This is what started it all, an '02 - Z06

Corner Workers @ TWS named it Pucker, more on that later...

Hi, I'm Mike Countryman, and this, is the story...

The wife and I were out looking at Tahoe's in December of '02 and stumbled across the Corvettes at the dealership. Had always wanted one, never thought I could afford it. Well she wasn't thrilled with the Tahoe's, nor I, so we went on our way.  I kept thinking about the C-5's and started shopping, new was out of the question, (actually, without wife's buy in, all were out the question), so started looking on the web for a used model, and, with some persuasion, found this one, Jan 31, 03.

Never had a car like this before, scared the crap out of me, was so much more than the old '69 Mach 1, and while it didn't seem as quick as my Harleys that I had built, the tires just really didn't want to stick to the ground.  So now I own a Corvette, what the heck do I do with it? There's only so much burning out you can do on the street, and at roughly $40K, you sure as heck don't want to ball it up. Might as well wax it, and again, and again...

Early May, 03, I'm out in the driveway doing some yard work, and some goober in a black C-5 whips up to the approach and lock's 'em up. Out hops this 6'3" string bean, I don't know if he's gonna kick my butt or what. Enter Jeff into my life... He starts telling me about this performance driving event he went to, a place called "The Driver's Edge" www.thedriversedge.net , he says this is the "ultimate". We hit it off pretty good, living a couple a blocks away, I see more of him and start picking his brain, performance modifications etc., meanwhile, checking out TDE web, and wondering if I have the balls to put this thing on the track.

Late June, 03, OK, am signed up for TDE event at Texas Motor-sport Ranch in Cresson, Jeff had already signed up for an event @ Hallett so he won't be around to show me the ropes, I'll be on my own. So I have roughly 3 months until I hit the track, I need some goodies, headers, bye bye catalytic, hello O2 simulators, Hurst shifter, C5R Delrin knob, cold air intake, larger air bridge, brake pads, and fresh fluid, yes, the car now outperforms the Harley, this is VERY NICE.

Mid August, 03, TDE has a night time event at Texas Motor Speedway, Jeff takes me out to have a look. OMG!  What have I gotten myself into?  These guys are running nearly bumper to bumper, at speed... Geeze, maybe I can cancel and get some of my $ back. Well, it does look fun, and the last time I was on  track was in the early 70's, dirt at that, on 2 wheels. Surely this can't be that bad, I suck it up and decide to give it a try.

Mid September, 03, It's time for the Ranch, I go out for the meeting on Friday night, lot's of folks there, more so, lot's of really nice cars, what, is that slicks on that car, Oh no, what have I gotten myself into.... again? Hard to sleep that night, up early Saturday and off to the track. Make the driver's meeting, still don't have a clue what's in store for me, who's my instructor? Don't worry they say, he'll find you in plenty of time. Great! Whatever.  White (Instructors) group is on the track, might as well tighten lug nuts, again. Can you say nervous?

Yep, that's white on the track, then some guy wearing what looks like pajama bottoms, walks up with a couple of cards in his hands, are you Mike?  Yes. I'm Paul Costas, I'll be your instructor. He asks what I want to accomplish, I tell him I just want to learn how to drive this beast, he asks what's your experience, I tell him about my limited scooter racing, he says, cool, I used to do that too. Then he tells me about his racing experience, a whole lot of stuff like GT and B4C, Rally, Blah Blah blah... Then says we're over here if you want to come hang out and points to this black trailer with the canopy from Hell hanging off the side of it, and walks away. I'm thinking I should be at home doing yard work.

Three sessions into the day I'm starting to not be totally white knuckled, well, that's a lie. Anyway, seem to be getting along well with this Costas dude, and he's doing what I wanted, yelling at me to BRAKE, then the gas, Gas, GAS, GAS routine. He's pushing me, hard, or at least I think so. Am passing a lot of cars, then it happened, I come out of wagon wheel a little hot, car starts to slide, I let off, STUUUPID, it comes around, and around, and around. Is now full of grass and dirt. Well, this is scary, I still owe $36k on this beast.  Costas is laughing, to this day I think he set me up, knew it was bound to happen. Oh well, didn't hit anything, we get black flagged, then back out on the track, pretty much the end of that session for me, I'm very up tight.

Sunday, 2 sessions into the day, realize have not been passed, ever, am now lapping the pack, sometimes twice during a session, this is FUN! Costas says you don't need to be in green, but since has another student in blue there's nowhere for me to go. By now am thinking need to do some more of this, when's the next event, October? Texas World Speedway? Yes, I'll be there. But wait, Costas has another student that will be in blue there too, crap.  Next thing I know, he's talked the TDE folks into letting me run in yellow, KICKASS! No wait, damn, now am sure I will get the other end of the stick, having never been passed to this point figure I will get blown away in yellow, oh well, I go for it. Yes, need different rubber too, the OEM Goodyear tires don't wear fast, nor do they stick. Buy a set of wheels on ebay, soft street rubber from Kuhmo and am set. Oh yeah, a trailer to haul the damn thing too. (am thinking this is insane)

By now, am in pretty much weekly contact with this Costas dude, preparing for TWS (Oct '03). Get there and have a blast, much faster track, and have so much more to learn, not nearly as boring as green seemed to be in retrospect. Yes, there are faster cars, and yes I'm getting passed from time to time, but this is a blast. I start tailing another Corvette running race rubber, I get greedy coming out of turn 2, drop a wheel off, get it back on, it bites hard, next thing I know am doing the spins again, only this time I keep it on the track and straighten up, grab 2nd and head to 3. Well, I'm all screwed up in the head and hit 3 very hot, come out of it, and... yes, another spin. The guys behind me are bound to be freaking, I think Costas is too. With luck, it stays on the track, I'm done for the session, need new underwear. We have lunch with the corner workers, they dub the car "Pucker", "never seen back to back spins before".

The Z06 has seen some track time now, and still owe a ton of money on it. Made decision to sell, but not before using it as a people hauler on a charity event in early December at TMR. Get the opportunity to run in the instructors group 1st thing on Sunday, very cold track and weather. What a blast, but when their tires finally warm up, OMG, those guys can really cook.

Mid December, 03, get an email with a link to ebay from Costas. Says you need to buy this. I do. Locked into rear gear, been sitting for 4 years, what have I done now?

1985 C-4 "Silver Slug"

Now THIS is a project car!! Below are some of the progress