mnorton

Does anyone have a Players bin file from the ECU that they would be willing to share? I'm interested in seeing the timing advance table.

Tz_89_Z

Wait, if my car is actually an R7U its eligible to race, that sounds awesome.
so where would I have to go to find that info? any gm dealer? and what info would you need from me to find out who drove it, if it was actually raced,
even if its not im still very very happy with the car, it handles like its stuck to the road and the amount of power is incredible, its just a beautiful car overall,
she did come with a couple problems but that is where u guys could help me out, anyways if you have more on the players series feel free to share the wealth

koserv

Hey Mark,

I just picked up a 91 1LE with the R7U code. I'm looking for any and all info I can get on the car....racing history (if any), interesting facts, "street value", clubs, etc. Any help, links, info would be appriciated. Vin 1G2FW23F0ML20***7

Attached Images

91 1LE.jpg (820.1 KB, 62 views)

Mark_ZZ3

I've massed quite a collection, so I can certainly help out. You'll need to find out if your car was raced or if it was a spare. Check for signs of a role cage being installed ... or if your car still has original paint, then it was never raced.

Drop me an PM with your email.

Mark.

koserv

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the quick come-back. I suspect it was a spare. Looks like original paint and no obvious roll cage attach points. It does have what looks like decal fades on the back bumper so I was hoping it had a pedigree. I'll crawl under tomorrow and check for bolt holes. I do have the owner (registration) history so that may help. Like I say, any info you can provide as I figure out exactly what I have here will be a great help. As soon as I figure out how to get you a PM (newbee to the world of message boards) I'll forward contact info....

Thanks!

Mark_ZZ3

Got your emails and PM's. I'm sure I have info you'd find interesting. We can still order some of the decals your car may have had - at least the windsheild one is the best looking on a white car. Talk to you soon.

Mark.
http://www.playerschallengeseries.ca

Tz_89_Z

I think I sent you an e-mail from vfbody about the exhaust set up on our players cars, havent gotten a reply, maybe it didnt go through? but yeah I'd be very interested in this info too, e-mail is R-tony-z@hotmail.com, hope to hear from you soon .

heres my vin if it helps at all, 1G1FP21F3KL15***1

thanx

ta3ff

I think this one is fake, it has t-tops.

http://fresno.craigslist.org/car/413240508.html

coldblooded

i dont know alot about the players cars, but i dont know what u mean by a fake, it doesnt say its a players car and if you mean the 1LE, well you could get that without it being a players choice car

okfoz

Also in Canada if you were a Owner or Driver for the Players series you could have gotten a 1LE with T-tops, AC the whole bit for driving on the road if you wish. I have seen one with a SPID sheet & all... I am not entirely sure how it worked but I know a few 1LE cars did come with Everything.

That particular car on Craigs List appears to be someones modification. Or it just has the Aluminum Driveshaft which is not that uncommon since it was also available w/o the 1LE.

John

Mark_ZZ3

Not sure about this. Certainly GM Execs could order unusual things, but there wasn't any published information about drivers being able to order stuff. Rather they were encouraged to drive their cars ON THE STREET. So no need to order an AC model. Actually prior to 1990, all cars had to be registered and licensed.

I've seen a T-top 1LE car locally here a while back. Rather odd. You'd have to trace it's history to see who ordered it or if it was a GM exec car.

Mark.

player 88

One way to verify is to contact GM Canada Vintage. You give them the VIN number and they will give you a package with all the optons etc. they verfied that mine was ordered as a Players car. is costs $45 CDN in 2004george.zapora@cc.gmcanada.com

Mine is 1988 IROC, A4U car. It does NOT have a 1LE code, no players would have had them until 1989. Hoever mine does ahve the PBR brakes all arond, NO A/C , 305 speed B/W 9 bolt differential etc.
there were 4,705 camaros IROC/Z28 midel number 1FP87 22DR- sport coupe imported into Canada that year, and 71 with A4U. Sold by Applewood chev. in Mississauga. and yes it was raced!!! ouch has scars and is still being raced.

steve

okfoz

A few years ago one came up on ebay, he had the SPID sheet & everything with the 1LE, the A4U, CC1 & AC... I wish I would have saved the SPID sheet as it was really an unusual car...

John

Mark_ZZ3

A4U was a player's only code. There isn't any chance it would have come with A/C, T-Tops, etc. Granted I have not documented each car, but I can almost account for all of the A4U cars in the series. In order for A4U to be processed (same as R7U), you had to be a registered driver with the series. Gm Motorsport had to approve the order. Consider the engines were specially built for the series too ... not that GM wanted to sell these to the public (higher cost to produce).

I expect 1LE + A/C + T-tops seems to be something that happened. I am very doubtful that a player's car would be that way ... but who knows, one may have been specially ordered. I could ask the GM engineer who worked on it and see if he remembers anything special being ordered.

Mark.

okfoz

I should probably retract my statment, I am sure i am right but without any proof I am spinning my wheels like having the axel on jack stands.

I degress.


John

coldblooded

were firebirds and camaros the only cars used?

