Cars N Cones Roadtour - the greatest hotrod tuning and education event of 2016

[bret]

The reason hotrodders come to these forums is for information...about suspension, engines, tires, brakes, wiring...ect.

The reason hotrodders drive and race their cars is to have fun...and to determine if the changes they have made are actually an improvement.

Imagine if there were an event that combined the two...an event where you would have direct live access to experts in the suspension, brakes, engine, (and several other fields), you could get them to look at YOUR car in person, ask their advice, potentially TRY their advice, then ask more questions (in person) about the results of that advice.

The Cars N Cones Roadtour might just provide that chance for you. The Tour starts on Monday May2 at the DSE shop in Charlotte, NC and ends on Friday May 7 at the RideTech shop in Jasper, In. At each stop we will be doing 4-5 hours of autocross fun, then retiring to the day’s sponsor’s facility for dinner and socializing. Then the next morning we get up and drive 2-4 hours to the next stop…and repeat. Find out more here: http://www.fm3roadtrip.com/


Here is a short list of the people who will be on the tour, and what they might be driving:

Bret Voelkel, RideTech - (somebody has to be first on the list, right?) 70 Buick GSX
Building cars since 1979, building suspensions professionally since 1996, driven many hotrods across the country, driven several thousand autocross laps...I still LOVE to talk about cars and try to help people improve them.

Kyle Tucker, Detroit Speed - 65 Nova
GM suspension engineers Kyle and Stacey Tucker started DSE on the back of a pro touring 69 Camaro that they put THOUSANDS of highway miles on. They might be best known on an autocross track, but they also know exactly what it takes to make your car happy on the highway.

Rob McGregor - No Limit Engineering – 65 Mustang
A mechanical engineer who spent time on the TRD Toyota racing program many moons ago, Rob has likely put more highway miles on a motorcycle and/or a hotrod than many of us put on our daily drivers. Rob is a real common sense guy that tries to find the most efficient solution to your problems.

Chris Smith – Smitty’s Custom Automotive - 70 Camaro Streetgrip car –
While he is now known as the driver of the 48 HR Corvette and the RideTech shock tuner, he also builds lots of fast reliable hotrods in his Tiffin, Oh shop. There is little Smitty can’t fix or prevent from breaking...a totally dedicated hotrodder who thrives on helping other hotrodders.

Britt Marolf - RideTech - 48 HR Camaro - Brit is the RideTech Special Projects engineer. He has 2.5 small children so he doesn't get out much, but when he does, his autocross competitors know about it! Britt is also the guy to talk to if you want to build an all-wheel drive Gen 3 Camaro...he knows all the ways that don’t work! Shock expert, air suspension expert, electronics expert...he'll make your head swim with information that you never knew existed.

Chad Reynolds - bangshift.com – 72 Chevelle StreetGrip car - Some of you know him as one of the founders of Bangshift.com, others may know him from his announcing duties at Optima and Goodguys. Fewer may know that the reason he is such an effective announcer who needs no script is that he KNOWS this stuff...because he has lived it for the last 40 years! The only thing about hotrodding that Chad doesn't know is a stranger. You'll be kicking him off your leg :)

Jeff Schwartz – Schwartz Chassis – 65 Tempest - Jeff makes a living building kickass chassis for lots of different applications, AND has a history of building huge horsepower unique hotrods. Anyone remember a certain Ultima GTR with a twin turbo LS engine that made 1012 hp and went well over 200 MPH? Not impressed yet? How about putting 40,000 miles on that car? Yeah, I was impressed too.

Bruce Raymond - Raymond's Performance Center - Bruce’s shop in Indianapolis is the support system for Ken Thwait’s VERY successful Optima Ultimate Street Car program. Yeah, their kinda smart like that. Bruce and his guys will be following along with the tour to provide repair services and general car building/maintaining/racing tips.

The Bonus…each sponsor will be giving away a LOT of product and swag. RideTech is giving away a full StreetGrip system EVERY DAY. DSE, No Limit, Holley, Forgeline, Baer and others will be giving out similar prizes.

AND…after all of this…Ron Sutton will be presenting his first Suspension workshop of 2016 at the RideTech facility in Jasper, Indiana on Saturday May 7. For those of you who attended one of Ron’s workshops last year, you can attest to how much information is offered. Be aware that the information presented in the 2016 workshop will be significantly different than last year’s workshops.
2016 topics:
• Tips and tricks to measure the suspension and steering points in YOUR car
• Learn to evaluate your car’s geometry and understand it better
• Simple ways to improve your car’s grip and handling consistency
• Proven methods to create out-of-the-box winning suspension set-ups
• Master the recipe for ultra fast spring, swaybar, and shock combinations
• How to achieve amazing grip and corner speed in your current car…or any car
• Track day tuning to dial in your car for neutral, balanced handling

The Ron Sutton Seminar does have an extra cost of $329.00 [about the cost of ONE good tire] but it will likely be the best investment you have ever made in making you and your car faster and happier.

