V8 StockCars at the ARRC

When the SCCA’s National Championship event, the Valvoline Runoffs, moved from Road Atlanta to Mid-Ohio in 1994 there was a gap in the track’s schedule that needed to be filled with a major spectator event. Atlanta Region SCCA resurrected an old name, the American Road Race of Champions, and created a “National Championship” event for cars that are not in National classes and therefore cannot compete at the Runoffs. Over the ensuing years the ARRC has indeed become a premier event with an entry of over 300 cars and drivers from all over the eastern United States . And while a preponderance of the cars at the ARRC fall into various Improved Touring classes, the event also features a race for ground-pounding American stock cars that run in the increasingly popular V8 StockCar series. With over 50 entries in 2005, the Big Bore race was one of the best of the weekend. Based on participation so far this year, indications are the entry list will be even longer the weekend of Nov. 9-12, 2006 .

Although all the cars run at the same time, there are four classes in the V8 Stock Car series making up a “race within a race”. The V8GT1 cars are mainly former Trans-Am series vehicles that feature (well) upwards of 600 horsepower, 14” wide racing slicks, big brakes, swoopy bodies and wings instead of the blade spoilers common on most circle-track cars. These tend to be the fastest cars on the track, hitting top speeds of over 170 mph on the mile-long Road Atlanta back straight and turning lap times in the 1 minute, 25 second range. Primarily featuring Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs (plus the occasional highly-modified Monte Carlo ), the V8GT1 cars are clearly distinguished from the rest of the V8 Stock Car classes.

V8 Stock Car (V8SC), V8 Grand National (V8GN), and V8 Late Model (V8LM) are all very similar to each other in appearance. All feature a purpose-built tube frame chassis, V8 power (naturally), 10”wide steel wheels and circle-track style bodywork. The V8GN cars tend to be former NASCAR series rides with metal bodywork and up to 800 horsepower at the higher end while the V8SC cars have similar engine rules but composite bodies and a lower minimum weight. The best cars in both these classes will still run 170 mph on the back straight, but the more restrictive rules keeps the lap times in the 1:29-1:30 range at Road Atlanta.

The V8LM cars follow the same chassis rules at the V8SC cars, but the engines are limited to around 500hp by more restrictive rules designed to keep costs down. That’s still enough power to get your attention, however, and these cars top out at over 160 mph heading into Turn 10 with lap times around 1:32-1:33 for the fastest cars in the class.

Regardless of your budget and skill limits, any of the cars in the V8 StockCar series possess enough horsepower to get sideways in a hurry and still make a glorious sound to those brought up around American muscle cars. Come on out to Road Atlanta the weekend of November 9-12 to see what road racing is all about. Wander around and check out the various vantage points early in the weekend to find your favorite spot. But make sure you’re at that location with beverage of choice in hand the cooler tops securely fastened when the V8 StockCar group takes to the track on Saturday afternoon. It’ll be a hoot!

For more information about the ARRC, see www.ARRC-Online.com. For additional info on the V8 StockCar series, visit www.V8StockCar.com.

Lime Rock Park, August 2006

Lime Rock Park is a true drivers course situated in the rolling his of Connecticut and is subject to many restrictions by the local community. Sound is a big issue there and I quickly became a “notable” driver to the Stewards. My car was putting out 107 dbls and the max was 103. Who told me these cars weren’t that loud? Anyway, I was tormented by the chief of sound the whole weekend. I also sit on the Board of Trustees for NJ with our Chief of Sound and the guy apparently took pleasure in cutting me no slack!

Qualifying was cut to four laps when I was black flagged and told that one more violation and I have to park it. The Steward explained that I should take my qualifying time, hit the paddock and get it quieted down for the race. We had already blown a sound deflector off the car so we set out for a pair of angled pipes. Some Mustang guys helped us out and we were able to weld and fabricate together a respectable set of pipes that aimed at the ground.

We were 10^th on the grid of 25 and the plan was to take it easy on the first corner as Big Bend is known for collecting cars on the start. The first few laps were very clean and then our group got held up by a Trans Am car that must have been having motor trouble. I saw several cars tap him accidentally before we got around him. I was careful to lift by the sound truck and did my best to avoid the black flag. Unfortunately the pipes didn’t really do the trick and I saw the first of what I was told would be three black flags – the third being “you’re done”.

Following the first flag my clutch began to have trouble. No smells, she just stopped grabbing. A couple of friend said it sounded like we had about 800 hp on the front straight but it really was the car revving like crazy with little power making it to the wheels. We parked it and ended up next to DFL. The best time was a 1:01 which is only slightly better than what we could do with the ITS car, but LRP felt awfully small with a high HP car. Finishing results were 1) Tavalocci 57.01 2) Matinelli 58.2 3) Scott 58.9 4) Parlato 1.00.4 5) Fernandez 1.00.2

Still getting that clutch figured out as we head to Watkins Glen for the Fun One – this event is one of the best all season and BigSpeed Racing is looking for overall victory!

Vice President

New Product Development

Realogy Corporation

V8 Stock Car – North Update – Watkins Glen, July 2006

B. Phillips – BigSpeed Racing

 The conditions for testing at Watkins Glen this July were outstanding and many cars took the opportunity to tune for speed. I had the BigSpeed ASA Monte Carlo fresh from Hamke after a new front clip was installed making the car a true road race setup. After some help from the Dobyns, I had the gearing properly setup for the track and was very pleased with the setup. Handling was excellent and braking was better than expected.

 Qualifying on Saturday was a total washout and only six big bore cars hit the track in a total monsoon. Peter Andrighetti had an altercation and had his GT1 Trans Am car pulled back on a rope (good news was he had her ready for Lime Rock one month later.) I ended up drawing 14^th starting position in the middle of the pack.

 The start was clean but I was held up behind an AS Mustang who just parked it in T1. Not wanting to demolish my car again I took it easy and just waited until I was able to clear the slow cars and set sail for the front. The race was a blast as I was able to catch cars with ease, the power of these stock cars combined with the low weight makes them tremendously competitive. We were running SPO and were able to run down everybody to take the lead around lap 4 or 5. I was able to out brake 911 cup cars and one 911 Turbo – that is saying something for these stockers. I settled into a groove and slowly but surely Brian Dobyns in his black ASA car was reeling me in. Finally he caught me in the bus stop and instead of making him grind me for the spot I pointed him by and then made chase for the rest of the race. I was able to hang with him for most of the race but he put about 10 car lengths between us by the time the checker fell.

 Considering this was the first race after a ferocious wreck I was very pleased with the car and the finish. Top five were 1) Dobyns, 2:06.9 2) Phillips 2:07.9 3) Brown 2:09.2 4) Hulse 2:11.0 5) Arey 2:10.9

Tony Ave Racing announces the opening of a full service manufacturing, fabrication, repair and prep business in the Charlotte, NC area.Included are full paint and body services, chassis plates and jig services, and all fabrication needs for the motorsports, showcar, and street rod indusrties. We currently are maintaining a full time Trans-Am car, a full time AGT car, we are building showcars for Nascar sponsors, and are looking to expand our road racing customer base. O f special interest is the various stock car road racing series' such as the V8 stock car series. We have chassis, engines, and a complete inventory of parts in stock. For more info contact us at tonyave4@aol.com, or call Tony at 317-258-3840. Our website is tonyave.com