Mark_ZZ3

I think we have all been proven wrong or right ... GM did many one-offs. I don't discount the fact that there might be one. Seems finding a 1LE with no options is more uncommon than one with options.

Mark.

Mark_ZZ3

Quote:
Originally Posted by coldblooded
were firebirds and camaros the only cars used?

The Canadian Player's series used Camaros and Firebirds only. There was also a Corvette challenge series which ran in the US - 89-90 range. Can't recall.

Mark.

BarryT

Mark; I just wanted to let you know that I have a 1991 Camaro 1LE,R7U. It has a 305 with 5 speed, exterior colour white, interior grey. I live in Nova Scotia. The car was raced, by whome I have no idea, but the strut towers are scribed in diferent areas, I,m guesing for quick alignment changes at different tracks. As well the car was equiped with a rollbar. If you have any idea how to go about getting the history of the car, your input would be appreciated. Thanks

BarryT

Mark, Barry here again, I also noticed when I pulled the interior out of the car there were spots on the floor where the paint was scorched, I think from the exhaust. Is that possible?

Mark_ZZ3

Hi Barry. I responded to your email.

Yes, on most race cars you will see scribe marks are the strut towers for different locations. Usually setup for a specific track.

The exhuast was routed pretty close under the car and in places where it was not designed for. So certainly it would have gotten hot. And often the side pipes got hammered up from road abuse, so one might have been sitting abit close.

It's a race car ... there will be many "unique" characteristics. :-) But look at it this way ... every dent and every misaligned body part has a story to tell.

Mark.

Todd Nichol

Hello All,

My name is Todd Nichol, and I raced in the Player's/GM Motorsport Series for 4 or 5 years. Over that time I bought a few new Trans Ams for the series (for some reason I kept wearing them out each season!), I still have the last car that I raced in the final season of the series. It hasn't turned a wheel since the last East/West shootout event in Quebec, and sits in my race shop still decalled in series livery, complete with cage, fire bottle, seat, rims, etc. My daughter thinks she'll get her hands on it some day!!

Although these days I get my racing fix from the Nascar Canadian Tire Series, as well as competing in the WEST Tour, I hope some day to find time to fire up the old Trans Am and maybe compete in a Vintage Event or two.

The Players/GM Series was a great series; it afforded many Canadian racers the opportunity to compete in a truly professional environment at some great venues like the Toronto and Vancouver Indy's, Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Mont Tremblant, and Mosport, just to name a few.

I believe Mark has some pictures and info that I've provided him; if anyone happens to get into Edmonton some day feel free to contact myself and I'll be happy to show you the car and shop.

Todd Nichol

Mark_ZZ3

Hi Todd. Glad you stopped buy. Great to hear from a driver/owner. Your car is one of a few survivors from the series. Great to hear it's still in "as-raced" condition. I can offer that the car looks great ... have few pics of it. The car still has the ultra rare brake cooling ducts as supplied from GM.

It's surprizing to think of Vintage racing, but the Player's cars now qualify for some series. Out east there is a Vintage class which is 20 years. Out West, the Champ car race had a vintage class this year. It will be fantastic to see a few Player's cars take up the class. I hope to have one of my cars ready to race ... just need to find an original Player's series driver to take it out (although I'd love to drive it).

Many thanks for the information you provided. Certainly helped bridge a few gaps. My information collection is now well over 2000 pages, pictures, tapes, etc. Now to get that book underway .. :-)

Mark.
PS. Cameron Hope also dropped in to say Hello a while back.
PS#2. I can post a pict of your car here if your OK with it.

Mark_ZZ3

(cross posting this here)

I am very happy to be able to provide some pictures of some ultra rare GM race only f-body parts. Below are pictures of a racing exhaust system built for the 87-92 Player's Challenge series races in Canada. This exhaust system was available over the parts counter to racing teams and was required to be installed on the race cars.

The system is "bolt on" in the sense it replaces the main crossover (notice the lack of the dual cat N10 setup). The side pipes install in place under the door sill area and exit just infront of the rear wheels.

The chrome extensions are 1970 Chevelle SS parts that have tabs welded on the inside with threaded holes to allow for an aluminum cap to be put on. The design allowed for driving the car to the track with closed exhaust, and then upcap the exhaust for the race.

While the HP gain was minimal, the exhaust was really for the fans. In 1986, they had only a passenger side exit. By 87, then added the driver's side for true exhaust so they could assault the fans on both sides of the track.

This exhaust system is BRAND NEW, NEVER INSTALLED. Still has the tags and part numbers intact. It was an unbelievable find and a part of history. I'll be blueprinting the setup and taking better pictures as time permits.

I could not wait to post up some picts. Early Christmas!

Enjoy.

Mark.

Here are the pipes unassembled. 3 parts made up the package.


Here they are loosely assembled.


Here is a close up of the side pipe. There are some strange bends to get out and under the door.

Mark_ZZ3

* Web site update *

I've added a bunch of magazine articles to the Player's web site. They provide a good summary and history.

http://www.playerschallengeseries.ca/Mag_articles.htm

Todd Nichol

Hi Mark,

OK to post pictures.

Thx,

Todd