I'm thinking about building a car for the Camaro-Mustang Challenge or American Iron series. Does anybody have any experience with either of these? I am leaning towards the Camaro-Mustang Challenge as I believe that may be smaller and therefore more conducive to beginners. I don't plan on starting until next season at the soonest because I would have to aquire a proper car and get a racing liscense. Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

 

I am the NASA-SE Chief of Race Control, and Mberglo here is a Time Trials veteran/soon to be AI competitor.

We'd be glad to answer any questions and/or point you to those who can.

 

I would recommend CMC or CMC-2. The difference is that CMC-2 is for 99-current Mustangs. As you probably know, AI allows for a great deal of modifications (waay expensive) whereas CMC is a mostly stock setup (still not cheap).

If you're shopping, you would do well to buy a racecar that already has a logbook. It's very expensive to build a car from scratch. Then just work your way through the HPDE driver's education program with NASA. After that, you can spend some time in Time Trials (best qualifying lap wins) or go straight to wheel-2-wheel racing. Any path will take a few years, but it is the most fun I've ever had with a car.

I guess I would first recommend you sign up for an HPDE with your current car and just see how you take to your first hit of the track pipe. LMan and I would be thrilled to help anyone local that wants to improve their driving skills.

 

I heartily second Mber's recommendation on buying a car already logbooked. They are available all the time for pennies on the dollar, and you'll save a ton of money and time.

Take it from someone (sorta)building one right now.....


I can also attest that it only takes a pitcher (well, for Mber, maybe one Zima) to get allllllll the info and advice on N.A.S.A. CMC racing you'd ever need........

 

I didn't think about buying an already built car, thats a good idea. I like the time trials idea as well, that would be a good way to sharpen my technique, or lack thereof. I looked through the rules on the NASA website for both AI and CMC. CMC is most definalty the one I'm leaning towards mostly because of the money factor. I will probably start looking for a car in about six months or so. Unfortunatly, I need to sort out a few things with the 86 before I would feel OK taking it to a track. It needs a new clutch(I think/hope), I am also in the process of gathering the parts to upgrade to 87-up brakes. I just bought Tockico HP Struts and shocks from LMan, the correct LCAs and brake parts from Andy. I still need to get some lowering springs(waiting to see what LMan wants for his BBKs) and off set rack bushings. My brakes are scary, the funny part is that they are brand new. Thats the pitfalls of owning a 4 eye, horrible brakes. Aside from the oil change, and the high speed brake fluid that NASA recommends, is there any thing else that I would need to to to my car. With the exception of a strut tower brace, subframe connectors and the soon to come 87-up brakes and such, the car is as bone stock as they come.

 

The important thing is not to have the most capable car out there the first time, just that it be in reasonable condition and safe. Its a common mistake for new people to fret over 'my cars not badazz enough for the track' for so long, they never get out there and try. You need seat time more than anything...in any car that will get you some. We've had pickup trucks, Foci, station wagons, you name it! You can learn the basics in anything!

Did I mention our worker program? If you work two of our events (corner, flagger, gofer, tech, whatever), you'll get a FREE driving-school (HPDE) weekend! That's upwards of a $300.00 value! Hows that for a great start to your journey?

RE: springs, I looked and they are actually Eibachs. I cant pull them until I get some stockers to replace them under the car...maybe Andy or someone has some junker stock springs theyd be willing to part with.....Bueller?

 

I assume that I would have to join before I could work any of the events. That isn't a problem, I actually like to work events like that. It gets me away from the daily grind. I'm not concerned with my car being badazz enough, I just want it to be safe and not roll like a Caddy. I would also like for it not to break on me. I would use my wife's car but I probably wouldn't have a wife afterwards. Pickup trucks aaaayyyy, how redneck would I be driving a 4x4 Tundra on a racetrack!!! Eibachs are cool, thats what I had on my 99 GT, good springs. I will check with Andy tomorrow when go to pick up my parts from him, I thought I saw a set last week.

 

Formula for success:

Start getting car ready
Work Barber in early June
Work Road Atlanta in mid August
Run Road Atlanta for FREE in December.