4th Quarter 2005.indd

4th Quarter | 2005 | #04
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS
04 | OUR GARAGE
FEATURES
08 | EVENT COVERAGE
Bfest
05 | READERS RIDES
26 | CLUB INSIDER
34 | IMAGE MANIPULATION
35 | WRECKAGE
12 | THE QUEEN Z
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
16 | FEROCE
1985 Pontiac Fiero SE
20 | CAVYTECH
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
24 | EVENT COVERAGE
3rd Annual V6Z24.com Bash
28 | EVENT COVERAGE
1st Annual GM Small Car Bash
32 | BEGINNER
Drag Racing & Autocrossing
Domestic Driver News:
Cartoons created by Chris Beach
Cover created by Eric Wood
WHAT IS DOMESTIC DRIVER MAGAZINE?
A quarterly printed magazine featuring Chrysler, Dodge,
Ford and GM Small to Mid-Sized Cars from 1980+
This will be the last printed issue for a while.
We have decided to switch the magazine to an E-Zine
format so we can provide more pages of higher-quality
content without raising the price. Once we have enough
subscribers to print in larger quantities, Domestic
Driver will return to the printed format.
We want to sincerely thank all of our advertisers who have supported us over this past year. We hope
they will stay with us through these temporary changes.
Domestic Driver will continue to offer more online content for the small to mid-sized American car owner than
any other. Please visit www.domesticdriver.com for
information on accessing the temporary format.
If you already have a subscription, we will
transfer your balance to the E-Zine. The new E-Zine
pricing will be between $8-$15 a year, depending on
the frequency of issue-release. Again, without the cost
restrictions associated with printing, we will be able to
provide our readers with more amazing cars, articles
and automotive information.
Domestic Dr i v e r | | | 3
OUR GARAGE
Welcome to the 4th quarter issue of
Domestic Driver Magazine. We hope you enjoy this
issue which features plenty of car show coverage
and featured rides. In 2006 we want to include
more event coverage, tech articles, how-to’s and
more overall content. A lot of changes will be
accuring this coming year so be sure to check out
www.domesticdriver.com for all the news.
Our Garage is our place to speak freely.
It contains announcements regarding the magazine,
and information on what readers have done to their
cars. This will be the only page that may not contain
car-related information.
2006 SUBMISSION DATES
January/February
- Submission deadline: December 1st
- Available around: January 1st
March/April
- Submission deadline: February 1st
- Available around: March 1st
May/June
- Submission deadline: April 1st
- Available around: May 1st
July/August
- Submission deadline: June 1st
- Available around: July 1st
September/October
- Submission deadline: August 1st
- Available around: September 1st
November/December
- Submission deadline: October 1st
- Available around: November 1st
STAFF
Owner and Layout Designer
Jonathan Maynard
Senior Editor
Andrew Cleaver
Graphic Designers
Chris Beach and Eric Wood
ABOUT THE MAGAZINE
Domestic Driver Magazine is a place to
show what you can do to with your car while learning
what others American-car enthusiasts are doing as
well. We hope to become a catalyst in increasing the
domestic tuner population.
This magazine is family-friendly and
therefore does not feature female models. Domestic
Driver is intended for those who want to focus on
domestic cars.
We are a Christian-owned and operated
magazine, so putting cars first in a person’s life is
not our goal. We also don’t want drivers to endanger
themselves or others because of unwise choices. After
all, there are many more important things in life than
cars; like having faith in Christ and accepting Him as
Savior and Lord - so if you were to die you would
have eternal life with Him in heaven.
4 || | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING TO DOMESTIC DRIVER
Featured Rides Checklist:
• 10+ pictures taken with a 5MP+ digital camera (exterior, interior, trunk, engine...)
• 8-20 paragraph article written in the third person. Please don’t simply write a history of your car. Try to
make it interesting and different. Write about how it handles and what the modifications have improved or
anything else you think should go in there.
• Modifications list categorized by Performance / Audio & Visual / Control / Show
• Any extra’s such as dyno sheets, 0-60mph times, track times...
Reader’s Rides Checklist:
• 4+ pictures taken with a 3MP+ digital camera (exterior, interior, trunk, engine...)
• 1-2 paragraphs about your car - not including modifications.
• Modifications list categorized by Performance / Audio & Visual / Control / Show
How To
Should contain at least four pictures (taken with a 3+ MegaPixel camera) of the steps taken in the how-to.
Must include a complete article that provides our readers with a step-by-step guide to the final result.
Computer Edited Photo
Must have at least 2 images (before and after) at a resolution of 3MP+. Please include any tips you might
have for our readers and how you made it.
Product Review
If you have road tested a new product please send us several pictures and include a full article describing
your thoughts about it, how it performed or looked, and if you would buy it again or not. Give it a rating
if you would like.
News
If you have any inside information be sure to send it to us first! We are all about exclusives!
Club Insider
If your mostly-domestic car club would like some exposure all you have to do is send some photos of your
club members’ cars in a group and individually with an article about the club and each member’s car.
Events
If you have attended any domestic car related event, please send us all the pictures that you have of the
event. Please include a 4-20 paragraph article on the event along with the event results.
Wreckage
Must have at least 1 picture (taken with a 3+ MegaPixel camera) of a wrecked or severely damaged
domestic compact. Please include the story of how it happened.
Letters
To be in the Letters section Email us something about the Domestic Sport Compact scene in general or the
magazine.
Anything else
We are always looking for new stuff to put in our magazine. Just send in your ideas. Rally action is always
good. So are drifting, burnouts and track race-pictures and information.
Things to remember when submitting
All pictures that you send to us must be your own pictures that you took or have permission to give us.
Please include who we should give credit to for the submission. You may also include your e-mail address
so readers can contact you with any questions they may have. By sending in your articles and photos you
are giving us full rights to it. Also, please keep all submissions exclusive to us until after we have printed
and distributed the issue containing your submission.
If your submission is used you will get a free copy of the issue it’s in!
Send all submissions to [email protected]
Owner: Dan Ciobanu
Car: 1993 Ford Probe GT
Location: Sacramento, CA
¼ Mile: 11.91 @ 114.87 mph (on stock motor + Nitrous)
About: This is FrankenProbe, a former
1993 Ford Probe GT. It began life as a
trailer-queen in the summer of ‘05 when a
fully built motor and turbo kit were installed
thanks to sponsor KeenKelly. Although it
is still a full unibodied car, all non-essential
systems were removed and all glass replaced
with NIRA-legal lexan. It is expected to
make in excess of 400hp on the dyno in
early October when the final components are
added.
I decided to stick with a Ford Probe
because it wasn’t the mainstream import
racer like a Honda or DSM, making the car
more unique. All modifications were done
in my garage by myself and other BAPOC
members (Bay Area Probe Owners Club).
We hope to stand out in the tuner crowd
for the remainder of the ‘05 show and race
schedule. The full car details are at www.
frankenprobe.com
READERS RIDES
Modifications:
Performance:
- OEM 2.5L V6 DOHC 24-valve engine
- Crower billet rods
- ARP rod bolts
- JE 9.5:1 pistons
- Competition 5-angle valve job
- 65mm bored throttle body
- Ceramic coated turbo collectors & downpipe
- Tial 35mm external wastegate
- Unorthodox Racing underdrive pulley
- 550cc injectors (52lb)
- Walbro 255lph high pressure fuel pump
- Nitrous Express 75-shot wet setup
- Kirkey aluminum drag seat
- Lexan windows all around
- MegaSquirt’n’Spark engine tuning software w/laptop
- And so much more we don’t have room for
Control:
- SWRacecars 8-pt rollcage
- front & rear coil over setup
- 500lb/in rear and 450lb/in front springs
- Tokico Illumina 5-way adjustable struts
- Weld Racing 15x8 Front & 15x4 Rear wheels
- Mickey Thompson 26x8.5x15 Fr & 8x4.5x15 Rr skinnies
- Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
- TMS stainless steel clutch line
Show:
- 2-tone paintjob
- Autometer Guages
- Grant GT steering wheel
Owner: Josh Koch
Car: 2000 Dodge Neon
Location: North Carolina
¼ Mile: 13 seconds
About: My car started off as a 2000 Dodge Neon ES
but quickly transformed into something else when I purchased a totaled 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4 and basically
used everything from under its hood and chassis. The
final product is a 13-second 1/4 mile “Dodge Neon”.