Soooo…the highlights:

1. Sign up for one of the last 20 spots left in the Cars N Cones Roadtour. You can enter for the entire week for $500 or just for a day at a time for $75/day. Note that the day rate does not include any autocross access or raffled prizes like the weeklong entry. http://www.fm3roadtrip.com/event-registration.html

Why? Have fun…learn things…have fun…win prizes…have fun

2. Sign up for Ron Sutton Suspension workshop on May 7 at RideTech http://www.ronsutton-racetechnology.com/news/article.php?storyid=64


Why? Learn something…make your car faster and handle better…what other reason do you need?

[SSLance]

Man I wish I could be a part of this... All of you that will are going to have a blast!

[Ron Sutton]

I'm really looking forward to this event. Autocross all week & a Workshop at the end.

On Friday, a couple of my Star Girls & I will be at the autocross event in Bowling Green. I'll be hanging out with friends & answering any questions folks have. The Star Girls are going to be passing out my new "Build Your Own Track Car Catalog" & posing for photos if anyone wants.

Saturday is the first workshop of my 2016 tour ... with a new topic: The 7 Secrets of Suspension Mapping, Set-ups & Track Tuning. You can get more details on the Workshops HERE (http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=52666) & purchase tickets HERE (http://shop.ronsuttonracetechnology.com/shopping/?ic=6106). Every Workshop sold out last year & we are NOT increasing class size. The group size was perfect for interaction, questions & discussion. So get your tickets early.


I hope to see you there !!

[carbuff]

I really wish I could attend this event, it sounds like it will be a blast! Hopefully next year I will have more free time in my schedule.

[jarhead]

geez Ron, you even have Star Girls, I won't be able to attend for sure now :peepwall:

Plenty of pics :thumbsup:

Would love to attend.

Joe

[jb@ridetech]

Here are some of the registered participants going on the tour.....

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DRIVER: Erik Vandermey
CAR: 2007 Mazda MX-5 MS-R

DETAILS: Upgraded 2.5-liter engine, OE 5-spd trans; Koni yellow DA shocks, MazdaSpeed MS-R springs, Hotchkis swaybars

DRIVER INFO: Erik has been autocrossing since 1994 and doing track events since 1999, and attended his first OSUSC event last year. He’s owned his car since 2007, and says it handles great, is light weight, and as close as you can get to a motorcycle on 4 wheels! He’s looking forward to going to places he’s never been before with friends and other auto enthusiasts.

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DRIVER: Todd Earsley
CAR: 1969 Camaro

DETAILS: 350 small block with Tremec 5-speed; stock suspension

DRIVER INFO: We’ve met Todd many times at events, but we’ve never seen him outside of an EVO! Todd has owned this car for 16 years; it was his first car, and he spent time in high school restoring it with his father (who would disown him if he ever sold it!). Todd is looking forward to driving the car to various locations and participating with the other enthusiasts.

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DRIVER: Edward Michalak
CAR: 1969 Camaro

DETAILS: ZZ4 350, Edelbrock top end & Holley Terminator EFI, TKO500 trans; RideTech 4-Link, Moser 12-bolt, Wilwood disc brakes, SPC & Chassisworks control arms

DRIVER INFO: A Marine with a history in stock car racing, owning a ’69 Camaro was a dream of Ed’s since childhood. He finally got a chance to make that dream a reality in 2010, when he purchased this car and began his build. Ed has taken this car on 3 Hot Rod Power Tours, including one with a family of 4 including a 3 & 4-year old stuffed in the car…he says “It was not ideal, but it was a trip we’ll never forget!”! Ed is looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying his ride on the Road Trip.

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DRIVER: James Vanhoose
CAR: 1967 Camaro

DETAILS: LS1 & T56; TCI Engineering suspension, torque arm 3-link in rear, full subframe up front, RideTech SA Coilovers, 9″ 3:89 gear, Wilwood brakes, RideTech TigerCage, Forgeline wheels, Falken tires

DRIVER INFO: James is a big fan of the 1st gen Camaro, but is also building a ’72. He has owned the ’67 for 5 years and enjoys the pro-touring performance and ride. This event will be his first time on the autocross track, and he’s hoping to win a few door prizes that might help with the build of his ’72!

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DRIVER: Christine Crutcher
CAR: 2014 Camaro 2SS/RS

DETAILS: 6.2L; Ported & shaved head – changed cam – 3.91 gear swap, upgraded suspension mix of 1LE & Hotchkis, Corsa exhaust, Eibach lowering kit

DRIVER INFO: Christine’s favorite detail about her car is the increased HP courtesy of RedStar Performance. She is looking forward to time with friends and autocrossing on the Road Trip.

