Trans-Am

[JohnBM01]

I don't know if anyone has come up with one, but do you like the Trans-Am series? To me, it's a bit of NASCAR, but a bit of real racing. When NASCAR raced Sears Point last year, SPEED Channel came up with a wonderful comparison of a Nextel Cup car and a Trans-Am car. And this amazed me. I learned that the NASCAR cars are 3400 lbs with a 700hp motor. No doors, no GT wing... I already know about. But Trans-Am cars are about 2600 lbs with some 700-something HP motors. It is basically an American GT series, just with the traditional NASCAR theme (no functional headlights). Only thing is that Trans-Am has functional taillights and GT wings. I think the cars would be a great challenge to the V8 Supercars of Holden and the Ford Falcon. I also tend to think Trans-Am engines sound like the Aussie V8s, only the Aussie V8s pack more grunt (this is sure to tick off Muscle Car fans with me saying that). Plus, unlike Nextel Cup cars, these cars are pretty slick-looking. The only thing that might look as good as these machines are the Late Model stock cars, and I'm talking about in terms of American "saloon cars" with the "no functional headlights" theme (as a "Did You Know," Did you know that ASA Stock Cars once had functional brake lights? I remember that I seen some when (then TNN, the Nashville Network) shown a night race there).

It looks like the first race of the season will take place at beautiful Long Beach for America's oldest street racing course. There will probably be other festivities there, including the Celebrity Race with the Toyota Celicas. But I hope I can keep this topic going to discuss the 2004 Trans-Am series in an effort to try to make more threads based on racing events this year including (and this is a BIG maybe) the Indy 500. Anyhow, Trans-Am is in the house for this topic. And how about Tommy Kendall looking to add a fifth Trans-Am title this year? Maybe his trophy collection isn't complete. Good luck, Kendall!

 

[Sleek Stratos]

I might regain respect for TK once he gets back on the track, and wins of course, I undersand he'll be driving a Jaguar this time as opposed to his old 'Mustang', that might even make it easier for him. Overall I'm sort of glad he's back racing, might mean "Test Drive" will be off the air finally.

I hope this season packs some more excitement than last year's, then again I was probably too busy looking at the Speed World Challenge races. For the most part, Trans-Am cars look... stiff, tight, whatever you want to call it, which is another feature they have in common with 'stock cars'.
I doubt I'll be watching most of the street course races. Road courses is where cars like those belong; higher speeds and more passing opportunities are what I think of when I hear racing.

 

[JohnBM01]

If I remember from USA/Canada show "WindTunnel with Dave Despain," I think TK's ready to give out T.K.O.s against the competition with his Jag. These cars are so cool to watch, even if they aren't modified production cars. Now, when I say "modified production cars," I mean, it's simple. Build the car it is based on, add a GT wing, put in some good horsepower, functional doors, big rollcage, all the nitty gritty that makes a car look more production than a NASCAR stock car.

I can recall the #3 Jaguar who raced in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 2002 I believe, and I think it had some lights installed to make it legal to race at night. But I think if the Trans-Am cars had lighting like their produciton car counterpart, including fog lights (if any), but I would like to see them race Trans-Am at Road Atlanta as well. Add some night races.

Trans-Am should be an exciting season this year.

 

[pimp racer]

I love Trans Am i love the Jags in there real nice and my favorite racer in the series is Boris Said not sure if he still races in that series anymore.

 

[JohnBM01]

To mark post #600, here is the...

Official website of the Trans-Am Series:
http://www.trans-amseries.com

First Round - Long Beach

 

[kart racer]

Love the races but I feel it needs more factory input.Like to see a Viper that could run up front, or maybe a BMW M5.Remember when Oldsmobile ran in the Trans Am? How about a Caddi?