribbing, but as before, some of them were genuinely annoyed. Why? We live in wonderous times with an amazing selection of automotive toys. I've owned Dodges, Audis, BMWs, Pontiacs, Chevys and Fords. I think some were better than others, but I had fun with each one.

I like what Chevy has done with the new Corvette, though I lament the lack of a manual transmission. If I were racing, I'd have the DCT in a heartbeat, but I'm driving for the fun of it and enjoy the manual. I love the FPC and think it's cool that Chevy followed Ford's lead. To me, the sound is one of the GT350's greatest features.

However, I suspect I'll not be swapping my GT350 anytime soon. It's the best car I've owned yet. I would probably only consider the Z06 (or Z07) option as a worthy replacement. While the GT350 as a track toy is a (relative) bargain, I expect the Corvette Z06 is going to be priced in the exotic region.

Since the mid '80's, I'd been towing my trailers with Suburbans and had been mostly satisfied. I've used an '86 and a '93 1/2-ton with the 350cid V8 and then bought a '98 2500 'Burb with the 454. The 3/4 ton was a better towing rig, but still struggled up the mountain grades with the engine running near redline in 2nd gear. We won't discuss mileage.

My brother and several other family members had been nagging me for years to try a diesel. In 2017, I finally relented and bought a leftover '17 Ram 2500 with the Cummins diesel. They were right. I will never look back. It is hands-down the best towing experience. Even climbing hills I can barely feel the 24' 7500 lb enclosed trailer - except for the dash gauge showing higher boost! I get 12 MPG towing (some mountains - hard to avoid around here) and 22 MPG without a trailer.

I had a bolt-in roll bar fabricated for my '65 Fastback. The baseplate mounts are welded to the body at select frame locations.

If I had a DeLorean, I would only drive it from time to time.

Next team in the name-change crosshairs should be the Minnesota Vikings.

I am a loyal fan of their football team. However, as a peaceful and loving Scandinavian, I am OUTRAGED at their continued portrayal of Nordics as ferocious and violent. It is time to change the name to a non-personal identifier that represents the region in a properly woke manner. Perhaps we could call them the Minnesota Snowflakes.

That was my first motorcycle - a 1966 Blue YL-1 100cc TwinJet. It needed a bit of work.
The two pistons were about the size of a silver dollar. Put out all of 9 HP and revs forever. At 15, I was on top of the world.

Looks great, Ruben! Hope you have a blast!

Like terlingua11 said, I'd also like to hear it run!

Thx Mike. My transmission requirements back in '92 were simpler: stop jumping out of 2nd gear upon deceleration.

This gear was procured by my driveline guy before he absconded with my tranny. (That just sounds wrong.) This is all I have left to show for my $1400.

Is the nickel gear identification method a deep, dark secret that should not be mentioned in polite company?

I have a T-10 second gear - 30 tooth - that I've literally used as a paperweight since 1992 when my transmission was purloined.

I have a T-5 now, so no use for this gear, other than as a conversation piece. Let me know if it may interest you.

Can I trouble someone to educate me on how to identify a gear's nickel content?