Bradon Cash

[bcashJMU]

My name is Brandon Cash. I am a sophomore Engineering student at JMU. I drive a "slightly" modified 1991 Pontiac Trans Am GTA. I have always loved classic american muscle cars and especially love working on them. My car is more suited toward road courses and drag strips but I want to become more experienced in small track racing. I have been told that Verona will be the next opportunity to test out my car on a track. Since I am new to this type of racing, I am looking for someone to work with me before Verona that knows how to race f-bodies. I really only have straight line experience with my car. Thanks in advance!

[JustinG]

Well verona isnt necessarily a track but simply an AutoX course, Big parking lot with cones. Next best thing is to make the trip with fellow MMers down to VMP for the NASA autoX on October 24th, the weekend before the Verona AutoX. Might be able to stretch the legs on the TA, on a larger autoX course. WELCOME

[DLingenfelter]

I used to play with a thirdgen Fbody, was the first car I autocrossed. The all important question is what tires are you running? Size, treadwear rating, speed rating? The wider the tires+grippier the compound (lower treadwear) the better, otherwise the cars tend to understeer into tight corners because of the weight over the front end. When you get to the Verona autocross look for the Red miata with Black Rota Rb's (me) or even better, look for a blue M3 4dr (Gary Kirchbaum), Gary used to road race thirdgens and autocrossed them to FTD's (fastest overall times of the day).

[bcashJMU]

I might go to VMP then if you say its a bigger course. My tires are Kuhmo 245/50R16 H97 with a pretty good amount of tread left on them. The speed rating is H which i believe is 130 mph. The load index is 97 which should be around 1600 lbs. They also have low treadwear. Do those tires seem good for road racing a TA?

[JustinG]

Depends on which kumhos, shouldn't worry much about tires for your first autox, I'd say just bring it as is, and drive it. Don't get autoX confused with roadracing/HPDE, they are almost nothing alike.

[bcashJMU]

Ok well since i live across the street from Jake, i think he said he will take me out at some point and show me the basics of autoX. Thanks for the help guys.

[DLingenfelter]

Those tires should take the abuse fine, and the 245/50's will have you better off than I ever was (I was broke when I had my car and had 60 series tires on the back, and weak passenger car tires 225/60's on the front...it was horrible but the tires were free). The car should have decent turn in.

Autocross is definately different from road racing, there's many more turns in the course and they come at you a lot faster than they would on a road course, so you're kept pretty busy. Autocross courses typically push the car beyond its handling limits or make it do things you didn't know it could and gives you a good idea of what the car will do on the ragged edge without putting you at risk of nailing a tire barrier at 100+mph. Usually...and I mean usually, autocrossers make great road-racers (Randy Pobst, Sylvan Tremblay, Jason Saini, etc.)

With Jake as your neighbor you're in good shape!

[bcashJMU]

Thanks! Also Jake wants me to find someone on here with f-body autoX experience to help me out before my first event. Is there anyone that would be willing to show me a few things?

[Goodspeed]

Welcome!

If you still have more Q's about what AutoX is versus road course, its all here

http://www.mmsports.org/faq/

Jake will show you the ropes very well I'm sure. Biggest thing is to just go out and have fun, and everyone attending is pretty awesome so you can chat people up if you have questions and get rides, etc.

David L. is right, if you wander across the street from the Gov. center in Verona (site of the auto-x there) to his shop, that Gary fellow has a couple of nasty F-bodies last I saw. Another MM'er bought his M3 street car at the time.

[TorinoCobra070]

Muahahaha, and the MM f-body population grows again. Welcome. Have any pictures of the car?

[bcashJMU]

Thanks David and yes i do Chad. If someone can tell me how to post pictures on this thread then I can do that or you can friend me on facebook (Brandon Cash) and you can see the pics there. Jake actually wanted me to try and get in touch with you, Chad. He said I should talk to you and see what racing an f-body is like.

[bcashJMU]

Figured out how to do images, here ya go Chad...

1991 Trans Am GTA


Two-tone interior (and yes this is an automatic...but I have a shift kit on the tranny that allows me to shift through gears manually and it shifts hard


Two 10" subs and amp in my hatch area...


And the best for last...
The 1987 L98 350 bored .030 over with a mild cam, headers and other mods

[ScottyB]

GTA wheels look so nice. that's a great color too. welcome.

[TorinoCobra070]

That is a great looking 3rd gen. Looks very clean inside and out :thumbup:

And I don't know much about racing an f-body. All I can tell you is that in autocross it is more about not using the gas pedal than it is using it lol. I really want to see this car in person.

[bcashJMU]

i will bring wednesday night for the bbq dinner get together. if u come i can take u for a ride or u can come to see it

[caa337]

Welcome to MM! Even though I'm more of a foreign car person, the car looks clean. I'll see it tomorrow at the BBQ

[TorinoCobra070]

i will bring wednesday night for the bbq dinner get together. if u come i can take u for a ride or u can come to see it

I'm probably not going to make it out tomorrow but I'm sure I'll get to see it eventually.

[Steve85]

Ahhh the TPI. How I miss it. When I bought the vette it dynoed 230whp/330wtq. Sure, the TPI runs out of breath at 4600, but it hits hard on the way there and feels faster than it is. It's such a great street motor.

It looks like aftermarket runners (or is it just the light?). What are the "other mods"?