2011 Camaro

[GUMP]

Chevy will get the same treatment when they start giving away trucks...

Actually, I spoke with people from Ford, GM, and Chrysler at the PRI show. They all want to see more of the new cars racing. It also seems that the NHRA wants a three way battle.

Because of GM's financial situation their road is a harder one to climb. You can imagine what it would take to get this approved. The first step is to prove that they can actually sell these cars if they are built. History tells that there were 69 Camaros built in 1969 that proved very hard to sell due to their high price tag and exotic race motor! Hopefully the collector status of those cars will help the new cars sell.

[Tony Curcio]

In the December 4th issue of National Dragster, there is a mention in "Bits from the Pits" about a Dodge Challenger package car at Glendora Dodge being offered at $45,000.

If the Camaro was at this price point, I might be able to find a way, especially if GMAC would finance the purchase.

[TOSTO RACING]

I think this would be a great idea. I wish they would do this.

[Chris "drooze" Wertman]

As someone involved in the fielding of a new Challenger Drag Pak, I too would be interested to see this, I like Mopars but Ill be completley honest Id run anything that could/would be competitive.

I would think it would be easier to "run up the flag pole" than many think. Someone just have to have the DESIRE inside GM, Dodge had that with the people that made the Drag Pak happen (dont forget this was BEFORE ford, although it took longer to get out and anyone woulda liked) They took orders first, when the orders were filled then they decided to and built the cars, after the orders were filled.

GM Could do this if they had someone inside willing to make it happen, the OTHER option, is for a big tuner, Hurst, hell someone with about 5 million bucks could make a 50 car program happen. (thats COSTING the cars at over 100k each) 50 cars even priced at 125-130 if they are ready to race will sell out first day, just like the Challys and the SCJs, people WILL pay it. Tuner cars are legit as long as they meet the same criteria, the could do a deal with GM to buy the bodies, co-brand the cars, and there is ZERO out of pocket risk for GM, ZERO. Downside ? None, upside ? All kinds of free press for really doing nothing more than supplying BIW's and some castings.

If I had a spare 3-5 million I would be all over this in a hearbeat, there is a potential if they are sourced cost effectivly to make a 100% profit if you could cost the cars at 50k, 20 for a well built engine from a respected builder, another 15k for cage and suspension work, say 10 for the BIW and other stock parts, costing and another 5k for tranny. Sell them for 100k everyone is happy, and there is a 3 car field...

Cmon GM fans make this happen....or someone loan me 3.5 mil and Ill make it happen.

This isnt rocket science....at least it dosent seem like it to me.

Originally Posted by GUMP

Actually, I spoke with people from Ford, GM, and Chrysler at the PRI show. They all want to see more of the new cars racing. It also seems that the NHRA wants a three way battle.

Because of GM's financial situation their road is a harder one to climb. You can imagine what it would take to get this approved. The first step is to prove that they can actually sell these cars if they are built. History tells that there were 69 Camaros built in 1969 that proved very hard to sell due to their high price tag and exotic race motor! Hopefully the collector status of those cars will help the new cars sell.

[GUMP]

Drooze,

The desire is there, but building Stock Eliminator cars is not a management priority at the moment. If this happens it will be because it makes good business sense.

My understanding is that GM likes the Ford approach better than the Challengers "kit" packaging. It is pretty obvious that most of the first batch of Mustangs have been put away. I would bet that a higher percentage of the Challengers will actually get raced. Maybe there is a place right in the middle that would put the price where racers would buy them and not just collectors?

Time will tell.

Daren

[W J]

Do a 100-build competitive LS-blower-motored, 80-90% race ready car in the 3000lb. raceweight area---just like Ford has done, cage, headers, lightweight wheels and all, and price it in the $65-75k range, and the bow-tie people will jump at the chance to own/race one. Simple, special use vehicle.... Take away a few of those GM giant executive bonus pkgs, and they could do a Camaro AND a Corvette racer...... WJ

[Byron Worner]

The new camaros should be offered with different motor combos such as LT1 or LS1 instead of just the jet airliner motor that you have to weigh 4000lbs to race. The shipping weights should be kept as low as possible for versatility.
I have a 96 camaro with an LT1 in SS/IA. Do you think a new camaro would ever fit anywhere near that???

[Alan Roehrich]

The first problem is that GM is not going to invest a ton of money in developing a new engine package. Most everything they have on the shelf already has a fairly legitimate factor on it, so to have some ringers like Ford and Chrysler have, they're going to need a new engine combination. It'll cost them $1M to get it done. GM has pulled support from winning teams in various motorsports, I'd be surprised to see them invest heavily in a program that will be at best a break even proposition.

GM asked Stock racers about this two years ago. Oddly enough, the Stock racers GM asked wanted a car with a 3000 to 3200 pound curb weight and a realistic HP factor of between 7.0 and 8.0. They expected a legitimate competitive combination, and not the abominations that have been dumped on Stock.

The program died. The way GM is being run, I have little faith in it being revived. I truly wish that were not the case. The market has already been tapped. There are a bunch of the Ford and Chrysler cars out there already, it's going to be extremely hard for GM to sell their version a year or two late to the dance, in a faltering economy. I'd love to see it happen.

[Fred Lee]

This is how I would approach this situation. Since the body in white Camaros are already available, any interested parties could add their name to a list of 50 or 100. That list could be submitted to GM. I believe this forum could set up a sample list or you could PM Daren or myself with all your contact information. That would be step 1.
Step 2 would probably require a non-refundable deposit. If there are not enough class racers to fill the list I am sure bracket racers would fill the void. At this point I would like to bring up my favorite saying for race car projects "You've got the talking part done".
Step 3 is having the solid rear axle installed in a way that is NHRA and IHRA accepted for stock class. This should be easy since the Challenger has already been legalized for it's I.R.S. replacement conversion to solid rear axle.
Since Daren already has his 2010 Camaro body in white and I am involved with a magazine project car that wants to use my 12 bolt I.R.S. replacement for the 2010 Camaro, we could handle this phase together.
The serious people will then find their own chassis builder and accomplish their goal.
Ohters may wait a year for a special price on that "onesize fits all" kit car that may never happen because of corporate politics, etc. A body in white with a "race ready" aftermarket 12 bolt solid rear axle for $100,00 is a steal in this economy. Fred Lee

[Fred Lee]

I would like to change that last sentence to read : $10,000 not $100,000. Sorry. Fred Lee