Modifications:
Performance:
- 2003 SRT-4 motor/trans/turbo/exhaust/etc.
- Mopar Stage 1 turbo upgrade & blow-off valve
- K&N Typhoon cold air intake
- Deyeme firm motor mounts
- Greddy catch can
- TurboXS manual boost controller
- APEXi S-AFC
Control:
- Eibach Sportline springs
- Energy Suspension bushing set
- Excel 17” Gunmetal rims
- 215/40/ZR17 Nitto NeoGen rubber
Show:
- Edge Aerospoiler (chin spoiler)
- European export taillights
Audio & Visual:
- JVC Arsenal head unit
- MTX speakers all around w/ 10” sub
Domestic Dr i v e r | | | 5
READERS RIDES
Owner: Brad Brabson
Car: 2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4
About: Yes, a Neon. Other
than sharing a chassis and name,
the similarities end there. In
stock form, the car is known to
make over 230hp at the wheels,
but that wouldn’t quite cut it for
me. I started off small with the
usual bolt-ons. Yeah, like that
was going to be enough!
The car was sent away to
Psi-Fi Motorports in NJ for a
150+ hp upgrade. Naturally, my
wallet was a little lighter on the
trip home, but who cares? No
one expects 400 hp in a Neon,
especially that supercharged
Mustang owner that laughed at
me right before getting a great
view of my tail lights. The car
has taken over two years and
more than $10,000 to transform
into a tarmac-terror. Stopping,
starting and turning; this car does
it all, and does everything very
well except holding its resale
value.
Modifications:
Performance:
- Psi-Fi Motorsports: Cold air intake, piggy back ecu, 2nd
gen large front mount intercooler, turbo exhaust manifold
- Lorenzo Inc 60mm throttle body with adapter plate
- Neonparts solid transmission mount
- Maxx Fab 3” downpipe with high flow catalytic converter
- 3” catback exhaust with resonator and dual 4” chrome tips
- Turbosmart Ultragate 38mm wastgate
- Garret gt30R turbo
- Walboro 225lph fuel pump
- RC engineering 750cc injectors
- Crane 14 turbo grind cams with titanium springs
- Fidanza adjustable cam gears
Control:
- Psi-Fi Motorsports billit lower control arms
- Mopar stage 2 coilovers
- Mopar 25mm front swaybar
- DC Sports front strut tower bar
- Pwerks rear strut tower
- EBC green brake pads
- Mopar short through shifter
- MB Motorsports Weapon 18X7.5 wheels in bronze with
Falken RT615s in 235/40’s
- Kosie K1 racing wheels (x2) in white on 24.5X8.5X15
M&H Slicks with tubes
Show:
- Blitz dcc ii turbo timer
- MPX C/F fog light covers
- 35% window tint
- RVM C/F hood & decklid
Audio & Visual:
- Kenwood 922 MP3 player
- MTX 952 2ch amp with all street wires
- (2) 10inch Sony dvc subs (sealed)
- (1) Corbeau A4 black racing seat
Owner: Dave Brooks
Car: 2004 Saturn ION
Location: Gainesville, FL
About: This car is 100% American. The slant tip exhaust,
chrome 5 spokes, lack of neon...all of this says “American”.
The red, silver and blue colors of this car are also American, but they represent Red Bull, too. The blue on the calipers,
engine and shift knob, against metallic silver with red subwoofers, all work together to help me show the world how much I
love (and need) the stuff. I’m not totally against rycers. I even
started a business selling quality parts to real rycers. Head over
to www.rycekits.com to check it out.
Modifications:
Performance:
- Secret Weapon air intake
- Custom bored TB to 55 mm
- Cat Removed
- 2.25” custom exhaust using Flowmaster muffler
Control:
- Eibach pro springs
- Goodyear performance tires
- Shortened shifter with Silver and blue shift knob
Audio & Visual:
- Four 6.5” Memphis midrange
- Eclipse headunit
- Two 10” Sony Xplod subs with 500w Kenwood amp
- 17” Chrome 5-spokes by DBL-G
- Lowered 2” (springs)
- Removed pin stripes and “ion” logo on trunk
- Blue calipers with black drums (blue drums are illegal)
- 80/100 Hyperwhite bulbs
6 || | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
READERS RIDES
Owner: Kevin Whitehead
Car: 2005 Chevy Cobalt
Location: Lockport, IL
About: I originally went out looking for an ‘03-’04
Cavalier LS sport with my dad. We got to the dealership and
(of course) the Cobalts were all up front and out of my price
range. I decided I liked them, so we went for a test drive and I
was basically sold after that: I knew I wanted a Cobalt. Before
we went back to buy it, we found an awesome deal at a different dealership. It was not the color I wanted, but because it
was much cheaper, we bought it. I couldn’t be happier. I love
the color now and it goes a lot better with the black and blue
theme I’ve got going.
I am an active member of cobaltss.net and I may have
one of the most modified non-S/C Cobalts out there. I slowly
get things as money comes, but I’ve only had the car since
May, so I think I’ve got a lot accomplished to it since then.
Modifications:
Performance:
- Injen warm air intake
Control:
- Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs
- 18” Damani Tech-5 gunmetal rims w/ Hankook tires
Show:
- McCulloch 6000K HID headlights
- Painted headlight housing black
- Carbon fiber OEM hood
- Cleared out corners
Domestic Dr i v e r | | | 7
ver 65 Berettas and more
than 150 people made it to
this year’s annual Berettafest.
The event was held in Cleveland,
Ohio, from June 23 to 26.
The group hotel was infested
with Berettaheads from all
over the continent along with
their friends and family. There
were Bfest veterans as well
as newcomers putting faces
to the screen names seen on
Beretta.net and Bstuff.com.
Berettafest is as much about
the people as it is about the cars.
Some attendees no longer own
Berettas, they come just to see
the friends made through a common interest in Berettas.
8 || | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
Scheduled events included a
group dinner, go cart races and
laser tag at Magic Mountain Fun
Center, drag racing at Marion
County International Raceway,
^^ Partial group photo
2005 car show, awards ceremony and barbecue at Alum
Creek State Park along with an
autocross event.
Berettafest is the large
st an
of Chevy Berettas on the nual gathering
planet
The group hotel was the site
of many memorable antics. The
“Cack Shack” tent supplied by
Erich Dethloff was a staple of the
parking lot hangout, nestled between dozens of Berettas.
S TO C K
O R
E X T E R I
Dave Holst’s
S TO C K
1996 Z26
R
I N T E R I O
Mike Pride’s 1
S TO C K
8 8 - 9 0
990 GTZ
R
I N T E R I O
Dave Holst’s
C U S TO M
1996 Z26
O R
E X T E R I
Jon Janke’s 1
C U S TO M
9 1 - 9 6
995 Base
R
I N T E R I O
Dennis Pape’s
C U S TO M
1990 GTZ
R
I N T E R I O
8 8 - 9 0
9 1 - 9 6
995 Base
Jon Janke’s 1
B E S T
O F
A F E S T
B E R E T T
Paul Keller’s
TU
1988 Turbo G
Domestic Dr i v e r | | | 9
S TO C K
2 . 0 / 2 . 2
S TO C K
V 6
S TO C K
Q U A D
Dan Bundy’s 2005 Cobalt SS
Mr. Mike’s 1993 GT 5-speed
4
Carl Millinder’s 1990 GTZ
M O D
N / A
V 6
M O D
N / A
Q U A D
Jamie Cole’s 1994 Z26
4
Mike Fischer ’s 1992 GTZ
FA S T E S T
O F
B E R E T TA F E S T
Scott Garabedian’s 1994 Z26
S/C 3400 5SPD
10 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
Track night was very hot and
humid, but that didn’t stop dozens of Berettas from competing.
Several rounds of test and tune
took place with an eliminations
tournament following.