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Kerry Kirkpatrick
CAR: 1966 Chevelle

DETAILS: LQ9 & T56; Front SC&C Upper Arms/Springs with DA Varishocks, Rear RideTech HQ’s, BBS wheels

DRIVER INFO: Kerry’s Chevelle was with him in high school but had to be sold in college; luckily, a few years later, he was able to get her back and she’s been with him ever since! The pair had quite a bit of fun at the dragstrip, but some changes had to be made when Kerry found an obsession with curvy roads. With advice from friends and a class from Ron Sutton, Kerry began the upgrading process that he looks forward to sharing with his daughter as she gets older. Kerry’s favorite details about his ride are the BBS wheels and the Dakar Yellow color; he’s excited about socializing with other like-minded individuals, receiving tips to improve both the car and driver, and just driving & enjoying the experience!

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DRIVER: Robert Green
CAR: 2014 Camaro Z/28

DETAILS: LS427 w/ Tremec 6spd; stock suspension

DRIVER INFO: Robert has owned this car for 6 months, and loves the awesome track capabilities with a factory warranty :). He has participated in road rally, track, and autocross events in another 5th Gen Camaro for the last 6 years, and was on a rally when he came across this car for sale in South Dakota. He finished the rally in Vegas, his teammate drove the car back home to Tennessee, and Robert flew back to SD to grab this beauty! He thinks the Road Trip event will be the perfect combination of travelling, autocross, and visiting the best aftermarket companies in the country; plus, Robert is a CPA, so the Road Trip will also serve as a chance to unwind behind the wheel as tax season comes to a close.

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DRIVER: Mark Rife
CAR: 1963 Corvette

DETAILS: LS7 with Tremec 5spd; RideTech coilovers, Wilwood brakes

DRIVER INFO: Mark has had this car for many years and has quite a bit of track time under his belt, including an OUSCI. Mostly stock, this little car still puts out some impressive numbers! Mark is looking forward to new adventures in a car that has already brought him many countless memories.

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DRIVER: Jeffrey Darbig
CAR: 1983 Mustang GT

DETAILS: Stock 302 and T5 5spd; Koni DA’s, Maximum Motorsports coilovers/torque arm/panhard bar, stock brakes

DRIVER INFO: Jeffrey’s uncle bought this car new in 1983 and drove it for years; Jeffrey got the car in the early 90’s before totalling it in 2000. The restoration process was long, but it was finally back on the road in 2013! Jeffrey began autocrossing in 2014 and has attended quite a few premium driving events. He is looking forward to enjoying the cars and the sport he loves with like-minded people in a fun atmosphere.

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DRIVER: Dan Ballard
CAR: 1972 Nova

DETAILS: LS7/T56; RideTech Level 3 suspension

DRIVER INFO: Dan has owned “Grandma”, this clean, original-paint Nova, since 2011. He’s looking forward to hanging out with friends and having fun just driving the car.

[Ron Sutton]

The 1st Ron Sutton Suspension Workshop of the 2016 Tour is only a few weeks away: May 7th

It's at Ridetech's HQ in Jasper, IN ... the Day after the Cars & Cones Autocross Event in Bowling Green.

NEW TOPIC for 2016: The 7 Secrets of Suspension Mapping, Set-Ups & Track Tuning

Info & Schedule: http://www.ronsutton-racetechnology.com/
Tickets: http://shop.ronsuttonracetechnology.com/shopping/?ic=6106

Every Workshop in 2015 SOLD OUT! Get Your Tickets Early

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Chris Rhinehart
CAR: 1972 Nova SS

DETAILS: Supercharged 355 w/ TKO 600 5spd; stock a-arms, Energy Suspension bushings, Hotchkis coils, Helwig swaybar

DRIVER INFO: Chris has owned this car for 19 years, and he is really looking forward to the drive, seeing old and making new friends, and the challenge…to see if something he built can withstand 1700 miles of driving and autocrossing! He fell in love with this car the moment he saw it, and it’s been driven and beat on as much as possible. Over the last 19 years, he’s built and fixed it himself from reading magazines, joining forums, info on the web, and just being out there and making friends along the way!


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DRIVER: Matthew Bacon
CAR: 2003 Corvette Z06

DETAILS: LS6/6spd; stock suspension with aftermarket swaybars

DRIVER INFO: Matt has come a long way with this car in a relatively short time. He purchased it in 2015, just a week and a half before he ran his very first automotive event (OSUSC at MIS)! He has since run more events to improve his skillset, and is looking forward to making great memories and having a great time with fun people.


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DRIVER: Gary Flentge
CAR: 2000 Corvette

DETAILS: LS1/T56 6spd; RideTech SA shocks, C6 Z51 swaybars, endlinks, monoleaf

DRIVER INFO: Gary has had this car for exactly one year, and obtained it as a replacement to his 1978 Z28. He loves the LS power and performance, great track and auto-x manners, and that it still makes 30+ MPG with AC on the highway! He will be enjoying some seat time, spending time with friends and fellow motorsports enthusiasts, and seeing some beautiful country in our United States.

