Road Ruckus: Built ’19 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE Dominates SoCal AutoX
A Camaro ZL1 1LE can devour a road course. However, it can be just as intimidating to other drivers on an autocross course as well.
The Chevrolet Camaro has been an American performance car icon for generations. They can dominate a drag strip for sure, but in recent years the Camaro has really honed its road course racing skills. The pinnacle thus far has been the stunning ZL1 1LE, it can turn lap times that match or beat some if the greatest sports cars in the world. You may not think a big, powerful car would be as good on a smaller, tighter autocross course, but you would be mistaken. The ZL1 1LE is such a complete package that it can take on any autocross racer. Especially if the Camaro in question has had a few performance mods as well.
Our friends at GM Authority have recently caught up with just such a Camaro. The 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE owned by Ryan Thacker was competing at an autocross event at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California. Thacker and his Camaro were putting down some quick times in his highly-competitive class. That may have surprised some of his competitors, but it comes as no surprise to us as we know what the ZL1 1LE is capable of. Also, Thacker is not new to the world of cars; his family owned an auto parts store, and before his autocross days he enjoyed drag racing diesel trucks.
Despite Thacker being a hardcore Corvette fan, it only took one drive in a Camaro ZL1 1LE for him to convert. Thacker had a built C6 Chevy Corvette Z51 that he would run through the cones with. However, he once drove his friend’s ZL1 Camaro at an autocross event. That was enough to convince Thacker that the ZL1 was the car for him.
“I remember the exact moment in time [when I was driving his ZL1], I hit the corner and I hit the gas and it moved and felt like my C6 Corvette used to when I had it setup,” Thacker told GM Authority. “The way I was able to use the power and rotate the rear of the car around the corner and then catch it with the brakes. It was like poetry in motion.”
As brilliant as the Camaro is, when you step up into the world of competition every fraction of a second counts. So, Thacker has modified his car to make it even more deadly around the cones. A little more power and sound is always a good thing, so Thacker installed a set of Stainless Works headers with 2-inch primaries and 3-inch collectors. These headers lead to a Corsa exhaust system.
The supercharged LT4 engine was fitted with a GripTec underdrive pulley. With the power taken care of, it was time to focus on handling. His Camaro now rides on BC Forged wheels wrapped in 315/30R18 Yokohama A052 tires. Thacker also added SPL suspension components and deleted all the rubber bushings in an effort to tighten the car up as much as possible.
The Camaro ZL1 1LE is a sharp handling car right from the factory. But the rigors of an autocross course can expose any shortcomings. “With the stock rubber stuff, it felt a little bit lazy, and also the car felt real squirrelly, especially in the rear end,” Thacker told GM Authority. “With as much power the car had, I would get on the gas and it was really a crapshoot on whether it was gonna go left or right. It was kinda scary in a way, and I’ve driven quite a few high-horsepower cars in my lifetime.”
With the modifications Thacker has completed his Camaro ZL1 1LE is going to be a force to be reckoned with on any autocross course. In addition to being fast around the cones, it will likely be the best sounding car out there. It is good to see and hear a Camaro sticking it to the competition.
Images: GM Authority
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