Autocross in a '68 Charger

[Laxy]

Recently I competed in a motorkhana/autocross type event in my '68 for a bit of a laugh - it has stock suspension but a decent 440/727 so I knew I could have fun even with hideous handling.

To be fair, I didn't find the handling too bad in the end - the finger light power steering was the main problem as it gave no road feel. When pushed hard, the car would understeer hard and then snap into oversteer on corner exits. Had some car issues on the day too, valve cover gasket let go and was dumping oil on the headers for a nice smoke trail, also it was fouling up on the secondaries and dropping to 7 sometimes. Main issue was valve train clatter mid run, will be trying a different oil and maybe a baffled sump? Hopefully didn't do too much damage, it would quieten down again straight away once idling.

Otherwise the other major hindrance was the automatic, has a standard shifter setup and wouldn't downshift properly into corners.

Anyway, onto the pics and video! There were 2 stages, each run 4 times. Then we had 2 runs up the drag strip where I took the opportunity to destroy a set of tyres.







Borrowed a couple of Go-Pro cameras, the second run was probably the best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqiNxq27IyY

The other runs with some different camera angles (Run 4 is cool with 'front wheel cam' like an old school car chase movie).

Run 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVPA_L75f6U

Run 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRAmR8tposI

Run 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4PpkvzempI

My mates filmed a couple of the burnouts from outside the car too, super happy with these (turn it up)!
1st burnout:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-1iEgMDA20

2nd burnout (way bigger):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygIpX0DyeM4

After all this messing around, the big Dodge actually beat a few cars overall - a Holden Commodore, Mazda Miata and a Mini! LOL

I normally do these events in my Valiant hardtop, much lighter with far superior handling but less HP, interestingly the Dodge's lap times were within a few tenths on both stages. Have videos/pics of those events if anyone is interested.

Cheers 

[1974dodgecharger]

Sweet....

[NHCharger]

Awesome

[six-tee-nine]

all you need for a boatload of fun.....

[JR]

Nice driving! Post the valiant videos too.

I wish more guys would take their cars to events like this and you know, actually drive the things instead of sitting behind them in lawn chairs like some sort of mobile retirement home.

I'm hoping to take my 70 to its first autocross this month, just waiting on some 17 inch wheels to come in so I can mount proper rubber. Im used to autoXing/tracking an e36 M3  so it will be like starting from scratch learning to drive a 4000lb softly sprung boat around a course.

Ever done any track days in your 68? That would make for great video.

[mightywing7]

Love the pics and video!!

[bakerhillpins]

 

[Dino]

That was awesome!  Where do I sign up?   

Not too bad for a car with old worn stock suspension.   

[Challenger340]

Ah Geez, now THAT is pretty impressive for a real driving experience in a 60's musclecar  THANKS for sharing !
BTW,
Your Charger is absolutely Beautiful

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Nice driving & sweet looking ride

[Back N Black]

Wow! that was awesome! I would love to try autocross someday. It beats being at a car show sitting on a lawn chair. 

[Homerr]

Nice job driving!

And nice job placing the camera.  Too many boring forward dash cams out there.  This shows so much more.  How about an edit splicing the forward and rear footage together?!

[brianz426]

I agree, thumbs up on the camera placing and the driving. B-bodies are a handful but a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing the videos.

[68pplcharger]

Awesome, I've got one I'm building I want to do some autocross with... Looks like a blast 

[TUFCAT]

Dude!    You drove the shit out of that big old poor handling car  Very well done    Nice driving skills, very smartly driven!  

The Charger also sounds great, and really gets with the program!  

[Brass]

Great stuff - I could watch that all day!  An accusump oil accumulator (Moroso or Canton) would help get oil to the valve train under those conditions.

[tan top]

    wow !! you  Da MAN                     Great stuff  !! charger sounds & looks awesome  !!





thanks for sharing  !!
 

[flyinlow]

Thanks for posting that.  Good to see a vintage car being driven.

[NYCMille]

Well done Sir!!! 

[lookin@my68]

Great stuff!

[dodgey68]

Nice work, looked like a shit load of fun,,  
I have done nothing like that in mine and I tried to set it up to handle stuff like that,,,,   ,,, I have finally got a bigblock & auto and will do an engine exchange when a can afford it,,,and I will try an autocross event,,  
thanks for sharing,,,

[BIGBLCK11]

  Very cool!  Looks and sounds great.  Nice driving!

[myk]

You're a brave man, to be sure.  I'm not even going to drive by the auto-X events until I get my suspension properly upgraded...

[1970Moparmann]

Wow! that was awesome! I would love to try autocross someday. It beats being at a car show sitting on a lawn chair. 

Amen brother!

[grdprx]

That's awesome!  Thanks for sharing.     Looks super fun!