I'm baaaaaack!!!!!!!!

would the scca be the place to go to get information on different types of racing, and costs to get started? Also, how and when did you get started in racing?

I agree with hot chick, you should write reviews. Write your impressions on the camaro you drove, and send it to car and driver with some of your bonifides, and see what happens.

All they can do is say no. OR you end up a contributing writer. oh yeah!!

 

Depends on what type of racing you want. For road-type track racing with equally rated cars (more driver skill than overpowered engines, better competition in my opinion), then yes I would look at SCCA. If you want more hole shot quarter mile type stuff (anybody can drive in a straight line ) then you should look into a local drag strip club. Plus there's stuff like cart racing (overpowered go carts on major, serious steroids, fun as heck!), time trials (the only stuff I'd do these days, keeps you away from the "rubbing is racing" crowd), various styles of dirt track (Late model, Limited E-Model, Sprint, and Outlaw, stuff like that) and blacktop (same list as before). Again, if you're interested I'd look local for all that stuff.

I'm lucky in that I live in a racer's paradise. I've got three or four dirt tracks within driving distance, Erie Speedway for my blacktop fixation, plus a few airport runway "flash light drags". We won't discuss the somewhat frowned upon (and massively illegal, like, everywhere!) street racing.

 

A racing paradise indeed! I live near Gateway International in the St. Louis area plus a few dirt tracks, and drag strips. Did the drag race thing when I was younger, but always liked the skill involved in road racing and rallys. Go Karts are out,(picture jabba the hut in nomex and helmet). All tho it would be fun.

Time trials sound like an inexpensive way to have fun behind the wheel. Where would I find info on that? At my age, challenging myself is a good place to start.

thanks for the reply.

 

Hit the tracks and start asking around during race day. Those are the guys and gals who would know. I got nothing on the St.Louis area, other than the fact I've seen some hot rides I wouldn't mind going pinks on (if I still had my old Cutlass, at least. She never saw a set of taillights).

 

You would have loved racing on Hall st. in st. louis in the 60's then. 4 lanes, straight for a mile, no traffic after dark. (well, almost none.) Drag racers would meet there, and it was run what you brung for whatever you wanted to wager. Some guys would even trailer some serious rides there to race. Then when the cops decided enough was enough, they opened a fire hydrant, wet down the street, and that was it for the night.

Fun times in the 60's (sigh)

 

The flats in Cleveland shortly after the movie "The Fast and The Furious" came out. Fun times for those of us who showed up with REAL American Muscle. Used to take those poor ricers for $200 a run. No replacement for displacement, boy howdy!

Unfortunately, the lil' buggers have caught up and are churning some really impressive horsepower and torque out of insanely small engines. A big 5.7L can still hold its own these days, but a 5.0L is gonna hurt if it isn't tuned and geared just right. And that's against hopped up 2.2 and 3.1L motors!

 

Yeah, back in 60's it was the "no substitute for cubic inches" vs. the "high revvin' small blocks". All detroit iron. One notable car from my home town was a 1965 Ford galaxie 500
with a factory 427 w/dual quads and a top loader 4spd. Hot stuff back then.

 

Still hot stuff today. It's hard to beat a big block, unless you can get it on distance. Those monsters ate fuel like I eat Cheeto's! Pass anything but a gas station, indeed!

On the other hand, you could drive those old Galaxie 500's through a ditch and not notice. It had a smooth ride that could not be beat, not even by Cadillac or Lincoln of the time.