Dan's 97 Camaro part 2

[formula218]

Yes their clamps BLOW!! I swapped them out for the also cheap but at least effective U-bolt style and mine has been fine. A few V bands could make their kits much nicer.

[MP81]

Those look like just single round clamps? I can't imagine those even can provide any kind of clamp load.

U-bolts do work well (once), but stepped band clamps really do an awesome job.

[DanDalessandro]

I bought some new clamps. Just have to take the time to install them. A little bit of work will be performed next week. July 28th is my autocross event at Waterford Hills. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[DynoDave]

July 28th is my autocross event at Waterford Hills.

THAT will be fun. Never seen an AutoX run there before. Who organizes that? Is it a Detroit SCCA event?

[DanDalessandro]

THAT will be fun. Never seen an AutoX run there before. Who organizes that? Is it a Detroit SCCA event?

It's actually an open track day. Had a brain fart when I said it was an autocross. It's being put together by the car club for Oakland University. Mainly my friend is doing all the work to put it together. I'm excited for it. Spilled ice tea in my car so I removed 3 of the seats. Likely just going to steam the whole thing. Also got my tan door panel in! Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[DanDalessandro]

I had my first track day. Let me start off by saying, if you haven't done a roadrace event. DO IT. I've never had so much fun in my car. This event has converted me to the twisty side. This was at waterford Hills track. The car did well for a fbody on a handling dominated track. The brakes were fantastic. I didn't really have much brake fade. I was running carbon metallics from orielly with c5 brakes. Lots of body roll, lots of sliding in my seat, lots of fun. First run https://youtu.be/_PZnKVTODH4 https://youtu.be/rXwBJU6e8PA Second run https://youtu.be/uxz3AKrp7LA Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[MP81]

Looks like a blast! I'd love to get the Balt out on one, but my brakes are shit.

Turning is definitely a lot of fun - always enjoyed the AutoX's at school.

[DanDalessandro]

It's definitely way more fun. Signing up for the next outing. Can't wait! Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[DynoDave]

Good stuff! Not surprised you enjoyed it. I've never had a chance to get on a "real" track with one of my cars, but we did run a high speed AutoX at the local airport when I was in college. And of course, it was more fun than the std. lower speed AutoX, which I enjoyed as well.

[DanDalessandro]

Allllrriiight. Went back to waterford again today. Had even more fun. There were a lot of decent track cars there today so I got passed a lot lol. Those focus rs are pretty damn fast around this handling track. Got a lot of help from other racers.. Giving me tips on how to hit apexes better. I was told by most that I need tires and frankly I agree. There was a group of 5th gen guys there and they came over to me and chatted with me. Older guys, it was real great. Road racing people are nicer lol. My current tires are all seasons and I think it's time I get at least summer tires for Woodward and road race activities. I'm fairly certain I want to go with 18inch c7 Z06 wheels from oewheels. I know I'll be adding more weight, but I'm not trying to win championships here . I want to have MORE fun! Right now, I think any "performance summer tire" will be better then what I currently have. The track pics are my fastest laps of the day. Slow car though hah Videos https://youtu.be/AtL2LrRVlM4 https://youtu.be/iCBgyhcFOow https://youtu.be/mL6GHzxQXmo Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[MP81]

Any extra wheel/tire weight you add will be more than compensated by the fact you'll be able to grip in turns.

Tires are everything - they can make a slow car fast. If you can swing it - get a set of lighter racing wheels and then some serious tires on those.

Otherwise - Max or Extreme Performance Summer Tires are where you'll want to look. Pilot Super Sport (or the Pilot Sport 4S, which replaced it) are always a great choice, but for higher performance (at the expense of comfort/noise), you'll want to go up to something along the lines of a BFG Rival, Bridgestone RE-71R or a Direzza ZII Star Spec.

For what it's worth, I run Direzza ZIIs all summer in the Cobalt, and while I really bought them to AutoX (and never have since buying them), they make a huge impact on the street, too.

[landstuhltaylor]

PSS tends to chunk the shoulders when they get hot on track. They really cost too much and don't last long enough to be good for shredding on a track. If you want wider than a 255 you want 18s. There is also no such thing as too wide. I'm partial to 18x12s myself

[DanDalessandro]

Any extra wheel/tire weight you add will be more than compensated by the fact you'll be able to grip in turns. Tires are everything - they can make a slow car fast. If you can swing it - get a set of lighter racing wheels and then some serious tires on those. Otherwise - Max or Extreme Performance Summer Tires are where you'll want to look. Pilot Super Sport (or the Pilot Sport 4S, which replaced it) are always a great choice, but for higher performance (at the expense of comfort/noise), you'll want to go up to something along the lines of a BFG Rival, Bridgestone RE-71R or a Direzza ZII Star Spec. For what it's worth, I run Direzza ZIIs all summer in the Cobalt, and while I really bought them to AutoX (and never have since buying them), they make a huge impact on the street, too.

Honestly, I think any summer tire will be an upgrade. I'm trying to stay on a budget here. Don't want to go too crazy with the $$ right now.

PSS tends to chunk the shoulders when they get hot on track. They really cost too much and don't last long enough to be good for shredding on a track. If you want wider than a 255 you want 18s. There is also no such thing as too wide. I'm partial to 18x12s myself

Those are some wide wheels. I plan on running 18x10.5 wheels from OEWheels and from what I'm reading, you may or may not need a spacer. Guess I gotta Google.com more Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[landstuhltaylor]

Depends on the tire you run on it. With a 315 Hoosier the +54 wheels still rubbed even with a 1/2" spacer. With a street tire I don't think it would have even with less spacer. Then again, I have to run bone stock inner fender wells in the back so YMMV

[MP81]

PSS tends to chunk the shoulders when they get hot on track. They really cost too much and don't last long enough to be good for shredding on a track. If you want wider than a 255 you want 18s. There is also no such thing as too wide. I'm partial to 18x12s myself

Agreed - PSS is great for the street, and maybe AutoX, but you don't want to get them hot. And yes - expensive because Michelin.

If you get a second set of wheels and are really dedicating yourself to it - R-compounds or slicks will do you best.

Otherwise, I think you can swing an RE-71R or ZII SS (or something similar) and have great on-road performance, on-track performance at the cost of tread-growl that sounds like an A/T tire.