Jason Meleg’s 1994 Z26 took
the top spot in the brackets with
Ron Meleg behind the wheel. In
the finals the winning ET was
a 16.87 on a 16.8 dial-in.
The fastest V6 was a supercharged 3400 5-speed that ran a
corrected 13.7 at 103 mph. The
fastest I4 was a supercharged
Quad 4 that put out a corrected
14.6 at 101 mph with excessive
wheelspin.
The group hotel was the site
of many memorable antics. The
weather was so warm that many
Bfesters stayed at the hotel and
hung out with each other rather
than sight seeing in Columbus. A
tent in the parking lot dubbed the
“Cack Shack” was a favorite spot
escape the sun and hotel rooms
to enjoy the weekend with fellow
Beretta owners.
^^ Thursday night go-cart racing
after check-in
E N D L E S S
R I D E
Sha
Sh
an
ne
e Davis’s 47 hour
M I L L I O N
M I L E
trip
Brian Kramer ’s 24
G A R A G E
7k GT
Q U E E N
Dave Holst’s 54k
WAT E R M E
L O N
Z26
Aaron Choate’s an
T I N
tics
F O I L
Jim Card’s barbec
B F E S T
O R
ue skills
B U S T
Chris MIllinder’s
GTZ
ood
Story by Eric W
of Beretta.net
Photos courtesy
members
and Bstuff.com
Domestic Dri v e r | | | 1 1
The Queen Z
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
T
his 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
nicknamed Queen Z has been
featured in Domestic Driver
once before, but has come a long way
since that first issue was released. This
unique vehicle has gone through several
major transformations in just under a
year. Queen Z has won many “Best of
Show” trophies as well as other awards
both nationally and internationally
during the past 2005 show season. It has
also been featured in television shows
and other magazines.
To build her dream car, Ashley
Becker teamed up with Joe Hudson
and Superior Auto Body of Great
12 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
Falls, Montana. She started the Queen
Z project in the middle of December,
2004, and finished it at the beginning
of May, 2005, just in time for the 2005
show season. Her goal was to make it
one of the top show cars in the nation.
The exterior is where Queen
Z really shines. The first thing you
notice when looking at Queen Z is her
beautiful three-tone House of Kolor
Platinum Pearl Silver, Pearl Silver
over Kandy Apple Red, and Charcoal
Metallic paint job. Once your eyes
make it past the eye-“Kandy,” you’ll
notice the custom body work ranging
from a one-off custom wide body to the
RKSport Pro Stock Spoiler molded into
the trunk lid. A custom-painted Fiber
Images carbon-fiber hood and unique
taillights made of aftermarket RX-7 tails
are a nice touch.
Domestic Dri v e r | | | 1 3

The Queen Z
Queen Z is
also equipped with a
Lamborghini-style door
conversion and eye-catching
19” Racing Hart wheels
that seem to get swallowed
up due to the Easy Street
Air Lift Technologies strut
system that can literally
put the Queen Z‘s body on
the ground! Lastly, Ashley
decided a brake upgrade
was in store, so she chose
to install complete Baer big
brake systems for the front
and rear, including 13” crossdrilled up front, 12” rotors
out back and four-piston
calipers all around.
This Cavalier is not just about
external sweetness. There are some
treats on the inside, too. The most eye
catching thing about the interior (besides
the matching fiberglass panels) is the
back-seat area, which is where you
find chrome Audiobahn 12-inch Flame
Excursion Subs in a fiberglass enclosure
along with a billet chrome NOS Bottle
with billet brackets. The cockpit also
has five LCD monitors for entertaining
onlookers, leather racing seats with
red stitching and multiple MOMO
Italy accessories. The trunk holds two
Audiobahn amps and an Audiobahn
capacitor, all displayed in a custom drop
floor wrapped in black vinyl.
14 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
But wait! Ashley did not just
make the Queen Z all show and no go.
She knew if she wanted to compete with
the big boys on the national show circuit
she would have to give her engine a
boost. She decided to turbo charge her
2.4 liter DOHC engine using a Garret
T/3-T/4 turbine. Along with the turbo,
she installed a stainless turbo manifold,
a Tial 38mm wastegate, TurboXS BOV,
310cc fuel injectors, MSD high flow
fuel pump, a huge FMI and many more
performance adding goodies to complete
the turbo kit and make her power plant
stronger. The Queen Z is also equipped
with a nitrous oxide system with purge
kit that’s vented out both sides of
her front bumper. In the near future
The Queen Z 
PERFORMANCE
- Garret Hybrid T3/T4 T04 V-Band turbocharger
- Stainless turbo manifold
- Tial 38mm wastegate
- Exhaust downpipe
- Holly NOS Nitrous Oxide System
- Holly NOS dual purge kit vented out of front
bumper vents
- High flow exhaust
- Huge 24”/31”/3” front mount intercooler
- Custom 2.5” intake/intercooler piping
- Silicone connectors & hose clamps
- High flow catalytic converter
- Beltronics Vector FX1 performance
timer/accelerometer
- 310cc fuel injectors
- MSD high flow fuel pump
- TurboXS manual boost controller
- TurboXS BOV
- Greddy turbo timer
CONTROL
- Racing Hart 19x7.5 RH Evolution C5 wheels
- Toyo Proxy-4 225/35/19 tires
- Easy Street air ride strut system front & rear
- Easy Street air ride clear 10 switch box
- Easy Street 5 gallon air tank & chrome viair
compressor
- Baer Track 13inch cross drilled & slotted big
brake kit with 4-piston calipers in the front
- Baer track 12inch slotted drum to disc conversion with 4-piston calipers in the rear
- Baer metallic performance brake pads
- Baer teflon stainless steel braided brake lines
front & rear
MODI F IC ATIONS
- RK Sport pro stock wing molded into trunk lid
with shaved 3rd brake light
- Custom taillights using parts of aftermarket rx-7
tails
- Auto Loc door popper kit
- Varad red led under car lighting, suspension
lighting, & headlight strobes
- 2-Tone paint job with House of Kolor kandy
apple red over platinum pearl silver
- Fiberglass door panels, rear panels, dash, center
console, speaker box replacing rear seat
- Black leather racing seats w/ red stitching w/ tv’s
- Momo black tuner steering wheel, steering
wheel hub, shift knob, pedal kit, grid t200 alloy
floor mats
- Lotek 3 gauge a-pillar pod w/autometer boost,
voltmeter, and air fuel ratio gauges
AUDIO, VISUAL & SECURITY
- Kenwood kvt-815 DVD 7” motorized in-dash
touch screen TFT monitor DVD/CD/MP3/WMA
receiver
- Jl 100 amp 12-volt converter
- (4) Audiobahn 12” aw1206t 2200 watt subs
- (2) Audiobahn a2200hct 1600 watt amps
- Audiobahn acap601q digital flame-amp style 6
farad capacitor
- (2) 7.2” flat panel LCD screens in back of seats
- (2)Custom 7.2” TFT LCD monitors in sun visors
- Stinger sp800 dry cell car audio battery
- Cerwin vega 6x9s, 4x6s, tweeters
- Clifford security system
- Directed audio video amplifier
SHOW
- One-off custom wide body
- Molded and customized full drift body kit
- Decah vertical doors
- Fiber Images carbon fiber ss style ram air hood
Ashley says she plans on installing new
performance cams, forged pistons and
forged H-beam connecting rods that are
stashed away in her garage.
As the car goes through more
changes in preparation for the 2006
show season, we can only wait to see
what else can possibly be done to this
custom J-body. Ashley will be teaming
up with Audiobahn and many other
companies to fully complete the Queen
Z. She would like to thank her sponsors
- Superior Auto Body, Meguiars and
Audiobahn. A big thank-you goes out
to her husband, Ian, for all of his help
and support, as well as Ashley’s parents,
Mike and Kerry Crain, for everything
they have done for her. Ashley would
also like to thank Larry Mull and family
along with Team GMCI Racing for
helping Queen Z become one of the top
cars on the NCCA Circuit and for taking
a chance on her and her car by inviting
them into their car club and family.
For more information and
updates on this jaw dropping Cavalier,
check out teamgmciracing.com and
cardomain.com/ride/325547. 