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Mike Leasure
CAR: 1979 Z28 Camaro

DETAILS: 500hp 385, Bowler stage2 TKO 600; Classic Performance Parts Protouring stage2, QA1 coilovers & leafs, Moser 9″ rear, Wilwood disc brakes

DRIVER INFO: “You gotta love that nasty 385!”, says Mike of the Z28 he’s owned for 6 years. He’s looking forward to driving his car for the first time this year. This is the first car he’s built; at first, he was building it to be a drag car, until he got hooked at the OSUSC events. He’s spent the last 3 years building the car, and with lots of help from family and friends, it’s come a long way since then!

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DRIVER: Eric Fleming
CAR: 1971 Corvette

DETAILS: GMPP LS3 / Silver Sport TKO-600; RideTech Level 2 Coilovers

DRIVER INFO: Eric just started racing this C3 in January, 2015. He’s done quite a few upgrades in that short time, trying to put together a car that will keep up with the big guys, but he’s done very well! He loves track days and has really enjoyed the Hot Rod Power Tour in years past, and believes the Road Trip will combine the two into something right up his alley.

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DRIVER: Steve Rivett
CAR: 1968 Camaro

DETAILS: Wegner Motorsports stage II LS3 long block, TKO 600 5spd; Full RideTech Air Suspension/TruTurn/TigerCage, Wilwood brakes

DRIVER INFO: Steve has owned this car for 24 years! After a major engine fire early on, Steve has personally installed every nut, bolt, wire, and everything else to restore and build this car over a 15-year span. He’s looking forward to driving through the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains with 100 like-minded car nuts, and the social aspect that goes along with that!

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Alan Claffie
CAR: 2008 Mazda MX-5

DETAILS: 2.0L, 6spd; Ohlins DFV suspension

DRIVER INFO: Originally his wife’s car, Alan started driving it last fall when she was unable to drive after an ankle injury, and he doesn’t think she’s going to get it back just yet! Alan especially likes his Parsimonious Racing door stripes, and is looking forward to meeting car folks and hopefully showing the muscle cars a thing or two with his economy car.

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DETAILS: 383 LT1@500hp, T56 spd; UMI Performance Suspension, AFCO DA shocks, springs, and more, Wilwood brakes, MSD Ignition, caster/camber/toe set up by Quick Trick Alignment System

DRIVER INFO: Buddy has spent the last 20 years drag racing in an ’80 Monte, but caught the bug and started competing in OSUSC events in 2009. This will be his 12th consecutive year on the Hot Rod Power Tour, and this car sees autocross and drag strip events on a regular basis as well as seeing close to 10,000 miles a year!

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DRIVER: Dennis Berry
CAR: 1976 ProStreet Chevy Nova

DETAILS: 383 w/200-shot nitrous, 411 rear with 4-link rear suspension

DRIVER INFO: Dennis writes that he bought this car for five rolls of quarters in 2001 and did all the work himself except for paint! He bought a welder and learned to weld tubbing out the car; they’ve driven it everywhere, and are very excited for the Road Trip and autocross. The car’s only experience with curves was the Tail of the Dragon, and they say it was a ride to remember!

[Ron Sutton]

NEW TOPIC for 2016: The 7 Secrets of Suspension Mapping, Set-Ups & Track Tuning

The 1st Ron Sutton Suspension Workshop of the 2016 Tour is only 2 weeks away!
May 7th at Ridetech's HQ in Jasper, IN ... the Day after the Cars & Cones Autocross event in Bowling Green.

Info & Schedule: http://www.ronsutton-racetechnology.com/
Tickets: http://shop.ronsuttonracetechnology.com/shopping/?ic=6106

Every Workshop in 2015 SOLD OUT! Get Your Ticket & Join us !

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Roger Averill
CAR: Mustang GT

DETAILS: 4.6L; Cushman Motorsports cams, KYP AGX dampers, Maximum Motorsports panhard bar, Eibach swaybars, Ford Racing Springs, Corbeau A4

DRIVER INFO: Roger is so excited about the Road Trip, he can’t focus on just one aspect, from the cruise to the autocross to the camaraderie! His car is frantically undergoing prep for paint; and immediately following the Road Trip, he’ll be hightailing it for home so he can compete in yet another autocross!


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DRIVER: Garry Walsh
CAR: 2004 Corvette Z06

DETAILS: LS6; Hyperco springs, QA1 shocks, Strano swaybar, Elite Engineering tunnel brace

DRIVER INFO: Garry was born in England, grew up in South Africa, and has lived in the USA for 16 years. His Corvette has intake and exhaust upgrades, as well as engine tune, upgraded seats, harnesses and bar, and more! Nearly all of these autocross customization have been done at home. Garry is looking forward to meeting new friends, learning from others, and improving his driving.

