Building a first-generation Camaro into a corner-carver has becomeextremely popular since the whole Pro-Touring movement started buildingmomentum. But Tracy Castro wasn't influenced by visions of g-machineswhen he started planning the '69 Camaro SS he'd just acquired back in1990. Even though the musclecar resto craze was in full swing at thetime, and Castro's Camaro was a genuine Super Sport with factoryfour-speed, he never considered doing the numbers-matching resto deal onit. Instead, the plan was to "build it to turn," as Tracy puts it.
Initially, the idea was to set the Camaro up for autocrossing and theoccasional road-course jaunt. The body was in good shape, as was the 350engine and the four-speed, plus it had a healthy 12-bolt rear. Thesuspension was rebuilt using aluminum bushings in the control arms alongwith Global West springs and Quickor sway bars. Once the car was backtogether, Tracy spent a year autocrossing to get the car sorted out forthe road course. But by the end of the year, he realized that the shortcourses were doing nothing to help dial the car in for road racing, andeven the long courses were only marginally helpful. The next season, theCamaro hit the racetrack.
After a couple seasons of fine-tuning the Camaro's suspension, it was acapable handler, and according to Tracy, a blast on a road circuit. Butsometime during the second season, one of Tracy's racing buddies beganassembling a '67 Mustang for the Silver State Classic, an open road raceon public highways in Nevada. Tracy helped with the car and attended theevent, and that was all it took to infect him with a new need for speed.
The following year, the Camaro was a participant in the Silver Stateevent, which really didn't necessitate much work since all of the safetygear required for the entry level class--a maximum of 110 mph--wasalready in place. Over the following seasons, he upgraded the safetyequipment, which allowed Tracy to compete in increasingly fasterclasses. Of course, the Camaro has seen other upgrades as well, like the500hp small-block and Tremec TKO II trans, which both help to propel theF-car to greater velocity. At the 2003 running of the Silver State,Tracy (along with navigator Ernie Cross) competed in the 130-mph classwith a 165 mph "tech speed"--the maximum speed that the sanctioning bodyfeels the car is safely capable of, based primarily on safety equipment.In fact, the Camaro has hit a terminal velocity of 163 mph, and Tracyreports it handles the speed with ease.
Despite the Camaro's race-bred nature, it remains a street car, and seesfrequent road use, though road course action is still the main part ofthe equation. What's in the future for the little orange screamer? Morespeed!
Engine: Chevy 350 GM Performance four-bolt-main block;SRP pistons (10.3:1), Callies forged crank, Scat H-beam rods; machinework by Joe Testa and Larry Klean/Mustang Ranch in Santa Clara, CA
Heads: Pro Action cast-iron, ported and fitted with2.05/1.65-inch valves and Jesel shaft-mounted 1.6:1 rockers
Induction: Edelbrock Super Victor Jr. intake withHolley HP 750-cfm, double-pumper carb and Holley electric fuel pump
Exhaust: Hooker Super Comp headers with 17/8-inchprimaries; custom 3-inch exhaust with SpinTech race mufflers
Front suspension: Boxed stock A-arms with Global Westaluminum bushings and springs, Koni adjustable shocks, and Quickor11/8-inch anti-sway bar; AGR fast-ratio power steering box
Rear suspension: Global West leaf springs with aluminumbushings, Koni adjustable shocks, Quickor 11/4-inch anti-sway bar
Brakes: Baer Racing 131/4-inch front, Baer 12-inchrear, all rotors drilled and slotted
Wheels and tires: OZ 17x81/2-inch wheels with YokohamaP245/45R17, front; P255/45R17, rear
Body modifications: None
Paint: Hugger Orange by Cliff Duggins of CD Body andRestoration in Oakley, CA
1969 Silver State Chevy Camaro SS
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