Domestic Dri v e r | | | 1 5
Feroce
1985 Pontiac Fiero SE
W
hen Ed decided to build this
car he was 57 years old. It is
not the first car Ed has completed, but he wanted to have something
that nobody else has or could have. He
started with a 1985 Pontiac Fiero SE
V6 and added a $6,000.00 Fino body kit
courtesy of V8 Archie in Chicago, Ill.
“I chose the body kit because no other
car on the road looks like it,” said Ed.
“The front end is very nostalgic looking
- like a Lotus from the 50’s and 60’s.”
According to Ed, “A re-body
is a start, but it is not a bolt-on job that
can be done in a weekend.” Apparently,
there is a lot of work to be done including fitting all parts by adding filler,
16 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
shimming, making brackets and then
making parts to fill in areas that are not
covered by the new body. This makes
the car flow and look like it rolled off
the assembly line at General Motors.
Not only does the outside look
good but the interior is just as impressive. The old interior was completely
removed and the entire area was cleaned
and painted, then all new insulation was
put in. The wrap-around dash, center
console, door panels and leather seats
from PISA look like they were made for
the car. New black carpet came from
the Fiero store, while the headliner,
rear area cover and sun visors had to
be custom made by Ed. The trunk was
completely redesigned to fit the new
body and exhaust, and custom panels
were fabricated to close all gaps. Leakproofing the trunk was another area
of concern. The front compartment
(remembering that there is no engine in
the front of a Fiero) also needed to be
redesigned to keep it dry, including removal of the master cylinder and brake
booster to gain access to the floor, then
stripping and painting the area before it
was completely carpeted. Removal of
the radiator, fan and shroud was necessary to move the new fan in front of
the radiator. Closeouts were created to
clean up the headlight area.
Let’s not forget the sound
system that begins with a Kenwood
CD radio and 10-disk changer in the
trunk. Front speakers and subwoofer
are by Kenwood and the rear speakers
are Infinity. There were originally no
rear speakers in the ’85 Fiero, so adding
them to the B-pillars was no small task
considering the amount of metal cutting
required.
All of Ed’s previous cars
have had a name, so he called his new
creation Feroce, which is Italian for
“Ferocious.” He then went to work on
the logo for the car. The snake (in the
shape of an “F”) on the front is a venomous Coral snake. The Coral snake
was used because the Cobra and Viper
Domestic Dri v e r | | | 1 7
were already in use. PPG Mandarin
Orange Metallic was shot for the base
color then ghost flames in a silver-blue
were added. They are most noticeable when light hits them or you are up
close.
The complete suspension was
replaced with Held Motor Sports’ Sport/
Widetrack Suspension, then widened 3”
to fit the new body. Adjustable coilover shocks, fabricated tubular upper
and lower control arms, polyurethane
control arm bushings, three-way adjustable shocks and a high performance 1”
diameter front sway bar keep the wheels
firmly on the ground. Ed stayed with
the factory brakes for insurance reasons (just in case they get picky). He
installed stainless steel lines throughout
the car, including stainless steel braded
to all four corners. The calipers were
replaced with stock rebuilt, and he used
cross-drilled and slotted rotors along
with a new master cylinder. Ed selected
18 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
Enkei RS6 17 X 7 wheels wrapped with
Nitto NT 555 225/40ZR – 17 tires. All
this made an extreme difference in the
way the car handles.
The stock 2.8L engine was tired
and need to be replaced. Ed chose the
3.4L V6 Chevy Engine from a 1995
Pontiac Firebird and had it rebuilt
and bored 030 over with Hypereutectic Pistons giving Feroce a 10.25:1
compression ratio. 3800 Valves, HD
Springs, Comp performance Cam and
17 lb injectors were icing on the cake.
He then backed it up with a 1988 Fiero
MODI F IC ATIONS
PERFORMANCE
-1995 Firebird 3.4 V6 Chevy engine
-Bored .030
-Hypereutectic pistons 10.25:1
-Comp Cams performance camshaft
-Heads 3800 valves, HD springs
-17-pound injectors
-1988 transmission with lower gear ratio
CONTROL
-Front & Rear Coil-over shock with powder
coated tubular control arms
-Adjustable shocks front & Rear
-Enkei RS6 17 x 7 rims
-Nitto Tires front & rear NT 555 225/40ZR-17
SHOW
automatic transmission with lower gear
ratios for quicker starts in town.
Ed knew what he wanted in an
exhaust system, but designing it was
much easier than building it. He wanted
center exhaust with four chrome pipes
so the bottom of the trunk needed to be
cut off 12” just to make room for the
new system. Then the rear lower fiberglass valance needed to be reworked to
complement the new exhaust exits.
Construction began in February of 2002 and Feroce showed the first
time at the Detroit Autorama in February of 2003. Ed took 1st place in the
Full Sport Class. Ed told us that the
best compliment he received at the Detroit Autorama was that his car “looks
like it just rolled off the
General Motors production
assembly line.”
Ed is considering a
3800SC engine install, even
though he is very happy with
the power he has now.
Out of the many
trophies Ed’s car has taken,
Best of Show, Best Interior
and Best Engineered say it
all when describing this work
of art. 
-Speedhut white faced gauges
-Grant steering wheel
-Remote control start, doors locks, engine compartment and power windows
-Embroidered center console and front & rear
compartments
-Sun visors and headliner custom made
-PISA Wrap-around dash, center console, leather
seats and euro door panels.
-Four chrome center exhaust pipes
-Steel braded hoses
-Snake hubcap covers
-Snake center steering wheel cover
-Feroce aluminum emblem in front grill
-Powder coated intake and valve covers
AUDIO, VISUAL & SECURITY
-Kenwood radio/CD
-10-disk changer in trunk
-Kenwood Front speakers and subwoofer
-Infinity rear speakers
THANKS TO
-Kevin Personious (paint)
-Gary Floate (snake & flames)
-V8 Archie (Fino body kit)
-Bob Steiger (engine)
-Bruce DeLong vinyl graphics
PERFORMANCE
0-60MPH..............................6.7 sec
/ MILE..................................14.7 sec
1 4
Domestic Dri v e r | | | 1 9
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
CavyTech
20 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
Domestic Dri v e r | | | 2 1
R
ight outside Chicago, a 2002
Cavalier is being transformed.
CavyTech is the name given to
this custom Cavalier. Owner Ronnie “C”
teamed up with master installer and owner
of SoundzPlus, Marty Deane. They made
their plans to build an amazingly creative
show car with one goal in mind - to build
a car that fits together and wasn’t over the
top. After 3 weeks of planning and gathering parts, the project began with clean
lines and a unique custom feel.
The exterior of the car was
refreshed even though the paint was just
3 months old. Cream white base with
a pearl blue finish was the paint-theme
of choice. They left the Accord/Prelude headlight-conversion in place, but
the front end was changed using a Blitz
bumper which was built up and around
the new headlights. A radical change to
the rear of the vehicle was made
using LED chopper/motorcycle
tail lights. The GT side skirts
and fenders were molded into
the Drift side skirt, creating just
one piece that is molded into the
door jams. The Lambo-door set
up also makes for a great custom look. The car is accented
by 18-inch ADR rims with a set
of RK Sport Ground Control coil-overs. With the
mods, the exterior of the
car has a supreme feel and
an amazing custom look.
The focus for the ’05
season was the exterior,
so the interior needed
work for ‘06. Picking the
fabric was a big decision.
Since this project was to
be something special, the
choice was easy…snake
skin suede! Auto Meter
22 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
gauges were molded in where the stock
dash cluster once sat and a Racing steering wheel with a short throw B&M shortshifter was installed. The door handles
and locks were shaved off, so the doors
now open with poppers under the steering
column. With Sony’s in-dash DVD/CD
player at the heart of the entertainment
system, the 7-inch touch-screen TVs
and Sony door-mounted speakers keep
this car thumpin’. All air vents were
covered and shaved to give the interior a
nice clean look. The headliner was also
covered in snake skin, but that’s not what
is unique about it. “CAVWHAT” is what
you’ll see if you look up from the passenger seat. The interior was also customized with new white carpet and Tenzo
Rally racing seats, giving the interior a
true custom look and feel. This one-of-akind interior is what makes this Cavalier
a work of art.