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DRIVER: Joel Route
CAR: 2007 Mustang GT

DETAILS: 4.6L/TR3650

DRIVER INFO: Joel loves working on and driving cars, but he needed something with a back seat for his growing boys; Mustangs also have great aftermarket support, so it’s easier to find parts Joel can use to improve performance and install himself. Joel will be accompanied by his two young sons and is looking forward to the first Boys-Only car trip with them! Joel has done all of the modifications in his own garage and has made the car a solid performer for autocross, driving, drag racing, and road course.


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DRIVER: Tom Childers
CAR: 2011 Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle)

DETAILS: 6.0L L77, 6L80; stock police suspension, Kooks Long Tube Headers and high-flow cats, Solo Axle-back, Rotofab CIA

DRIVER INFO: Tom purchased this car from a dealer with only 41 miles on it; with the parts he’s installed and a tune from PCM of NC, this car now has 373 rwhp and 393 lb/ft torque. He’s looking forward to the Road Trip and the fun of autocrossing what he says is the biggest car in the group! He enjoys the car because no one expects it to sound and perform the way it does; they’ve taken it on the HRPT Long Haul, done some drag racing, cruise-ins, and car shows, AND it’s Tom’s daily driver!

[bret]

We are planning on taking seven cars on this trip:
yellow 70 GSX - 455 buick w/ ZF 6 speed and our coilover package - Bret Voelkel
blue 66 Chevelle - Lingenfelter LS3 w/ ZF 6 speed and ShockWave suspension - Greg Schneider
blue 70 Camaro with our new StreetGrip suspension - Chris Smith
white 72 Chevelle with StreetGrip suspension - Mike Ballard
48 Hr Camaro - Lingenfelter LS3 w/ T56 and our coilover suspension - Britt Marolf
black 02 Z06 Corvette - oems leafs, HQ smoothbodies, delrin bushings, and our splined swaybars - Dan Ballard
blue 66 Chevy truck - aluminum 509 big block and air suspension- Herb Lumpp
Currently, the GSX still needs EFI tuning and speedo calibration [after being apart for the last 5 years] and the trans has died in the blue 70 Camaro. Were waiting on some brake rotors for the 48 Hr Camaro and tires for the Corvette. Both Chevelles seem ready to go. Getting seven cars ready to go on one trip is like getting a litter of puppies not to pee on the carpet. I cannot deny that it is fun though...really looking forward to it.

Greg Schneider, Britt Marolf, and myself are planning on taking off Friday sometime to make it to the Cruisin the Smokies event this weekend in Pigeon Forge on the way to Charlotte. Bill Howell puts on a fun event that I have been to many times...looking forward to hooking up with everyone there on Friday night/Saturday.
Chris Smith is driving the 70 Camaro from his shop in Tiffin Ohio on Sunday.
Herb Lumpp is leaving our shop in Jasper on Sunday morning. I think the Ballard brothers are leaving with the Z06 Corvette at the same time.

We have room for about 8 more truck/trailers at our shop if anyone wants to leave their tow rig in Jasper till the end of the tour. hit me up directly on [email protected].

See you guys in Pigeon Forge and/or Charlotte!

[preston]

I look forward to a similar event in Washington state.

I'm sure that will happen soon :lol:

[bret]

you never know. I'm sure Jimi and Wally at FM3 would entertain any ideas if you could put together enough participants. I've not had the pleasure of spending a huge amount of time in Washington state, but I am told it is beautiful!
I know Art Morrison Enterprises is based in Fife, Wa...contact Craig Morrison to get his help on putting something together. He likes a good party as well as the rest of us!

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: John Stevens
CAR: 1982 Monte Carlo

DETAILS: 5.3 w/Magnusson supercharger, PST suspension

DRIVER INFO: John has owned this car for 20 years! He is looking forward to making some new friends and learning about autocrossing. He enjoys going on road trips, and has been on Power Tour many times.

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DRIVER: Bennie Dennis
CAR: 1967 Camaro

DETAILS: LS3, Tremec TKO 5spd; RideTech TruTurn & Coilovers front, Chassisworks 4-Link & coilovers rear

DRIVER INFO: Bennie has put a lot of hard work into this Camaro during the last 6 years. He particularly enjoys the overall handling and response of the car. He’s looking forward to the chance to meet new people who also enjoy taking their cars out and having fun with them!

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DRIVER: Jeff Dunnavant
CAR: 2015 Camaro

DETAILS: LS3, Tremec 6spd; custom ground cam, polished/ported heads, Kooks headers, Airaid CAI, FAST LSXR intake, Nick Williams throttle body, DSE suspension

DRIVER INFO: Jeff has owned the car since it was new in April of last year, and he loves the way it sounds. He’s looking forward to the camaraderie and friendship with the other drivers.

