Black Viper | www.blackviper.com

The car is a 2002 Chevy Cavalier Z24 with a 5-speed manual transmission.

2012 Racing Season Run What You Brung Car

Current plans include:

• Primer the car black
• Paint it in a Tye-Dye color scheme
• Slap the number “72″ on it
• Include all of my 2012 Race Season Sponsors on the car
• Record dash cam video on the track using a webcam and laptop

Now, you may point out that this is by far a “race car”, but I plan on putting it on the dirt track during special events throughout the season called “Run What You Brung”. In this event, people can take out street cars that they own and run a few laps around the track. Of course, I want to drive a real race car, but baby steps. 

2002 Chevy Cavalier Z24

Believe it or not, I actually purchased the car brand new in January 2002. I did very little to take care of it. The main thing that happened was as a result of very hard water stains all down one side because of the sprinkler system where I lived at the time. I decided to take it to a detail shop and buff out the stains. It looked great for a couple of months, but the clear coat wore out fast and ended up pealing in the desert sun.

The hood was replaced several years ago due to an accident that was entirely my fault and broke the passenger headlight and bent up the hood severely.

Car Door Damage

The driver door was damaged in 2010 while it was parked out in the street. A visitor to one of my neighbors backed into it and did $2000 worth of damage. No hard feelings, really, as the insurance paid me and she was extremely apologetic for what happened. I tried to not let it show that I did not care and needed the money more then I needed a straight bodied grocery get’r.

I also backed into several things myself, one of those times was just a couple months after purchase. That one cost me several hundred bucks to fix. Oddly enough, it was cheaper to get a new rear bumper then to fix the existing one.

Needless to say, things come full circle and if the car still looked like it did in 2002, it would not be on the dirt track in 2012. It still runs great (but not much to look at), so I will give it all that I have and see what I can do to make a few laps count.

Unfortunately, my racing season for 2011 has come to an early end due to car issues and work schedule, but that does not mean the season has ended on the track!

Speedway Location:

Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds
1712 Fairlane Road
Yreka, CA 96097

Gates open at 5PM with races starting at 7PM!
Classes appearing are the Mini Stocks, Super Stocks, JSSTA Sport Trucks, and Modifieds.

Prices:

Adults: 8$ – Seniors $6 (over 55) – Kids $3 (age 6-12) – FREE Kids (age 5 and under).

The more people in the grandstands, the better! Great fun for the whole family!

I will see you at the track!

Tonight, June 4, 2011, I will be at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds in Yreka, CA performing in an exhibition race in number “72″ with other street cars in a series called “Run-What-U-Brung”.

Speedway Location:

Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds
1712 Fairlane Road
Yreka, CA 96097

Gates open at 5PM with races starting at 7PM!
Other classes appearing are the Mini Stocks, Super Stocks, JSSTA Sport Trucks, and Modifieds with Run-What-You-Brung following.

Prices:

Adults: 8$ – Seniors $6 (over 55) – Kids $3 (age 6-12) – FREE Kids (age 5 and under).

The more people in the grandstands, the better! Great fun for the whole family!

I will see you at the track!

This is the unofficial, uncut version “non-public” dash cam video recorded on 2011-05-07 posted to my private YouTube Channel. Quality is not the best and the cam “auto focuses” a bunch, but you can make out many details, including the large ruts low on the track. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4PFv-PcvRY

The first couple minutes is in the pits. I started the cam when I got into the car and was putting on my helmet before I hit staging. The white car, number 45 was in front of me and also participating in the action. I kinda stayed back from him to ensure I did not wreck him or do crazy stuff while the green flag flew so I could get a feel for the track and the car. The LTD is a big beast and probably not optimal for being on a dirt track, but I gave it all I had!

I wanted to narrate what was going on and what I was thinking, but I was too busy in awe of what was actually happening. When I spun out and went off the track several times, I giggled like a school girl and right after I parked back in the pits, I let out a summery of what I felt.

It seriously felt like I was going 100 miles an hour around that track, until I looked down and I was going only 40. Extreme tunnel vision focusing on the track and not hitting anything, though. Awesome and wild ride, I tell ya what! Peace… from BV…

Starting May 7, 2011, I will be at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds in Yreka, CA performing in a season opener exhibition race in number “72″ with other street cars in a series called “Run-What-U-Brung”.

Speedway Location:

Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds
1712 Fairlane Road
Yreka, CA 96097

Gates open at 5PM with races starting at 7PM!
Other classes appearing are the Mini Stocks, Super Stocks, JSSTA Sport Trucks, Pro Stocks and Modifieds with Run-What-You-Brung following.

Prices:

Adults: 8$ – Seniors $6 (over 55) – Kids $3 (age 6-12) – FREE Kids (age 5 and under).

The more people in the grandstands, the better! Great fun for the whole family!

I will see you at the track!