The Camaro Club (UK)

I was rung up today out of the blue by someone asking if I knew anything about a certain 1969 Camaro circuit racing car as the owner had died suddenly (last year).

Yes I knew the owner (Hugo) , and yes I knew the car- but wait a moment I had no idea that he had died (cancer)

To cut a long story short the executors (of his estate are looking to sell this car.

I have suggested that they give it to Bob Ridgard to fettle and check over before a sale

and there are beginnings of a resurgence of classic Camaro racing in UK with Bernie Chodosh's HVRA series taking effect.

More details to follow.................
I haven't seen this car for 8 years! But it could be a way into some serious fun!

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Kind Regards
TopCat
Secretary
Classic Camaro Club
Member of The Association of American Car Clubs UK
Email :tboles@strathnoon.co.uk Websites: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com and:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhLJtR_ZY4

I knew Hugo too, I raced with him in HSCC Roadsports on a few occasions. He was a really nice bloke and I was shocked to hear of his passing. If anyone is interested in his Camaro, I can vouch for the fact that it went well enough and was moderately competitive in class. HTH
Cheers, Martin

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Details of car may be seen here:

Spec sheet for 1969 Chevrolet Camaro – LTU194G – raced in HSCC Historic Road Sports championship.

Originally a big block (396) SS/RS purchased from Ryland Rogers in Mold, Nth Wales. Painted Porsche Guards red, OEM panels and glass, fibreglass cowl induction bonnet.

Engine 355 cubic inches (350 + 30 thou overbore) small block Chevy.

TRW flat-top pistons, Eagle I-beam rods, Eagle 4340 forged steel crank, Clevite bearings, ARP bolts, original 1969 350 block, rotating assembly fully balanced by Real Steel (safe to 7000 rpm)

Comp cams 280H hydraulic cam, Pro-magnum 1.52 ratio roller rockers, diamond scraper windage screen, hi-rev lifters, Moroso baffled road racing sump.

Dart 2 heads, 2.02/1.6 ss valves, approx 9.7 compression ratio, ported at Jeff Hausers. Port-matched Performer RPM dual plane inlet manifold. Holley 750 vac sec carb.

MSD 6AL ignition with built in rev limiter. MSD Blaster coil. Accel Blueprint distributor.

Hedman 1 ¾ inch headers, custom built exhaust system with balance pipe and Flowmaster mufflers.

Moroso oil accumulator in cockpit, thermo controlled oil cooler, electric fan, four-core radiator.

Engine runs Mobil One race oil.

Gearbox Muncie ‘Rockcrusher’ M22 with straight cut close ratio gears, rebuilt by East London transmissions, everything new apart from casing. Hurst shifter. Centerforce Dual-friction clutch, Mcleod flywheel, Lakewood scattershield, balanced propshaft.

12 bolt Chevy rear axle, fitted with Auburn positraction LSD and 3.55 ring and pinion. Strange full floater road racing axles with c-clip eliminator kit. Built and set up by Jeff Hauser.

Suspension, OEM Chevy with custom-built LEDA dampers, uprated four leaf springs at rear, ¾ inch anti-roll bar, solid bushes. Front original pressed steel A arms, 750 lb front coil springs, spindle extenders, 1 inch anti-roll bar, poly bushings. Extended race-spec studs front and rear.

Brakes, OEM Chevy discs at front, drums at rear, Goodrich braided brake hose, brake balance adjuster in cockpit. Runs Performance carbon metallic pads.

Steering, Global West rebuilt quick ratio OEM steering box.

Wheels, American Racing Torque-thrust Ds, 7 x 15 inch, fitted with Yokohoma A008R tyres.

Safety, custom built Safety Devices multipoint cage. TRS 5 point FIA belts. Plumbed in extinguisher system, Sparco seat.

_________________
Kind Regards
TopCat
Secretary
Classic Camaro Club
Member of The Association of American Car Clubs UK
Email :tboles@strathnoon.co.uk Websites: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com and:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhLJtR_ZY4

Have the executors given you a price for it as yet??

cheers...Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

they are kind of expecting Bob and I to decide same!

_________________
Kind Regards
TopCat
Secretary
Classic Camaro Club
Member of The Association of American Car Clubs UK
Email :tboles@strathnoon.co.uk Websites: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com and:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhLJtR_ZY4

Despite the sad circumstances which led to this car being for sale, I am happy to read that the Camaro now has a new owner who is already a racer with us (HSCC) and intends to continue racing the Camaro. So it looks like I may well be racing against this car again in the future, and my Mustang won't be the only US musclecar being raced in HRS.
Cheers, Martin

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Martin,
Thanks for the welcome and I look forward to meeting you at an HSCC event.

Hugo Dixon's Camaro is being re-commissioned at this moment after 5 years off the track. There are a fair few things to do apart from the normal safety stuff like tyres, belts and extinguishing system to re-life. If all goes well I hope to enter HRS at the HSCC Brands Hatch SuperPrix on Sunday July 1st which will be the Camaro's first outing since (I think) 2007. I will be driving the car to and (hopefully) from the races in Hugo's style as I did with the Alfas I raced in Historic Road Sports series a few years ago.

Hugo's widow, Jane, was tremendously helpful, but I felt as though I was kidnapping a family member when I finally drove away in the Camaro 4 weeks ago.

I would be happy to talk to anyone who knows about work done to the car/engine in the 2002/2007 era just so I can keep in touch with its history.Not having raced anything like this in the past - I am going to be taking it easy until I know a bit more about how it behaves on-track.

A happy hello to Forum members and hope to meet up with some of you at the race meetings
Nick

Dear Nick
I am glad that this lovely car has found a new caring owner
And you will find it hugely enjoyable on the track- I do admire you driving it to and from the races- but I suspect that you may find this more difficult after a while.

I didi this for quite a long time - but getting home was often a problem because by the end of a race weekend the brakes were shot! The Camarao is a heavy old beast tp punt around a track with standard sized brakes and then to get home safely! I now use a trailer!

I am going to do some UK races this season- first time for a while- will be at Brands 4 and 5 June
and maybe Compenhagen 4/5 August- where they are hosting a special Camaro Race!- do you want details? Wonder if we will be racing together and if so who would be quicker???

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Kind Regards
TopCat
Secretary
Classic Camaro Club
Member of The Association of American Car Clubs UK
Email :tboles@strathnoon.co.uk Websites: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com and:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhLJtR_ZY4

Hi Nick, and welcome to this forum! I'm sure we will meet up and chat at some point but not Brands. These cars do take a bit of getting used to (probably- it's all I've ever raced!) but as Tim says, I think you will find it enjoyable - at least when everything is working right! I too drove mine to races for 12 years but have started towing this season, partly due to finding the early starts and long days too much, and also worries about racing related problems and recently, fuel availability on the road. In addition, I feel the HSCC doesn't car about road-driven cars any more.
I am sure Hugo would have approved of another racer taking on his car and continuing to race it as he did. Good man!
Cheers, Martin (HRS number 3)

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