[trackbird]

I got up at 2am and drug a trailer almost 700 miles today to bring home a 2002 Z28 convertible (6 speed manual). It's a virtual twin (other than a convertible instead of t tops) to my original 2002 that I bought new. I actually believe every option matches right down to the color. It came with piles of service records, a receipt for a new GM installed engine (15k miles/4 years ago) as well as new clutch (with the engine), new window regulators and all kinds of other stuff. The previous owners spent a fortune at the dealer with this car. It was a summer car at the house on lake Michigan. I don't think it's ever seen anything beyond some occasional rain. The steering column is tight and there's no major wear on the seats or steering wheel. It has a few small door dings and I think the paintless dent guys can remove those. Overall, it's a solid and clean car that should be lots of fun. It was also dead stock, not so much as a lid on it.

I'm planning to swap on some larger wheels, lower it a bit, stiffen it a bit, sway bars, exhaust and a "lid". I just want a fun driver to enjoy on nice days. I've actually never owned a convertible in my life, I've always had t tops or targa cars....this should be a new adventure.

I don't have many pics, but I'll add a few before I crawl off to bed.

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[trackbird]

The HTRZ II is my favorite. They are dirt cheap and actually has a decent amount of grip. The best part is when I have some fun on the street, I don't feel like I'm leaving $20 bills on the road. I used to put the baddest street tire I could afford, like the NT05's that I had on my M3. They were incredible. So much grip. So much so, that I couldn't have any fun.

I'm sure the regular HTRZ is similar.

I like the HTRZ II, that's what I had on the Corvette. The II is a 360 treadwear tire, the HTRZ is a 160 treadwear. They are pretty sticky, but you can overheat them with two drivers at an autocross. We found that they'd get greasy for the last few runs if we didn't wet them down to cool them. I think they'll be great budget street tires for my uses.

Wow no kidding. So they would be terrible on a road course, huh?

I ran them at Nashville superspeedway and I didn't have any trouble at all. It seems to be all the sliding around and driving it with the throttle that really heats them up. I did three 20 minute sessions on them, then we autocrossed the crap out of them on my teal car with two drivers and they still had good tread on them when I sold the wheels and tires.

The HTRZ II is my favorite. They are dirt cheap and actually has a decent amount of grip. The best part is when I have some fun on the street, I don't feel like I'm leaving $20 bills on the road. I used to put the baddest street tire I could afford, like the NT05's that I had on my M3. They were incredible. So much grip. So much so, that I couldn't have any fun.

I'm sure the regular HTRZ is similar.

I like the HTRZ II, that's what I had on the Corvette. The II is a 360 treadwear tire, the HTRZ is a 160 treadwear. They are pretty sticky, but you can overheat them with two drivers at an autocross. We found that they'd get greasy for the last few runs if we didn't wet them down to cool them. I think they'll be great budget street tires for my uses.

Will the local autocrosses allow you to run those at that tread wear rating in the street classes, or ONLY in E/SP or above??

I'm not sure. I ran CP with them in the Teal Terror. I haven't run an event in about 5 years. The rules have changed since then. Worse case they can put me in SM/SM2 or CAM (if legal) or "wherever". I'm sure I'm pretty rusty and I'll just need a few events to get my reflexes back and get my wife comfortable running. If I can remember how to drive, then I might worry about what class I actually belong in.

My theory was something like this...if I buy something 200 treadwear or higher, I'd never make it to an event. If I buy these (160 tread wear) then I'm likely to wind up an event next week. That's just how things go. We'll see if I can actually get out to an event this summer.

[landstuhltaylor]

It would be a shame to take that car to an OVR event. They are using National Trails for every one now and the last time the car came back into grid with a full layer of dirt on all four Hoosiers. Better off waiting for a Toledo local

[trackbird]

It would be a shame to take that car to an OVR event. They are using National Trails for every one now and the last time the car came back into grid with a full layer of dirt on all four Hoosiers. Better off waiting for a Toledo local

Everything is being run at Trails? Wow...that's awful. I didn't know that, though I knew they built a medical building in part of the Ackerman lot and I wasn't sure where else they might be able to run. The old airport site was probably the worst one, so I was hoping they weren't running there.

[landstuhltaylor]

For now yes. I know there is some hope of getting back in at Ackerman or maybe Rickenbacker, but right now it's just talk.