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DRIVER: Jinx Jordan
CAR: 1971 Ventura

DETAILS: LS1, 6spd; TCI 4-Link, QA1 shocks

DRIVER INFO: This car was inspired by Jinx’s father, who had a long history with Pontiac; and Jinx decided if he ever built a car, it would have to be a Pontiac…and here it is!! Jinx and his wife retrofitted the interior from a Honda Civic to add some comfort during their many cruises and road trips. They have also been autocrossing with their local SCCA for about 40 years.

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DRIVER: Joel Nystrom
CAR: 1967 Olds 442 Convertible

DETAILS: Olds 455 making about 400hp, Doug Nash 5spd, McLeod clutch; stock suspension with delalum bushings in upper front control arms, cut coils, KYB shocks, stock brakes

DRIVER INFO: Joel’s favorite things about the Olds he’s owned for 35 years are “the top goes down, it has 3 pedals and a big block”, and he’s looking forward to his first time hitting the autocross course. The car is still wearing the enamel paint from it’s 1982 resto; Joel has had 4 engines in the car since the original let go in 1983, and has participated in Drag Week and Power Tour.

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Andy McMahon
CAR: 2013 Camaro ZL1

DETAILS: LSA, 6spd

DRIVER INFO: Andy has owned the car since it rolled off the line in October of 2012. Less than a month later, he competed with it in the GoodGuys SouthWest Nationals! The car has now been autocrossed in 5 different states, driving to all events. He’s looking forward to adding more states to its competition listings!

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DRIVER: Marshall Reinert
CAR: 2000 Corvette

DETAILS: LS1, 6spd; Mantic clutch, LG headers, Corsa exhaust, Blackwing CAI, Van Steel bushings, VB&P springs, RideTech shocks, Speedline wheels, BFG tires, and more

DRIVER INFO: Marshall purchased this car in ’05, intending it as a Sunday driver and occasional cruiser…but in 2013, the autocross addiction found him! Marshall is looking forward to spending this adventure with his father, who will also be attending in his ’99 Corvette convertible.

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DRIVER: Randy Johnson
CAR: 1968 C10, “DZ10”

DETAILS: LS3/4L80E; Heidts front & rear suspension with RideTech SA Coilovers

DRIVER INFO: Randy has owned this truck for a year, but really got into the restoration about 2 months ago. This will be a shop truck for D&Z Customs. Randy’s excited about a low-stress week, and having a blast of a time with his crazy car adopted family!

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DRIVER: Andy Francis
CAR: 2004 Corvette Z06

DETAILS: Stock engine and trans; Koni yellows and Strano front swaybar

DRIVER INFO: Andy traded in a Subaru STI for the Corvette last July, and is very happy with that decision. He’s looking forward to driving somewhere new, autocrossing, and hanging out with other car people.

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DRIVER: Scot McMillan
CAR: 1968 F100

DETAILS: 5.3 LS, Dederichs Motorsports 6spd; RideTech coilovers, Scot Rods Garage 4-Link & suspension

DRIVER INFO: Scot, owner of Scot Rods Garage, built this truck a few years back. The best part about this truck is that they can go out and have fun, and it didn’t cost a lot to build. Scot is looking forward to meeting some of the industry’s best shops and people face-to-face, hanging out, and having fun! He builds cars to drive hard, and he expects this truck to be a contender!

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Dan Howe
CAR: To Be Determined

DETAILS: Both cars have a Schwartz Performance chassis with RideTech coilovers, BFG Rivals, LS engines w/T-56 trans.

DRIVER INFO: Dan and Janice Howe haven’t yet decided which of their amazing machines they’re bringing; either the ’84 Monte or the ’86 El Camino (both were built by Dan and son, Josh). Dan won his first autocross in 2012 and it was an immediate addiction; since then, he’s participated in numerous GoodGuys events and even two OUSCI’s!

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DRIVER: Ryan Buck
CAR: 1963 Nova SS

DETAILS: 383 SBC/T56 Magnum from SST; TCI Pro-Touring front clip and rear torque arm suspension with RideTech TQ shocks. Currie 9″ with Strange alum housing and Eaton Tru Trac

DRIVER INFO: Ryan has owned this car for 4 years, building it after his previous Nova was totaled. He’s kept the classic style without going full modern, and there are tons of little details in this build! Ryan’s looking forward to a full week spent with friends and a little friendly competition. He never expected this car to have such an impact in the classic car community, as an amateur build when big six-figure builds are mainstream; and he would like to inspire all of those two-car garage builders out there to keep doing what they’re doing!

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DRIVER: Jim Stehlin
CAR: 1973 Camaro

DETAILS: LS3 416, T-56 Magnum 6spd; Detroit Speed with RideTech shocks

DRIVER INFO: Jim built this car himself, starting 9 years ago. His favorite detail on the car is the hood, and he’s looking forward to the camaraderie on the Road Trip with all his car friends!