Other custom upgrades were
added to give the Cavalier more personality. Under the hood, a new intake was
installed and a swaybar was added. The
MODI F IC ATIONS
PERFORMANCE
- Intake
- DTM exhaust 3 inch cap
back
- Short throw B/M shifter
- 15 Lbs NOS
CONTROL
- Sway bar
- 3 inch drop Ground Control coil-overs
- Momo sSteering wheel
- Bf Goodrich Scorchers
- 18’ ADR rims
SHOW
DTM exhaust with 3-inch cat-back gives
the car a racy look, but the most unique
custom piece under the hood is the snakeskin battery cover.
Ronnie “C” would like to thank
the many people that have helped build
this custom Cavalier, including Extreme Demotions, Sony and AutoMeter.
Special thanks go out to Marty Deane of
SoundzPlus for the long hours
and amazing work.
As we will have to
wait to see what the ‘06 season
has in store for CavyTech, we
do know that it will be something special. More info on this
custom cavalier can be found at
www.CavWhat.com. 
- Tenzo Rail 2 racing seats
- AutoMeter C2 gauges
- Suede Snakeskin
- Shaved interior door handles - now on solenoids
- Shaved / smoothed the
headliner - Raised Logo
- Shaved /smoothed out the
dash pad
- Shaved all the turnsignal/
wiper switches
- Shaved center console
rapped in snake skin
- White carpet
- Blue snake skin rear deck
- Snake skin battery cover
- Lambo-door Conversion
- Custom Accord headlights
- Custom LED tail-lights
- GT widebody fender flares
- Blitz front end
- Drift side skirts
- Drift rear
- Custom Paint white/ with
blue pearl
- Molded sides (indoor door
jams)
- Shaved inner tail lights
AUDIO & VISUAL
-7 Inch TVs in the doors/
PS2
- 15 Farad Alumapro cap
- Sony In-Dash DVD player
- Sony component speaker
- Xtant amp
- Alpine type E subs
- Playstation 2
- DreamCast
- GameCube
Domestic Driv e r | | | 2 3
3rd Annual
V6Z24.COM BASH
Kalamazoo, MI
W
hat is up with all these Cavaliers?
That’s what you could hear
bystanders mumbling as they
watched the horde of J-bodies flock in from
all across the US and Canada. The 3rd annual
V6Z24.com bash kicked off Friday night, July
22, 2005 at the US 131 Motorsports Park ¼
mile drag strip. The two previous bashes had
been held in “Corn Country” (Cedar Falls,
IA), but in hopes of drawing a larger crowd,
it was moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Continuing with the historic itinerary, the
Friday night race would be followed by a car
show and cookout on Saturday, with breakfast
farewells to an all-too-short, but oh-so-fun
weekend on Sunday.
The cars funneled into the track
right as the gates opened. 15 cars turned out
to race, including three cars driven by the
GM Performance Division. One Saturn Ion
and two Chevy Cobalt SS’s joined our J’s,
the fastest of which was pulling mid-14’s
with only minimal bolt-ons. As for V6Z24.
com members, they ran the gamut from a 22
second quarter mile (hold on to your hat!) to
the quickest time of 14.94@ 92.8 mph. The
night was hot and sticky, causing slower than
expected times by all. Regardless, the look
on a drivers face after getting roasted by a
Cavalier is always priceless.
Saturday morning was spent
cleaning and detailing cars in preparation for
the big show. Drivers invaded the local car
wash (including the next-door laundromat
for quarters) and started cleaning away! With
the cars all spit-shined and polished, they
headed off to Markin Glen Park for the show.
All together, there were 30 cars participate in
the show. The laid back afternoon was spent
talking with the GM Performance Engineers
and checking out the impressive J-bodies.
After the highly skilled volunteers grilled
some mean burgers and dogs, the winners
were announced.
Following the awards ceremony, a
heavy rain washed away all the shine, so they
moved on to the highly anticipated raffle.
Over $1800 in prizes, ranging from bumpers
to gift certificates, were up for grabs. Many
of the event sponsors were kind enough to
24 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
3RD ANNUAL V6Z24.COM BASH 
donate their products. Some desperate souls
bought 20 or more of the $5 tickets, hoping
to win big. Fortunately for some of them, it
really paid off!
Everyone met at Perkins Sunday
morning (well, those of us who weren’t crazy
enough to hit the road at 5am) to reminisce
over the weekends festivities. Bittersweet
memories of the drunken hotel include the
maintenance guy who gave away VIP access
to the pool and Pablo-the-crazy-Canadian
with his feeble attempts to get lucky with
the waitress. As it has always been, the
V6Z24.com bash isn’t just about the cars,
but hanging out with the cool people who
make the website what it is. Being able to
put a face with a username is always a great
experience. Next year the bash will probably
move back to the corn, but Michigan was
still a great time! As anybody will attest,
once you have been to one V6Z24.com bash,
no drive is too far.
Thanks to Brad Andresen and Jason Bradwell
EVENT SPONSORS:
- A Plus Performance
- Black Cat Custom
- Diza Racing
- FX Designs
- Jbody Performance
- Fast Forward Performance
- Car Customs
- Lotek
- Domestic Driver Magazine
R E S U LT S :
1st Place J-body:
Kevin Richter (1998 Cavalier Z24)
2nd Place J-body:
James Cahill (1994 Cavalier)
3rd Place J-body:
Brad Andresen (1992 Cavalier Z24)
People’s Choice:
Brad Andresen (1992 Cavalier Z24)
Fastest ¼ mile:
Brad Andresen (1992 Cavalier Z24)
Best non-J-body:
Cory Lind (2000 Ford Focus)
Domestic Driv e r | | | 2 5
CLUB INSIDER The Chesapeake Fiero Club (CFC)
may have only been created eight months ago, but
the experience accumulated by these rear-engine
enthusiasts reaches back for decades.
35 members strong, the CFC is based
in southern Maryland, even though its members
stretch across the globe - from Texas to Iceland.
The club does not have a president, so with no
time devoted to making rules and regulations,
they can focus on what they crave: their cars
- and showing them off. Their passion for these
often misunderstood 2-seaters is what ties them
together despite their vast differences. Those
that are not full-time students make their living
with jobs like body repairman, professional auto
painter, neon-sign designer, musician and flight
simulator builder, just to name a few.
A few of the guys from CFC recently
got together at the Maryland International
Raceway for some food, drink, photos and drag
racing. They went to show off their rides and
to show the imports how American sports cars
can own the street. It’s easy to see why, with
all of the engine swaps this group has done.
Shawn Cunningham’s blue 86 GT
has a 3400cc DOHC V6 and custom everything
that puts down about 215 horsepower. Andrew
Cleaver’s green 1984 notchback has been
transformed using a Peter Ashdown designed
body kit. With the custom interior and a Chevy
350 perched in the back, the only remnants
of a Fiero are the roof, frame and suspension.
Mike, who has just recently purchased his first
Fiero, has a Design-1 Stage I turbo on an ‘87
coupe that’s pushing over 200 hp. His first run
down the track is coming soon.
Two of the other modified cars seen
here are powered by 3800cc supercharged
engines transplanted from Pontiac Grand Prix’.
They are owned by Earl and Bill Sessions,
26 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
The Chesapeake Fiero Club
twin brothers living in Waldorf, Md. Each
of these 2800 lb. cars make more than 300
hp, propelling them down the ¼ mile in the
low 12’s on street tires. These siblings have
been modifying Fieros for more than 30 years
combined, so their cars have been an influence
on several other CFC members.
“I am not saying the Fiero is the
greatest car in the world,” said Bill Sessions,
“but for cheap thrills, it’s hard to beat. I can
reproduce my car minus the paint and rims for
under $5K! For the “bang for the buck” factor,
that’s hard to beat! Yeah, it’s almost 20 years
old, but look at other cars from the 80’s. I
think that the Fiero’s looks have held up VERY
well.”
