Imagine, if you would, a young boy - 16 maybe, just got his driver's license. He has been consuming Hot Rod and Racing magazines like they were popcorn for 2 years. A car nut. You. Me. And one day he is roaming around on the Family place - bored out of his mind, while Mom and Dad visit with Gramma. He goes into the barn where the equipment used to be kept. The tractors are all gone now - mostly back to the bank. There is a small Ford with a brush hog hooked up to it, and and old side rake and baler. The new round bales turned those into scrap iron.
And, whoa... what is that? "Holy Shit! Where did that come from?" It is a mess for sure. But there it is, a '68 GTO. The engine looks like it is half assed intact. What? a 400 I think. Still a Pontiac tho... lots of stroke.
You run back to the house, into the kitchen where they are all visiting over coffee and punkin pie. You get a piece of pie and nibble at it while you await your chance. The old man has taught you good - you don't interrupt. You figet, let 'em know you want to say something. "What?" you are finally asked.
"Gramma? What's the deal with the old Pontiac up in equipment shed?"
"I don't know," she responds, "ask your father. It's his."
You turn to your Dad. "It was my first car." he says. "Hell, we started our family in the backseat of that thing". He winks at your Mom and she turns crimson and shoots him a warning glance.
"Does it run?"
"It used to. Probably needs a battery now. I thought you were wanting to get that Integra down at Nelson's Acura."
"Well yeah, but that is pretty expensive and the old GTO is sort of cool."
So after a couple weekends, and a lot of the money you had saved up for the Integra, you get it running. People laugh at your junker, but they don't do much more than laugh. You can leave most of them in tire smoke at any light in town.
Then one day you are busted. Reckless driving -accelleration exhibition they call it. Insurance is going to go through the roof, the old man is pissed. The only thing that can save your ass is that the cops have a program. Kids who get busted street racing have a chance to become involved in a real racing program. They have a test track West of town. You can go out there with your car and learn to really drive, not just peel out at a stop sign. And once a month there are races out there. Real races... and you can win money...
*********
That is what I am thinking of when I think of D and C classed Muscle cars. Doing the best with what you got.
From an "outsider's" point of view, D and C class is very much the domain of the rocket spec... which I frankly consider an exploit and won't use. I'd love to do more with classes and tracks where you don't normally see a lot of Chargers and Chevelles, though.
Exactly. First there is the "image" of Muscle cars. For that reason alone I would say that the Chevelle and the Charger were not eligible for either of these classes. There is just too much "stink" on them.
I'll gladly use a Muscle car in any class I've just got a few projects too many to go QR-ing any at the moment. Maybe it is time to try a lower class Muscle build or two. If nothing else it could be an exploratory mission. Hmmm.....
Aye, there is the rub. I too have too much going on in my garage to take on another project. That is why this a thread instead of a challenge.
But after the decks start to clear a bit, I think this would be cool. Perhaps we can take another step toward clearing their name.
And if the Cobra can be fun, how much trouble can a Z-28 on stock or Y tires be?
$