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DRIVER: Wayne Maner
CAR: 2007 Regency RST Silverado

DETAILS: 5.3 w/TSP cam, Magnuson TVS supercharger, 4L60 w/3200 Circle D stall; Dynotech long tube headers, RideTech coilovers

DRIVER INFO: Wayne will be driving with his wife, Donnette, providing he doesn’t scare her too bad!! They’ve only been to one autocross before, and are looking forward to visiting everyone and making new friends.

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RIVER: Barry Cramer
CAR: 2010 Camaro

DETAILS: 6.2 Litre Supercharged V8 with 6spd Manual; BMR suspension

DRIVER INFO: Barry has owned the car for 2 years, after purchasing it to drive the Amsoil America Adventure last year. His favorite detail is the accelerator, and says it’s really fun to drive! Barry is looking forward to seeing the other cars and tracks.

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Chris Jacobs
CAR: 1968 Camaro

DETAILS: 6.0 480hp LS, Legend 5spd; Centerforce clutch, Roadster Shop full frame chassis, Penske shocks, Wilwood brakes

DRIVER INFO: Chris will be driving the Camaro recently finished by Roadster Shop, and he’s happy for the opportunity to help them break it in! The coolest part of this car is the original paint and bench seat. Chris and Lynda are looking forward to cruising America’s roads with old friends, as well as making new ones!

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DRIVER: Randy Ivy
CAR: 2011 Mustang GT

DETAILS: 5.0 Coyote w/SCT tune, Ben Calimer prepared 6-spd; MGW Race Spec shifter, On3/Flowmaster exhaust, aluminum driveshaft, H&R coilovers, Hotchkis/Steeda suspension components, Brembo/Hawk brakes, Corbeau seats

DRIVER INFO: After competing in a period-correct Cobra, Randy finds it quite refreshing to enjoy all of the creature comforts in the GT! He says the car is comfortable, while being fun to flog on all day long. He’s looking forward to seeing what it will do with stickier tires, and will enjoy meeting other people who enjoy the same type of vehicular therapy!

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DRIVER: Herb Lumpp
CAR: 1963 C10

DETAILS: 454, 4L80E; RideTech Level 2 CoolRide

DRIVER INFO: Herb is the Shock Guru here at RideTech; he has owned this truck for 3 years. His favorite detail is that he doesn’t have to worry about the paint! Herb is looking forward to seeing old friends and doing some low-stress autocross.

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DRIVER: Carl Roeger
CAR: 1968 El Camino

DETAILS: 2000 Camaro LS1, T56; Global West suspension, Viking coilovers, Trick Flow top end, Edelbrock intake/throttle body, MSD fuel injection, Wilwood disc brakes

DRIVER INFO: Carl has owned this rust-free original-sheet-metal El Camino for almost 3 years; it replaces one that he owned for 15 years. With only 100 miles on the car, the Road Trip will be a learning experience! Carl is looking forward to learning the autocross capabilities of the new ride as well as improving his skills and meeting new friends.

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DRIVER: Lars Ekberg
CAR: 1957 Fairlane

DETAILS: 390 FE with Tunnel Wedge intake and Edelbrock heads, Liberty TKO600. Engine has not been freshened up since 1987! Custom suspension w/parts from SRI Performance

DRIVER INFO: Lars likes the fact that there are not many ’57 Fairlanes out there used as hot rods; most have been restored. He uses the car he’s owned for 12 years as a daily driver on weekends and has done 7 Power Tours, as well as countless car shows. He puts 7-10k miles on it a year on this 4400-lb beast! He is looking forward to seeing America while driving the wheels off the car…and the bourbon!!

[jb@ridetech]

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DRIVER: Scott Romszewicz
CAR: 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass

DETAILS: LS6, Tremec T56 Magnum; DSE/JRI rear suspension, front is Speedtech control arms, AFX spindles, DSE sway bar, AFCO coilovers

DRIVER INFO: Together since 1999, Scott is adamant about keeping the car as a stock appearance. With a background in drag racing and circle track, he got hooked on pro-touring in 2009 and has now been to more events than we can count! In the process, he’s taken the Cutlass from mild-mannered street car to a corner carving machine!

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DRIVER: Bret Voelkel
CAR: 1970 Buick GSX

DRIVER INFO: Building cars since 1979, building suspensions professionally since 1996, driven many hotrods across the country, driven several thousand autocross laps…he still LOVES to talk about cars and try to help people improve them.

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CAR: 48-Hour Camaro
DRIVER: Britt Marolf

DRIVER INFO: Brit is the RideTech Special Projects engineer. He has 2 small children so he doesn’t get out much, but when he does, his autocross competitors know about it! Britt is also the guy to talk to if you want to build an all-wheel-drive Gen 3 Camaro…he knows all the ways that don’t work! Shock expert, air suspension expert, electronics expert…he’ll make your head swim with information that you never knew existed.

