Sorry for the printing trouble. I went ahead and mailed you another copy. As for courses to take to become a machinist, I would highly recommend checking out the School of Automotive Machinists in Houston. SAM has an incredible program there. Many graduates move on to opening their own shops, working at premier engine building facilities, and working on professional teams such as NASCAR, NHRA, NMRA, NMCA, IRL, and CART. For more information, SAM can be reached at www.samracing.com or directly at 713.683.3817.
Cool Gifts For Your Dad
Surfing the web, we came across a site that featured a variety of cufflinks specifically for gearheads. With Father's Day just around the corner, it's well worth taking a peek at www.cufflinks.com/automotive1.com. Our personal favorites are the sterling silver Spark Plug Cufflinks (PN RR-125), though we really like the Gear Shifter Cufflinks too. The Spark Plug ones are priced at $94.99, weigh 21.8 grams, and are placed in a nice package that looks more suited for high-end jewelers. Just be careful-your mom may get jealous!
Who Says Elcos Can't Drag?
I run this Camino every weekend for the last 12 years at ESTA drag strip in central New York. It runs high 11s with a 427 on pump gas, all motor and no trailer.
Syracuse elkyman,
elcaminocentral.com
GM's Corvette Launch Control
We are always up for learning new tricks. GM is introducing launch control on its '10 'Vettes. It's simple to use and will produce consistent quarter-mile times regardless of the driver experience. To engage the launch control system, the driver only has to put the traction control into competitive mode and then push the gas pedal to the floor. The system will hold a predetermined rpm based on which engine you have (LS3/LS7/LS9). As soon as the driver releases the clutch, the launch control modulates engine torque 100 times per second to get the best traction. And unlike other factory-installed launch control units, GM's won't void your warranty. Check out how it works in the video: corvetteblogger.com/index.cfm/2009/4/26/VIDEO-The-2010-CorvettesLaunch-Control-System-Explained
CHP Sightings
Most of you probably know by now, our website (www.chevyhiperformance.com) is chock full of great content from previous issues, videos, and blogs that get updated regularly. What you may not know is where else you can find us on the web, such as Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Our Myspace page has been blowing up, with 1,000-plus members following our exploits at www.myspace.com/chevyhi.
Facebook is quickly gaining ground on MySpace, growing in popularity every day. When logged into www.facebook.com, go to the search box and type "chevy high performance." At the top of the results, you can't miss our bright red logo.
For those not familiar with Twitter, it's a new way to get your message out to the world. Instead of all the bells and whistles of the other social networks, Twitter is short, easily digestible bursts of info. Check us out at www.twitter.com/chevyhigh.
Rooster Call
Sean Haggai
I am in hot anticipation for Project Brutus ("Uncovered," June '09) to roll out of the paint booth-freshly dipped. If you've ever been involved in a ground-up build, you can identify with what I'm feeling. Part of me has wanted to give up at times, scrapping the whole plan and finding a project car already running. But that's not how I do things. The strings are pulling at my heart to continue the build and see it completed. Honestly, the build has been through its rings of fire and has always emerged victoriously. It should be cakewalk from here, with basic suspension and some good rubber, and out to the track in no time.
Now, while the vehicle is in paint, I have a lot of time to sit and ponder what to throw at it next. For me it's difficult. It would be easy and selfish of us to build the most horsepower-hungry, coachlike, Pro Touring drag machine that costs more than a heart transplant. Other magazines do that, but we don't. Why? The simple fact is money. I don't claim to be any sort of market analyst from CNN, but we are all feeling the crunch. And the squeeze on our wallets is going to last for quite some time. At CHP we feel the need to build cars that our readers can actually duplicate-or at least try to justify building on their own, free of buyer's remorse. That is what is most important to us. It twists my gut to see $10K rearends going into project cars just because it's possible, not because it's essential for solid running gear or the story.
Trust us. While it would be easy to grab the most extreme products available, we won't unless the story supports that decision. That's not who we are as a magazine. Like you, we work long hours and have just enough time to make dinner and call it a day...only to get up and do it again. Every penny and bead of sweat are worth more when they're yours.
We need to create builds that are easy and fairly affordable and that will provide you with performance comparable to other products. It's not just important to get every dollar's worth, it's a requirement. We aren't in this business of fluff stories. We want what works best for the current vehicle climate. Stick with us. We can't wait to show you what's around the corner.