New guy here - name is Brian, I'm a nerd (Engineer). I apologize upfront for the excessive amount of words I'm going to invariably type. I just got my first F-body. Owned a Notch 'Stang for years, sold it, went to trucks only, and now I'm back in a car. Finally.

I've known Chuck (98_1LE or some varition on here I'm sure) via the internet(s) for awhile now. He put his car up for sale and I decided to snatch it up.

98 Z28
M6 Green/Gray
116k or so
stock except factory Hurst, 1LE PHB/LCA's
Yes, stock factory installed shocks. They are awful. Very awful.



5min after I bought I took it to an ER auto-x event and finished 2 in NFS (I realize it's not quite FS, but I'm a crappy driver and borrowed all the magnets too). Which really just means the tires were good I guess (Nitto 555RII's), because the driver is a terrible idiot behind the wheel. I may have spent ~7yrs drag racing regularly, but I'm smart enough to admit when I'm no good at something - like pedaling the throttle in a turn. Also, too much trail braking and I couldn't heel-toe if my life depended on it. Straight lines are easy... Learning new things is fun, however. I'm new to the auto-x world (co-driven my bud's '05 Legacy GT a few times) - much more involved than drag racing, for sure.

Trying to hopefully probably maybe turn this thing into a semi-succesful STU car (as long as I can beat my bud I'm happy). Also planning on 1-2 HPDE's every year. I'm probably going to drive Sam Strano insane, but I'll be calling him sometime soon.

My wonderful GF got me the 10+5 package from http://www.texasdrivingexperience.com/, so I'm kinda hooked on the faster stuff. Thanks Neal Bellamy for all the tips/confidence.

Enough about me - action shots!

http://www.autocrosspictures.net/ERAutocro...s101208_130.JPG
http://www.autocrosspictures.net/ERAutocro...s101208_131.JPG
In the background:
http://www.autocrosspictures.net/ERAutocro...s101208_133.JPG
http://www.autocrosspictures.net/ERAutocro...s101208_134.JPG
http://www.autocrosspictures.net/ERAutocro...s101208_135.JPG

My bud doesn't even need to look at the cones. It's magic.
http://www.autocrosspictures.net/ERAutocro...s101208_098.JPG


Love all the tech, keep it up.

Welcome Brian! There are a lot of geeks and nerds here, you'll feel right at home. Read on, there's a lot here to help ya out. Seat time, seat time, seat time!

Hey Brian ... I almost bought that car. But glad you beat me to it.

I instructed for a long time with Neal and the gang at TDE.

If you are interested in track days, lots of opportunities around the DFW area.

Congratulations on the car. Looks like you got one with the bugs worked out!

Welcome aboard!

BTW, those 17" 555RIIs are not legal in FS unless you convert the car to an SS. I'm not saying that to be critical at all, and I'm sure nobody cares right now (I certainly wouldn't care). I'm just bringing it up to suggest you read the rulebook (if you haven't already) before you waste any time or money. Been there, done that.

I'm with you there. I'm trying to teach myself that and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere.

Welcome to the frrax!

I've gotten it down pretty well. I'm going to extend my gas pedal over to the left about 3/4" or so and I'll be a pro. Right now I put the ball of my foot on the brake pedal and rock the outside of my foot over onto the gas pedal. Just a stab is all it takes. I can do it like clock work on the street, but was about 75% doing it at nelson ledges when we were there. Any times that I missed was because my shoe slid off the side of the gas pedal and didn't move it. You won't need to heel-toe on 99% of autocross courses. I've never had to, even when I had my 305. Now with the 383 I don't even start off in 1st anymore. I just take off in 2nd and leave it there.

Sadly, the pedals in my old Toyota 4x4 were set up better for heel-toe than in my Camaro.

I raised my gas pedal a little by shortening the cable, and bent it sideways a little to get it closer to the brake. The pedal bends sideways easily, but do not try to bend it upward - it's much stronger on that axis and something will break before it bends.

Bending your pedal probably isn't fs legal, but if your car has an adjustable cable then raising it should be ok.

I haven't found heel-toe to be much use autocrossing. Most courses, especially with a big F-bod V8, are good for a 1-2 shift just after leaving the start box, and then forget about it. Use the torque to pull you out of the slow corners, as you will waste too much time in the downshift-upshift to be of any use.

I find left-foot braking to be significantly more useful, but there are some Nationals-level drivers who don't even do that.

Welcome. As others have said, read the rulebook, so you don't buy anything stoopid, and spend your money on seat time.

Thanks guys. The car is great. It's my first GM, it's not as awful as I thought, haha. Maybe on the interior side. It's not so great in that respect.

Neal was great. I made sure that he rode with me and that I rode with him. Full of tips and insight. Great experience to have him with me for that at TDE.

I've been reading quite a bit already. Yea, I have the rulebook, so it'll be all STU legal next time out.

The car as purchased has corded Nitto DR's and trashed Falken Ziex's on it. Chuck knew I was going to auto-x it, so he threw his RII's on it so I could have some fun with it. I wanted to run STU, but the tires weren't legal, so I decided to run FS were the 17"s and tires were legal, but not for the Z28, but the SS is pretty much the same thing, so I'd rather fudge that than trying to pass off RII's as legal in STU. I know, not legal, but I had limited options and class letters/magnets to use. It's a little under-prepared for a prepared class, and I don't think I had letters for that, heh. At any rate, first and only time for that.

I'm going to brave the new Kumho XS's in 285/40R17 for '09 (hoping the 285 rule change for ST and RWD sticks, heh). Need to find some SS/ZR-1s or Firehawks first, though. The stock Auburn and I didn't get along well, but I got a Torsen take-out off Chuck. Going to try to get the whole thing together (susp/tires/wheels/etc) over "winter". So yes, it'll be dual purpose, since I'm keeping it street friendly. I know, boo. Would like to run the TDE your car/our track thing and maybe MSR-H. But'll probably be TWS.

My foot doesn't like to flex that way, so I think my future as a heel-toe artist will be short and uneventful...

Like I said, no lecture intended whatsoever, just making sure you had a plan for your spending

I very rarely downshift the Camaro for autocross unless there's a VERY tight 180. Even then, it's usually not worthwhile. I can count the courses that have required it on one hand for seven years of autocrossing

On the other hand, it can be very useful for some road course turns.

Neal stopped by the shop today and we chatted for a couple hours. He mentioned you and the 2 of you working together.

Neal is a great guy. I'm trying to get him into a NASA comp license in March at MSR-Cresson, which 30 minutes SW of Ft. Worth. This will make him eligible for an 8 hour enduro in April.

No biggie. I knew it wasn't right, but it's not my normal MO to stretch the rules. My plan for spending is not conrete, which is killing me. Need to make a thread...





I'm glad/suprised he remembered me. Glad I wasn't the worst he's ever sat down with either. I'd love to have more seat time with him. I should have bought more laps, I can use all the help I can get.... He's a pretty cool guy, down to Earth, and didn't mind taking some time out of his day to talk to me.

I wouldn't be surprised. It wasn't so long ago (1998) that I attended one of his AX classes at Pennington field. And he was the same then ... always made time for any one asking questions, willing to help out and a great mentor. Your description of him is spot on.

This sport needs more folks like him.