“Fiero forums are the best thing out
there” according to Andrew Cleaver. “When I
got into this, the only thing I knew about Fieros
was that they were a blast to drive. Now, with
the help of club members and other Fiero
owners, I can get advice on fixing anything
on the car within minutes - just by typing in
a question. It’s crazy – the number of Fieros
with super-charged V6’s, Cadillac Northstars
and even Corvette engines that are out there
just waiting on an unsuspecting import.”
Anything you have ever wanted
to know about Fieros (buying, repairing or
modifying) can be found at www.fiero.nl.
Information on the Chesapeake Fiero Club can
be found at www.chesapeakefieros.com.
Once you have ridden in a boosted
two-door or felt the rumble of a V8 in a tonand-a-half car, there is no turning back, except
to see the competition.
Written by Andrew Cleaver, CFC Member
Earl Sessions - Waldorf, MD
Bill Sessions - Waldorf, MD
Shawn Cunningham – Pasadena, MD
- 320 hp 3.8L Supercharged V-6 mated to a 4t65e HD
automatic transmission
- ZZP intercooler
- 2.8 pulley providing 11 pounds of boost
- XP cam shaft
- 325 hp 3.8 liter supercharged V6
- 2.8-3.4 modular pulley system. Allows the smaller
pulley for increased boost
- ZZPerformance Short Stack intercooler system
- ZZPerformance XPHOT cam
- 42.5 lb injectors & 105 lb valve springs
- Walbro 340 fuel pump
- Custom PCM program by Ryan Gick at Sinister
Performance
- 1992 215 hp 3.4 DOHC engine with an Isuzu 5speed on a 1988 engine cradle
- CRX cold air intake routed to an Aus side scoop
Car: 1985 Fiero SE known as “HellRazor”
Drivetrain Mods:
Interior and Exterior Mods:
- Nordskog digital speedometer and tach
- Aeroforce scan guage
- Mr. Mikes leather seats
- Custom red and black interior theme by owner
- Kenwood self-powered subwoofer behind seat with
- Sony and Kenwood speakers in dash and doors
Other:
- Best quarter mile so far is 12.00@112mph on Nitto
street tires
- 0-60 in less than 5 seconds
- 95% of all work done by owner, including the
engine swap and paint
Car: 1988 Fiero GT
Drivetrain Mods:
Interior and Exterior Mods:
- Ultra-violet metallic paint
- 17 inch Konig Flatline rims in black opal finish
- Eibach lowering springs (1.5 inch drop)
- Owner-manufactured side scoops with functional
cold air intake
- Mr. Mikes custom seats
Other:
- Best quarter mile so far is 12.48@106mph on
Falken Azenis street tires
- All work except paint was done by the owner
Car: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT known as “Shredd”
Drvietrain Mods:
Interior Mods:
- Mr. Mike’s leather seats
- Villian carbon fiber steering wheel and shifter
- Carbon fiber headliner and third brake light
- Late model GM CD stereo with custom leather
wrapped center console & 10” Octane Sub
- Custom carpeted front storage area along with
front-mounted battery and amp
Exterior Mods:
- 2003 Corvette Electron Blue paint
- Lowered with rear coil-over shocks
- Aus Stage 2 scoops
- Mustang air scoop on trunk lid with factory spoiler
moved back and custom chin spoiler
- Custom extractor hood vents
- Corvette tail lights
- 17x7” front / 18x8” rear Motegi DPK wheels
Andrew Cleaver - Waldorf, MD
Car: 1984 Fiero notchback
known as “Finiero”
Drivetrain Mods:
- New Chevy 350 LM1 crate
engine mated to stock 4-speed
usingV8 Archie’s install kit
- Edelbrock Torker II intake
- Edelbrock 600 CFM carb
- Custom dual exhaust through
Silver Bullet mufflers
- 4-core radiator
- High performance starter
- Racing clutch
- Remote oil filter
Interior Mods:
- Nordskog Digital Dash – tracks
¼ mile, top speed and 0-60
times
- V8 Archie’s dash, door, console
and firewall kit
- Mr. Mike’s leather seats
- Custom carpet with steel diamond tread inserts
- Green racing pedals accented
with green floor/overhead lights
- Green leather-wrapped steering
wheel
- Pioneer head unit and speakers
with 10” sub on center console
- Power windows and locks
- Remote keyless entry and alarm
Exterior Mods:
- “Sublime” green paint
- V8 Archie’s “Fino” body kit
designed by Peter Ashdown
- 16” American Racing Estrella
wheels
- Kumho Z-rated tires 225/45/16
front, 245/45/16 rear
Other:
- Website: www.finiero.com
Domestic Driv e r | | | 2 7
28 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
1s t Annual
GM Small Car Bash
A
toasty weekend in July
brought us to what we thought
would be one of the biggest
domestic small car gatherings in the
country. The size of the show grounds
was truly impressive, but with just
230 people participating in the GMSC
Bash at Indianapolis Raceway Park,
attendance numbers were a bit disap-
Indianapolis, IN
pointing. The list of things to see and
do, however, was not disappointing,
beginning with some traditional Friday
drag racing. Lines at the track were
not long, so those who raced were in
hog-heaven.
The heat continued through
Saturday when the all-day car show
took place. The show was accented
with events like the USACi (United
States Autosound Competition International) sanctioned “Sound-off”
competition, XM Satellite’s informative display booth, a bikini contest and
some live music. As you can see by
the photos, the cars were as impressive as the venue. It was nice to see
the many vendors and the large GM
Domestic Driv e r | | | 2 9
presence featuring the latest cars from
Chevy, Saturn, Pontiac, Saab and the
newest performance hardware from
GM Accessories. Brand new products
like the 2006 2.4L Cobalt SS, Pontiac
Solstice and Chevy HHR were on display, as well as custom show cars from
GM’s private stable. The informative Chevy Racing Tour was also on
display featuring Chevy’s entire racing
heritage.
Again, the event location was
great with a nice track, plenty of space
and a good central location. More cars
and spectators will be needed to keep
this event from losing money in the
30 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
future. Word is that the next GMSC
Bash is scheduled for 2007, so you
have plenty of time to spread the word.
We look forward to coming back in
two years to be a part of what we hope
will be GMSC’s highest attendance
numbers ever! 
S
HOW RESULTS
1st and 2nd Generation J-Body - Original Restored
- 1st Bryce Eastlick : ‘93 Chevy Cavalier
1st and 2nd Generation J-Body - Modified
- 3rd Christian Geeding : ‘89 Chevy Z24 Conv.
