Got to drive last year's ESP championship car
 

Over the weekend I drove the '82 Camaro that Sam Strano won last year's Solo II ESP national championship (and the car has also won a few other national championships, too). The new owner, Tyler Stewart, let me co-drive the car with him at the SCCA Pro Solo in Peru, Ind. I would call the car a "beast," but it was just so damn easy to drive! :)

The car is the epitome of the SP update/backdate rules: it has an L98, 10-bolt rear end, 4-speed T-10 tranny and rare fiberglass hood among other goodies. I think it weighed in just shy of 3200 pounds! Inside, the car looks like a POS -- roof lining sags, the speedo doesn't work, there are various holes in the carpeting ... but you forget all that when the engine rumbles to life. :)

The hardest thing was trying to get used to the notchiness of the T-10. It definietly made the car feel like a "racecar." When I first drove it around to get a feel for it, I took off in 3rd gear thinking it was in 1st. :rolleyes: Other than that, it was a blast to drive. Just point and shoot, and the car nearly drove itself.

Anyway, I finished 3rd overall in a 12-car ESP field. My first runs Saturday were a wash -- literally! -- because of a flash thunderstorm (only two other drivers in ESP were affected by the rain), so I was 11th out of 12 after the first session.

In the afternoon session Saturday, I picked up a huge chunk of time (thanks to a dry course) and moved up to 3rd. In the Sunday session, I picked up four tenths but didn't move up any in the standings -- in fact I held on to 3rd by only .003 seconds! But it was my first trophy win at a national event since the '01 Solo II Championships in DSP. Hopefully, I can start a streak next month in Topeka!

Slow 305,

Are you going to be co-driving the Camaro at Nationals?
I will be there co-driving a CP Camaro (CP46). If I get a chance, I will look you up.

As of yesterday, I'll be driving Tyler's car in Topeka. :) I'm not going out 'til Wednesday though, but Tyler should be around all week because he's running the Finale, too. It's a purple thirdgen with all the later Z28 side skirts and whatnot ... no. 87. Maybe I'll get there in time to see CP run Wednesday (and FS, too!).

I am going to be there all week. I want to see ESP and SM run. If you make it in time to see CP run...I will be in the Yellow w/ Blue stripes third gen. See ya there.

well i get to go to a sCCA race sunday. my car has a completly stock suspension and because of engine mods i am in SM it kinda sucks. There is a guy with a m-3 with a fully preped suspension that runs on slicks in my class. oh yes i am going to loose but it is going to be fun. I am thinking of switching to SM2 just to get out of this class and posibly win a race. What engine mods land you in SM? i get the suspision that i migth be in the wrong class.

Pretty much any internal engine work lands you in SM. Cams, rockers, etc., because those aren't allowed in Stock or Street Prepared.