C5 Corvette for LSR and Texas mile?

[freepistol]

Would a C5 Corvette make a good place to start for a land racing/Texas mile car?  They are going pretty cheaply and one could mount any number of motors, etc.  The right tires, Harness, Roll Cage, Fire System etc.  It just seems like a good place to start.  Then again I am feeling a bit more spry after loosing 180 LBS!  I fit in my 1972 240Z just fine and my new 370Z daily driver

Thanks Guys,


(It would look pretty cool with Moon Hubcaps!)

[dw230]

Too many Z cars. Why muck up the garage with a 'vette?

DW

[SPARKY]

FreeP  ---Man,   Texans drive trucks---  lol

if you plan on pushing a 'vette very fast I would suggest you spend some time with some guys that have  FIRST---- they have several challenges, space and suspensions first come to mind

[robfrey]

I think the C5 Corvette is a great 1 mile car. Also, don't rule out the C4. You could buy a used SCCA ITE car that has a cage in it and you would not feel bad about butchering for whatever. These cars are available cheap!

[jimwebb]

FreePistol,
The most important thing is to do something and do it as soon as you can. The possibilities of car/chassis/engine/venue/budget can cause paralysis by analysis. Half the fun of whatever you are running is being dissatisfied and trying something to improve. Start as cheap as you can, because it is easier to solve the budget restrictions than anything else. You can't get appropriately dissatisfied until you get running! (oh yeah, you get happiness, too!)

[jacksoni]

I think the C5 Corvette is a great 1 mile car. Also, don't rule out the C4. You could buy a used SCCA ITE car that has a cage in it and you would not feel bad about butchering for whatever. These cars are available cheap!

Remember that many non LSR spec cages are not legal (usually tube diameter or thickness or both) so you may have to cut it out and start over.

This one might be available really cheap (one lucky guy, manner of speaking):  http://bangshift.com/blog/watch-a-land-speed-racing-corvette-suffer-a-nitrous-explosion-and-become-an-inferno-at-the-texas-mile.html

[Stan Back]

The only thing that worked well was the in-car camera.

[redhotracing]

I would start with running some N20, getting used to the car while you get all the required safety equipment in. JoeyG runs a C5 on nitrous at Ohio, has been 180's with top end work on the LS6. Find a hard top car, t-tops are a real pain.

[robfrey]

I believe the SCCA specs on roll age tubing is 1-3/4 x .120 mild which would exceed the SCTA minimum requirements.

[jacksoni]

I believe the SCCA specs on roll age tubing is 1-3/4 x .120 mild which would exceed the SCTA minimum requirements.

for a vette you are probably correct. My current (ex SCCA car) did not have a legal cage and I replaced it. There have been references to "I have a NHRA cage" car where poster gets jumped on with implications that it is not legal LSR  etc etc. Anyway, I'll change my statement from "many" to "some" . 

[robfrey]

Yes, I need to change my statement also as the roll bar restrictions change within the SCCA depending on weight.

[nrhs sales]

I would suggest using a a C5 ZO6 as the hardtop these come with makes life much easier to work with