Consider this the "this guy's an idiot" entertainment post for the month, but ...

... a little background is in order: I've been a member for a while, but never really introduced myself. I've been building hot rods and drag racing for 30+ years, and converted to corner burning a couple years ago. My first car was a 68 plain jane Camaro. My dad was the original owner. I bought it from him when I was 15. I've still got it, and the 68 is the subject of this post.

I started open tracking in the 68, and planned on continuing, until my wife (a much wiser person than myself) pointed out that I'd never forgive myself if I put it into the k-rail at Thunderhill, so I found a "disposable car" (her words). Successful ex-A-Sedan 4th-gen, that I bought as a roller, built too much engine and added too much brake and tire for it to be A-Sedan any more, but that's ok by me ... I really just like to compete against myself, trying to improve my lap times each outing. Besides, I'm in the San Francisco SCCA region ... and flat don't have the cash to compete in SF region ITE, which is where my 4th gen would land now. If I were to go wheel-to-wheel racing in the near future, it would probably be in NASA AIX.. and I'd be far from competitive.

But I digress ... if you've been to many track days at Laguna or Thunderhill, you've possibly run into a 69 Camaro owned by Bob Owen. If you aren't a left coast dweller, Bob's car can be viewed here:

Got Blue Milk

Bob's a great guy to talk with, and his car is amazing ... and no longer remotely resembles a 1st gen when you start popping panels and inspecting suspension, engine setback ... everything but sheetmetal.

So here's the point (finally) Every time I see Bob at the track, or even view pics of his car, I get fired up to hack the 68 into a track car like his ... my 68 is currently a fully accurate SS clone, but with full GW suspension and an aluminum big block ... a trip to Alan Blaine for a cage, a fuel cell, some fender flares, and a lot of wide rubber and I'm there ... ok I'm not really that naive, but I keep getting these crazy notions of chopping up the 68 ... I could even sell the ZL-1 and transplant the engine, trans, Kirkeys, etc from the 4th gen before parting it out ... damn, stop me before I do something stupid!

Wow. Bob's car is beautiful, truly amazing. With that said, I'd hate to see you cut up dad's car. One side of me says that building something like Bob's is a proper use for it, the other side of me says that you should start with a shell and build it from an unloved hulk. It's more money, but it preserves your baby.

I'd hate to see you do it until you're really sure.....

Instead of chopping up dad's car, sell the AS car, find a cancer ridden 1st gen, cut the floors out of it, drop it on a tube frame, go beat the crap out of it

That's what I was trying to say....

I almost did exactly that before buying the AS car, but wound up seduced by a fully sorted suspension, cage, fuel cell, everything but engine and trans for the same or less than that stock cancer ridden 1st gen would have cost ... and the AS car came with a trailer too!

I have no doubts at all the 4th gen was a smart move ... faster for far less money, around corners anyway ... I just keep eyeing the 68 in the garage and having less than intelligent thoughts... like how cool it would be if I got the 4th gen's 315's to fit. Maybe I will start looking for a p.o.s. 68 roller ...

John - IMO if the car you are driving has roots you will be less likely to drive it to its limits. I also would not sell yourself or the 4th gen short in SFR ITE or NASA Norcal AIX - the platform has a lot of potential that has not been fully realized here on the west coast. If you want a cool, quick classic for track sessions, then Ya I'd be glad to build a nice cage for the 1st gen. If you want to win races, then you need a car that you're willing to sacrifice to win - let's put that ZL-1 in the 4th gen and turn some heads!

John, nice to hear a bit more about you. Will you be at the next NCRC/ARC event? I'll be there both days April 28/ 29th at T-Hill. I'm hoping my car will be fixed then...post more about that later in the road race section!

OR, you can get just about all the sheetmetal from the aftermarket. Instead of cutting something up that has a VIN, even some badly-eaten up beater, build the cage and attach the aftermarket sheetmetal to it and you are done. No one will biach you out for using up an original car, no matter what the starting condition was.

I like the way Alan thinks

Alan & Larry: the ZL-1 in the 4th gen was my original intent, believe it or not, when I first bought the roller. Then I got the tape measure out and realized I'd have about 2" on each side between the exhaust ports and the shock towers. Don't think there's a chance a header that fit would flow, and not enough confidence in my fab skills to start hacking on the towers ... so I built a small block 383 for it instead.

Jules: I'll be at NCRC the 28th. Due to a series of small issues, the new engine only has about a session and a half on it, so I'll be taking it easy for most of the day to finish break-in ... then I'll abuse it for the rest of the summer.

I'll see you later this month then, ya got a passenger seat?

....don't chop up the classic....too many of those already.....

Buy a used pre-built race car for pennies on the dollar and make it a winner! Only way to go!

Over the last 30 years, I have owned 25 First gen Camaros. (no, really) I still have two. 5 years ago I sold an Original 74,000 mile 1968 RS to a collector in Minnesota because, I wanted to build a street/strip car I couldnt butcher this one! It still had the original paint. I found a stolen recover roller in a police impound yard auction. It isnt worth much. I can modify the hell out of it.

Ultimately, you may do what you wish with your car but, think about it before using the plasma cutter.

Also, Consider a visit to Alan's shop. He has done work on my car. He is an excellent fabricator.

"I" always look at it this way...

For the time and $$ it would take to make my first gen handle like my 3rd gen does (or for that matter did stock), it is just not worth it to "ME"

oh and that '69 = .... It may run well, but with a spolier like that... i would be tempted to run into the back of it (ok not really but you get my point)