- 2nd James Cahill : ‘94 Chevy Cavalier
- 1st Andrew Pape : ‘91 Chevy Cavalier Z24
3rd Generation J-Body - Stock
- 3rd Bryan Detty : ‘04 Z24 Chevy Cavalier
- 2nd Dave Bellanger : ‘04 Chevy Cavalier
- 1st Ben Wenzel Jr. : ‘04 Chevy Cavalier
Cavalier ‘95-99 - Street
- 3rd Kevin Richter : ‘98 Black Chevy Cavalier Z24
- 2nd Casey Palmatier : ‘99 Chevy Cavalier
- 1st Ryan Bauman : ‘99 Chevy Cavalier Z24
Cavalier ‘95-99 - Mild
- 3rd Todd Miller : ‘95 White Chevy Cavalier
- 2nd Laurie Lomax : ‘97 Chevy Cavalier
- 1st David Ingram : ‘97 Chevy Cavalier & Roslyn
Dolan : ‘97 Chevy Cavalier
Cavalier ‘95-99 - Wild
- 3rd Shane O’Brien : ‘96 Chevy Cavalier Z24
- 2nd Terry Mazzeo : ‘99 Chevy Cavalier Z24
- 1st Drew Smith : ‘95 Chevy Cavalier
Cavalier ‘00-05 - Street
- 3rd Joe Schulte : ‘01 Chevy Cavalier Z24
- 2nd Jason Knappenberger : ‘04 Chevy Cavalier
- 1st Marc Jacques : ‘00 Chevy Cavalier
Cavalier ‘00-05 - Mild
- 3rd Adam Lochstampfor : ‘02 Chevy Cavalier LS
- 2nd Ian Lacey : ‘02 Chevy Cavalier
- 1st Dan Oakes : ‘00 Chevy Cavalier Z24
Cavalier ‘00-05 - Wild
- 3rd Anthony Jones : ‘00 Chevy Cavalier
- 2nd Ryan Egleston : ‘00 Chevy Cavalier
- 1st Brandon Fetter : ‘00 Chevy Cavalier
Sunfire - Mild
- 3rd Angela King : ‘04 Pontiac Sunfire
- 2nd Kevin Storry : ‘95 Pontiac Sunfire SE
- 1st Jason Carroll : ‘01 Pontiac Sunfire SE
Sunfire - Wild
- 3rd Tony Sirch : ‘95 Pontiac Sunfire
- 2nd Kevin Hopp : ‘01 Pontiac Sunfire GT
- 1st Vince Edwards : ‘96 Pontiac Sunfire GT
Aveo - Modified
- 1st Nathaniel Kelly : ‘04 Chevy Aveo
Berretta - Modified
- 3rd Al Gaddis : ‘88 Chevy Beretta
- 2nd brad hardebeck :’89 Chevy Beretta
- 1st Todd Brickbauer : ‘95 Chevy Beretta
Cobalt - Stock
- 3rd Chris Waine : ‘05 Chevy Cobalt SS
- 2nd Jeff Shepard : ‘05 Chevy Cobalt SS
- 1st Steve Owen : ‘05 Chevy Cobalt SS
Cobalt - Modified
- 1st Robert Yurchison : ‘05 Chevy Coblat SS
Saturn - Modified
- 1st Gary Chamlee : ‘05 Saturn ION Redline
Vibe - Modified
- 1st Chris Roper : ‘05 Pontiac Vibe
Sedan Vibe/Aveo Excluded - Mild
- 3rd Andy Hill : ‘99 Pontiac Sunfire
- 2nd Jakub Koter : ‘00 Pontiac Sunfire
- 1st Todd Miller : ‘02 Chevy Cavalier Z24
Sedan Vibe/Aveo Excluded - Wild
- 1st Aaron Lancaster : ‘02 Chevy Cavalier
Under Construction
- 3rd Place - Liz Thomas : ‘04 Chevy Cavalier
- 2nd Place - Steve Haddock : ‘97 Pontiac Sunfire SE
- 1st Place - Andy Brooks : ‘03 Pontiac Sunfire
Fiero Stock
- 1st Place - Brian Blair : ‘88 Pontiac Fiero GT
Fiero Modified
- 1st Place - Brian Blair : ‘88 Pontiac Fiero GT
Grand Am - All
- 1st Place - Natasha Jeffries : ‘94 Pontiac Grand Am
Sunfire - Street
- 3rd Place - Carrie Bachman : ‘02 Pontiac Sunfire GT
- 2nd Place - Jason Sommer : ‘99 Pontiac Sunfire
- 1st Place - Brian Wolf : ‘03 Pontiac Sunfire
Best of Show
Stephen Richnafsky : ‘98 Chevy Cavalier
Best Custom Interior
Trista Hoosier : ‘00 Chevy Cavalier
Best Paint
Chrystelle Marcil : ‘97 Pontiac Sunfire
Best Chevy
Kenneth Groves : ‘97 Chevy Cavalier
Best Pontiac
Gary Voyles : ‘96 Pontiac Sunfire Conv.
Best Saturn
Adam Wilczak : ‘91 Saturn SL2
Brian Klocke Sportsman Award
Karo Mahdessian : ‘02 Chevy Cavalier
Event Staff Choice
Greg Klocke : ‘01 Chevy Cavalier
Domestic Dri v e r | | | 3 1
INTRODUCTION
TO AUTOCROSSING
A
utocross is a form of racing that many
people outside the sport know little
about. This overlooked motor sport
is quickly gaining popularity because of its
unique blend of competition and affordability.
Autocross events are time trial competitions
in which there is no wheel-to-wheel racing
involved, meaning that there is only one car on
the track at a time. Each driver races against
the clock, not against a person in the other
lane. Naturally, the winner is determined by
the vehicle that completes the course in the
shortest time.
Autocross is a great starting point for
anyone wanting to become a race car driver.
It is a safe and cheap way to participate in
competitive racing. Autocross events are generally run by the Sports Car Club of America
(SCCA). These events are either sanctioned by
the SCCA or are run under their rules by independent clubs. The SCCA calls their autocross
events Solo II. Generally speaking, any safe,
street legal vehicle can compete. Each driver is
placed in a class based on their car’s performance potential (including modifications) and
sometimes the racer’s auto-crossing experience. The only classes that are based on experience are the Novice classes, designated for
drivers in their first season. There are also open
classes and ladies classes. Open classes are for
all experienced drivers and ladies classes are
obviously only for ladies. The best way to find
out which class your car fits into is to order a
copy of the SCCA Solo II rulebook, or visit
www.moutons.org/sccasolo/ for a summary
of the classes based on vehicles and modifications.
In general, a course is laid out in a
large parking lot using traffic cones. Autocross courses are configured to emphasize the
driver’s car control skills and car set-up, not
speed. However, speeds up to 70 mph may be
attained by faster cars.
The SCCA and independent clubs
hold events in locales across the nation
throughout the summer. The best way to find a
Image thanks to RJ Marquette
32 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
club in your area is to visit www.scca.org and
look for a region near you or do a search for
events on any popular search engine. Once you
find a local club, you can sign up on-line or in
person for the next event.
To compete in an autocross event,
you must posses the following: a valid driver’s
license, proof of being at least 16 years of age,
a vehicle that will pass a simple safety inspection and a DOT and Snell approved helmet. If
you do not have a helmet, most clubs generally
offer loaners. For the best results, you should
clean out all loose objects in your car including
the spare tire, jack, subwoofers, floor mats, any
cargo and basically anything loose that may get
caught under your feet. You should also bring a
helmet, a signed consent form (if you are under
18), lunch and proper clothing. On the day of
the event you should arrive at the race site early
enough to get yourself prepared for the day.
Autocrossing is generally an all day
event, so be prepared. The day will normally
start between 8:30 and 9:30am. This gives you
time to arrive, check in at the registration tent,
change your tires (if you have racing tires),
look your car over and get it numbered for the
event. For numbering, you can use masking
Image thanks to Zach Garretson
tape to do the job or, if you want to look more
professional, upgrade to magnetic numbers.
Once your car is ready and you have checked
in, you can take your car to the tech inspection
area to get it race approved. At tech inspection, a team will make sure your car is in good
racing shape. This inspection will include
checking for all wheel studs, a secure battery,
removal of loose items, fluid leaks, a valid helmet and a properly assigned number. Once they
clear your car to compete, you can head back to
the parking lot to prep for the race. Make sure
your tire pressures are good and your car has
enough gas so you are ready to go.
Following the inspection, it is best
to walk the course. By doing this, you are able
to get an idea of the course layout. Novices
are encouraged to walk it with an experienced
driver to get some pointers on what to look
for. Many times the organizers will offer this
opportunity to novice drivers prior to starting
an event, or you might just look for someone to
help you. It is generally best to walk the course
at least twice, so you have a picture of the
course in your mind as well as the best way to
run it.
After all the vehicles have been
through tech inspection and registration has
closed, the drivers’ meeting is held. Race officials will announce the work and run order.
Most large events will have three running heats
of vehicles. You will be required to work one
heat in addition to running one. By working,
you may be picking up cones that drivers have
knocked over, working the start or finish line
or even announcing. You will also have a heat
where you are not running or working so you
Image thanks to Carlton Casserilla
can take time to watch and get a good idea of
how the other drivers are running the course.
By watching where they are braking and accelerating, you can get a good idea for yourself
when you run. When it is your turn, proceed to
the staging lanes and the officials there will get
you lined up and ready to go. When they direct
you, proceed to the start line to make your run.
Follow the cones on the course and strive for
the best run possible. Once finished, proceed
back to the finish line for your next run.
The most important thing for beginners is to try to improve your time with each
run. Don’t worry about winning because this
is your first event and it is more important to
focus on racing than bringing home a trophy.
Improvement will come with experience and
your times will naturally improve with practice.
There is no substitute for seat time in autocross
and you will improve as you gain more experience.
