I'm planning to run the silver state classic in September. For anyone not familiar, its a 90mile race on Highway 318 in nowhere Nevada. They close down the highway for the race. Rookies are restricted to a top speed of 125mph.

http://www.sscc.us/

So has anyone done it? Any stories to share?

 

Please keep us posted. My buddies are bugging me really hard to do the Maxton Mile. I still need a cage, and I am not sure my wheels will pass. Aslo , I am not sure if they will allow first timers to eclipse 135 I need to read the website again.

I finished my car for the 3rd time this last spring, but have not updated the rear gear or axles for that matter. I was pulling 3.23s with my T56 in 6th on some Power Tour jaunts, and it was quite a sight in and out of the car. The motor not anything to spectacular but I did my homework. The chassis is pretty lined out too, I believe my custom valve bilstiens upfront are a little messed up from being fully extended for 5 years. Most of the pictures from PT with me at speed, show the front end way up.

 

Actually for 1st timers (unless you get a waiver), the rule is:

8. Participation Limit:
A. First time drivers may not enter any Division/Class above a target speed of 110 mph (unless otherwise waived by the Event Director).

I think it used to be 90 or 95, IIRC.

 

Is that for the Silver State Challenge or the Maxton Mile?

 

Silver State

 

Thanks.

 

Yes but its pretty hard to average 110 if can't go faster than 110. Like I said, rookies in ALL class 95-110 have a max speed of 125mph. You can go 125 the entire time if you want. You must have missed that in the rules.

I will be running the 110 class.

 

Will do. I'd like to do the power tour sometime. Any pics?

 

Power Tour was a good time, but my group was ready to be done on Day 7. The last three stops were in the triple digits, and it rained for the first 3 or 4 days, so keeping the rides clean was a chore. This is my third time with my old man. The memeories are always great no matter how much work it is.

As for the 135 speed limit. That is for the Maxton Mile. No the Silver State.

There is one pic down there of the front end rise I get at speed. One of my buddies got me coming off an exit ramp.

 

Beautiful ride. One of the nicest GTAs I have seen on here. And I must agree with the color choice.



I was referring to what Stephen said, not you.

 

I didn't miss anything. But you are limited to how much you can exceed the class speed your in. And you can't go too slow (for too long) either. Both will get you Disqualified.

To hit any Average speed goal, you are obviously going to have to exceed it since you are starting from 0 to start with, plus have to slow down for some curves.

 

You can average as fast as you want as long as you never exceed your tech speed, which is 125 for any rookie class. You just won't win if you go over or under. Minimum speed is 85 at all times, IIRC.

I'm not interested in arguing with you. This isn't a technical thread, I just want to talk about silver state in general. I have read the rules and know what they are. If you want to get in depth on how fast a rookie go, start another thread and I'll discuss it with you there.

Thanks.

 

I was setting my Denali up for the Silver state challenge. The biggest problem I have heard for that event is cooling. Being as you are giving it the beans for an extenended time. I had fabbed up a super duty trans cooler, rear diff cooler, and water to air intercooler on top of an already stout engine cooling package.
Unfortunately I sold it for a better tow vehicle :-(

This was my trans cooling package.



Check out the cap I put in to kick all the cooling and fuel pumps over. I did this because every once in a while, when multipl fans and pumps kicked on the ignition would cut out.

Preparing the front diff for extra cooling and and a better heat treated gear set.

 

No argument going on. We are simply saying the same thing, 2 different ways & you apparently aren't understanding that. No biggie.

 

Very cool. I have been working to make the Camaro reliable for track days at Pacific Raceway. Cruising at 125 on a two lane highway for an hour should be cake in comparison. Even a stock thirdgen should be able to do it without to much trouble. The truck on the other hand is carrying a lot more weight though.

 

So that means trying to hit a 110 mph average with a maximum top speed at any time of 125 mph correct?
And a minimum speed of 85 mph (possibly?)
Are there traps to detect speed violaters or does the opportunity exist to get on it for a prolonged period so long as you don't mess up your target average?

 

Right, 110 average. That is the fastest class you can do as a rookie. There are apparently several speed traps. If you go over your tech (max) speed through the speed trap you are disqualified and not allowed to race in future events. Its kinda a bummer, but that is the rules. 2nd year you can go much faster. I checked minimum speed is 80mph or 30 below your class, whichever is higher.

 

i havent done this, but have looked into it. I would love run in the silverstate, but its a long way from home.

 

Especially if you need a tow.

 

Yes. My biggest challenge with the whole trip is deciding whether I want to drive the Camaro from Seattle or buy or rent a tow rig.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of HAVING to tow it home.

 

Ehh about 2 years ago I started towing both my cars to competitve events and never looked back. I have so much more fun knowing I am going home no matter what.



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There's a certain cachet in driving a car to the track and peeling off a few good passes. That said, it can accompanied by that sick feeling in your gut when you think you might just have a busted your ride home.
I like to drive across the country every year or so and have often thought of packing up my slicks and taking them for the ride. There's always that "what if" in the back of my mind though.
Same would apply to the S.S.C. That's a long way for Triple A.

 

Yes. But not spending $2000 on renting a tow rig or more buying one, leaves a lot of money left over to get myself and the car home if there are issues.

I typically don't trust the Camaro outside my 200mile AAA radius, however that will not stop me from doing the trip, one way or another.

 

It's on my bucket list for sure.
Probably start off with the Maxton or something like it. I think the SSC is probably the grand daddy of open road racing. I'll have to start small.
That is if I don't bust something at the drag strip. Or getting there.

 

I was thinking about taking my GTA to this because its only up the road. I was reading in the rules and the first year you participate you are only allowed to compete in the 110 or 115 MPH class I think. I wouldn't want to go much faster anyways really for a long distance through a 120 degree desert in an all original 23 year old car. Even if I don't compete I will try to spectate this year, and the GTA will at least be there. How do you guys think an 87K mile L98 would hold up to this event if I did the 110mph class? I would of course change/flush every fluid in the car before hand and put on a set of brand new tires.

 

Check the cars out when you go there. I have been to a couple road courses and at moderate speeds cooling becomes a problem with most vehicles. From brakes to power steering. It all gets real hot, if not too hot. I have scene a couple SSC cars online and they run some good stuff.

 

I'm doing the Nevada Open Road Challenge this year, same location/rules etc as the Silver State classic, but in may instead of September. I'm planning on driving down from Canada, and unfortunately I don't think my thirdgen will be finished enough for that long of a trip. Instead I'm bringing my CTS-V, but next year I really hope to have a thirdgen there.

 

Ya know, I wouldn't expect heat to be much of a problem at Silverstate. Its a pretty straight shot, so brakes and powersteering shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time I'll be in top gear, so engine heat shouldn't be a big deal either. With that said, my car is setup for track days, so I have the necessary coolers.