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CAR: 1970 StreetGRIP Camaro

DRIVER: Chris Smith

DRIVER INFO: While he is now known as the driver of the 48-HR Corvette and the RideTech shock tuner, he also builds lots of fast reliable hotrods in his Tiffin, OH shop. There is little Smitty can’t fix or prevent from breaking…a totally dedicated hotrodder who thrives on helping other hotrodders.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Here's an update from those out on the tour! I've got more pictures that I'm organizing from the different stops that they've made (I'm getting alot of pictures/info thrown at me daily :D).

The one thing that I really like about this tour... Rain or shine, these guys drive their cars and aren't afraid to beat on them. For the most part, the cars on the tour are holding up very well!!

Also, while out on the tour, we're giving away a StreetGrip package each day!! Todd Earsley was one of the lucky guys! It just so happens that he's in even MORE luck. Because Bowling Green is close to our facility, we're bringing his car to our shop to do a live install tomorrow (5/5/16). After that, the car will go back to BG so he can feel the difference that the kit makes on the track and street.

[Sonar Chief]

Man that looks like fun .... keep up with the pics!

Michael

[JKnight]

That's going to make for a great before-and-after comparison for Todd. Very cool support by Ridetech as well. Wish I was there!

[SSLance]

Hey Josh, did Bret get his car fixed? I heard he had trouble on day 1.

I've been following along on facebook and have been extremely jealous. I have to find a way to do this trip next year...

[Gscherer78ta]

Thanks for keeping up with the road trip! I have to live vicariously through the social media... I have been following on this site and Instagram.

I hope you do this again next year because I so want to participate! I was really on the fence this year but, after seeing the pictures I would be in for next year.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Hey Josh, did Bret get his car fixed? I heard he had trouble on day 1.

I've been following along on facebook and have been extremely jealous. I have to find a way to do this trip next year...
Unfortunately, it's not been back on the road yet. From what I'm hearing it was doing good, he got some runs in with it, and then ran into either a fuel or electrical issue. Hot rodding issues :G-Dub:...
Thanks for keeping up with the road trip! I have to live vicariously through the social media... I have been following on this site and Instagram.

I hope you do this again next year because I so want to participate! I was really on the fence this year but, after seeing the pictures I would be in for next year.

No problem Greg! I'll keep this updated as much as I can today. I'd say that this won't be the last Cars and Cones event, you'll have a chance to do it :thumbsup:.


Came in early this morning to do some checking on the guys wrenching in the fab shop!

They already have Todd's Camaro in one of the bays and are already tearing into it!

[Chad-1stGen]

Also, while out on the tour, we're giving away a StreetGrip package each day!! Todd Earsley was one of the lucky guys! It just so happens that he's in even MORE luck. Because Bowling Green is close to our facility, we're bringing his car to our shop to do a live install tomorrow (5/5/16). After that, the car will go back to BG so he can feel the difference that the kit makes on the track and street.

Now that is way COOL!

[bret]

I have been attending automotive events...races, car shows, road tours, etc., since 1978...since 1987 professionally. I have done over 1200 events since 1987. I can safely say that this 2016 Cars N Cones Roadtour was the most fun I have had by a lot. I would have to reach back to the early days of the Car Craft Street Machine Nationals in Indy, Springfield, and DuQuoin to find an event that came even close.

The level of organization and execution by the FM3 staff was exceptional [as usual]. These people are hotrodders...they get the FUN factor and know what matters to us. The auto dross courses were fun for all..not intimidating for the rookies, not boring for the experienced. The "day off" we had on Thursday to do the Bourbon Trail tour [or whatever anyone wanted to do that day] was very much welcomed. The meals and tours we had each night at the various sponsors facilities gave us all a unique look into how these companies are run. The generosity of the sponsors product awards are a reflection of how much they understand and appreciate the customers who have allowed them to thrive over the last several years.

But if ALL that went away for some reason [and I know it won't] the camaraderie of the participants would be more than enough for me to put this event on my permanent annual event list. I have been fortunate to get to know thousands of people in the drag racing, manufacturing, pro-touring, and car show worlds over the years. Amazingly, I only had previously met about 1/3 of this tour's participants. The new friends that I met were just a great group to spend a week with. They are a group that I would welcome into our facility at any time for any need...and I feel they would reciprocate if necessary. Rob McGregor at No Limit proved this on the Sunday before the event when he opened his shop for me to work on my GSX on the way to Charlotte. Kyle Tucker and Bruce Raymond proved that on Sunday night when they drove 3 hours to rescue me more than 100 miles from their shop. While my gratitude for this is extensive, I was not surprised...Rob and the No Limit crew, Kyle and the DSE crew, as well as Bruce Raymond Performance, have been there for me [and many other hotrodders] anytime there has been a need. They get it.

I would like to place my request right now to renew the RideTech sponsorship for the 2017 Cars N Cones Roadtour...and to renew my personal participant entry. The challenge will be to see how we can top this year's event!

[JKnight]

Sounds fantastic. Just need to get this old heap running and I'll be there in '17, or '18, maybe '19 ;)