Usually auto-crossing entails three
to five runs, then you head back to the parking
lot. If you are working, report to the tent and
get your assignment and head out to the course
to get ready to work. If you are not working,
you will have about two hours to do whatever
you want, but it is best to try to watch others
and learn what you can by watching from their
runs. This may also be a great time to ride with
an experienced driver to learn how the experts
run the course. It is best to simply ask around
to find someone who will let you ride along.
After you have worked once, run once and had
a break, your day is done. You can head back to
your car and get it packed up and ready to go.
The satisfaction of doing well in autocross is similar to doing well at tennis or golf.
This is because driver skill is so much more
important than the amount of money spent on
the car. When you do well at an autocross, you
will have the satisfaction of knowing that your
skill is what won, not your ability to spend
more money than the competition. A driver’s
skill usually accounts for at least 75% of his
or her success. On the other hand, if you enjoy
tinkering with your car, there are classes for
modified vehicles as well. These classes can be
quite expensive to be competitive in, but they
do allow the owner to express himself with different modifications.
Autocross is a form of racing that
once experienced, you will be hooked like the
many other enthusiasts. It is a great and exciting way to spend a Sunday afternoon - which
may turn into several afternoons throughout
the summer. As you gain experience, you will
compete better, but remember that it takes
time. Don’t worry if you do not win a trophy
or finish in the top half of the class right away
because you are racing against experienced
drivers most of the time, and they have honed
their skills.
I hope you have learned a good
amount about how auto-crossing works today.
Autocross is something every car enthusiast
should try at least once, as it is an experience
you will not soon forget. You will also learn
many techniques for performance driving that
will subsequently improve your daily driving.
Check it out, be safe and have fun!!
For more information on beginning
in autocross, you can visit the following sites:
Forums:
• www.solo2.org
• www.sccaforums.com
Rules, local regions:
• www.scca.org
Classing information:
• www.moutons.org
Novice Handbook:
• www.tirerack.com/features/solo2/handbook.htm
Written by: Jason Helferich
Thanks to: www.streetstylecustoms.com
Image thanks to Ken Stefancic
DRAG RACING:
S TAGING AND
T E S T- A N D - T U N E T I P S
F
or those interested in drag racing, the
fear and uncertainty of how things work
can keep you from ever approaching the
line. A good place to start is at a test-and-tune
event. When running in a test-and-tune, don’t
worry about a thing. It’s all practice time where
you get to iron out your launch timing and try
different strategies. There you can find out the
best RPM level for your launch, learn about the
light tree (when the last amber light illuminates
completely - not before and not after!) and
get a few runs in back-to-back. Don’t get too
mixed up with the weather and how it changes
things (track temps, air/fuel mix, etc.). For
now - just go have fun! After you get comfortable it’s time to start bracket racing. This is
where you’ll learn the terms “breaking out”,
etc. Bracket racing is racing against the other
guy - as well as yourself.
After a few runs, you’ll get an idea
of how fast you can go most of the time. Keep
the runs identical as best you can; the same
launch time, same launch speed, etc. For the
sake of argument, let’s say that you are doing a
consistent 15-second 1/4 mile. You need to tell
the tower (and your opponent) your “dial-in”
time. This is the time that you think you will go
in the next 1/4. You want to be as close as possible (explained in a few seconds) but you DO
NOT want to go faster than the time you post.
If you do, you “broke out” and that means an
immediate loss. So, you should say that you’ll
run a 14.8 just for kicks. Your opponent is a
pure drag car, and he posts a 9.8 - a full 5-second difference. Because you have the slower
car, the times are subtracted (14.8 - 9.8 = 5.0)
and the difference is the amount of a head start
that you get. What this does, in theory, is level
the playing field. At the end of the 1/4 mile,
you both should be side-byside.
Got all that?
Good! Just don’t leave
earlier than the green light
or you will “red light”, and
that, too, is an immediate
loss. So is crossing over the
center line. Sit and wait for
the green light and you’re
“snoozing”, which is costing
you time.
For those of you
wondering about staging, it
is very easy, but can also be
a big head-game. There are two sets of lights the pre-stage and the staged. When you roll up
to the line, the first set of lights will come on
(you are now pre-staged). Inch forward and the
“staged” lights come on. This tells the tower
that you are ready to race. The head-games
come into play when people sit on the pre-stage
light. You may be anxious to run, sitting with
the staged light on, while your opponent s-l-ow-l-y rolls to the line. This waiting game can
seem like eternity and can catch you off guard.
Tips:
- Avoid the water/burn out box. This is used for
heating the tires to make them stickier. For cars
with good weight distribution, stickier tires are
not needed.
- Stage. Don’t play the waiting game. It’s not
sportsman, and is really only used in the big
leagues.
- If you question anything, ASK. The track
officials are more than happy to answer your
questions. They want you to have a good time.
- While on the subject of track officials, this
is their world. They are the gods here, so their
word goes. Make them angry and you might
as well pack up the car and head home early.
Respect them - they are only trying to keep you
safe.
- Have Fun! If you loose, no big deal. Seek out
that person in the pits that whipped the pants
off of you and congratulate them on a good
win. You’d be surprised at how far that goes in
gaining respect amongst racers, who (when you
break something) will soon become your best
friends.
Article courtesy of Eric Schneck of Boomtastic Racing
(www.boomtastic.com)
Domestic Driv e r | | | 3 3
IMAGE MANIPULATION
This page shows what can be done with modern day imaging software. This quarter we bring you 4 different manipulation’s, all which were
submitted by fiero.nl members. In the future we might provide a few different images to work with and sponsor a contest to see who can be the most
creative and make the car look better then it did at the beginning. If you are interested in making a submission see our “Submit” page on our web site.
Andrew Cleaver (Saxman)
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Joel Rood (justa6)
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Rob Bartlett (MinnGreenGT)
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Mike Moreau (maxsideburn)
BEFORE:
34 | | | D o m e s t i c D R i v e r
AFTER:
WRECKAGE
I was on my way to the ER, where
I work, on July 26, 2005 in my 04 Chevy
Cavalier. I was waiting to make a left turn,
stopped by a flashing red light. After a couple
seconds, oncoming traffic came to a stop, and
I got the green arrow telling me to go. I looked
on ahead to see that there was a brown van
stopped, and no one in the lane to its left. I
was about to shift into second when I heard the
sound of tires squealing and experienced a jolt
that felt like I was on a roller coaster. I was half
a block away from work. I made it there - on a
backboard, in a C-Collar and in the back of an
ambulance.
After hours of tests and radiation,
(and being checked on by almost the entire
staff of the ER) I was released and set out to
see my car. She looked pretty bad, so I grabbed
a few things, leaving the B&M Short Throw
Shifter and the Weapon R intake for another
time. Luckily, my Pacesetter header and
Magnaflow exhaust were going to be put on
later in the week.
It turned out I was hit by a 94 Ford
Ranger, which I only remembered as a black
blur hours before. I guess he was speeding up
to try to make the late yellow, and didn’t stop
for the red. I’m sure all Cavalier owners will
be pleased to hear that the airbag was rather
cushy to hit, so I made it out with only some
small cuts on my face and arm, along with
some bruising on my hip. All this from getting
hit somewhere around 40-50 mph. Bad news
however, if I had a passenger with me, they
would have been in some serious trouble.
Before I even received the official
word that she was being totaled I went to
work on finding another car. Immediately, the
Cobalt SS caught my eye. Once I received my
insurance money, I placed my order for a new
06 Laser Blue SS/SC. Only thing left for me to
do now is to wait for it to be built and shipped
to me before I start all over again, only this
time with force induction from the get go.
Submission by Tim Tanason
Advertisers Index:
Submit your Wreckage to appear here in our next issue.
07 Custom Cobalt
23 Street Style Customs
36 Race Performance Parts
If your domestic small to mid-sized car was involved in a major accident, please snap a few pictures with your digital camera and show
us the aftermath. You can even send us 35mm photos. Even pictures you take for your insurance company will work. Explain in 1-4
paragraphs what happened and what you plan to do next. Send all submissions to [email protected].
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Domestic Driv e r | | | 3 5